Starting your German language journey can be both exciting and a little intimidating, but with the right approach, it can also be incredibly rewarding. In the first 10 weeks of my Beginner German courses, we cover a broad range of foundational topics that will help you build a solid base in the language. From mastering verb conjugation to confidently introducing yourself, this course gradually introduces more complex grammar and vocabulary in a way that's manageable, fun, and engaging.
Here’s an in-depth look at what you can expect to learn in the first 10 weeks:
Week 1: Verb Conjugation and Basic Vocabulary
In the first week, we dive straight into one of the most essential parts of learning any language—verb conjugation. German verbs change depending on who’s performing the action, and mastering this early on will give you the tools to start forming simple sentences right away.
We begin by learning how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense. These include common verbs like lernen (to learn), machen (to do), and spielen (to play). Here’s an example of how to conjugate the verb machen:
Pronoun | Conjugation | English Translation |
Ich | mache | I do |
Du | machst | You do (informal) |
Er/Sie/Es | macht | He/She/It does |
Wir | machen | We do |
Ihr | macht | You do (plural) |
Sie/sie | machen | They/You do (formal) |
After learning the conjugation pattern, we dive into some basic vocabulary. Words like Haus (house), Tisch (table), and Buch (book) help you practice forming simple sentences right from day one.
Speaking Tasks: In this first class, speaking tasks are short and straightforward—something like saying "Ich spiele" (I play) or "Ich lerne Deutsch" (I am learning German). It's all about getting comfortable with hearing and speaking basic sentences.
Week 2: Alphabet Differences and the Word "gern"
The second week introduces you to the alphabet differences between German and English and pronunciation in the German language. While the two alphabets are similar, there are some notable distinctions, like the Umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü) and the special character ß. We’ll practice pronouncing these correctly, and you’ll be able to identify them in words.
In this class, we also introduce the words gern and lieber, which expresses liking something when paired with a verb. For example:
Ich spiele gern Fußball (I like playing soccer).
Er isst gern Pizza (He likes eating pizza).
Ich spiele lieber Tennis und ich esse lieber Spaghetti (I prefer to play tennis and prefert to eat spaghetti.)
This concept is a fun way to express preferences, and it’s an excellent opportunity to practice conjugating verbs with real-life applications.
Speaking Tasks: By now, you’ll already be able to say things like Ich spiele gern Tennis or Ich lese gern. Short but sweet sentences help you get comfortable with the structure and meaning.
Week 3: Numbers and Listening Comprehension
Numbers are a vital part of any language, and in Week 3, we cover German numbers from 0 to 100. By learning numbers, you’ll be able to:
Ask for prices: Wie viel kostet das? (How much does it cost?)
Tell time: Es ist zehn Uhr (It is 10 o'clock).
We also introduce listening comprehension tasks to help you recognize numbers and basic phrases when spoken by native speakers. These exercises are essential for developing your listening skills early on, ensuring you understand the spoken language as well as the written form.
Speaking Tasks: You’ll practice saying numbers and asking for simple information like the time or cost of an item, setting the stage for more interactive tasks in future lessons.
Week 4: Introducing Yourself and Basic Word Order
Now that you’ve got a grasp of numbers, it’s time to learn how to introduce yourself in German. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to say:
Ich heiße… (My name is…)
Ich komme aus… (I’m from…)
Basic Word Order
We also introduce you to the basics of German word order, which, while similar to English, has a few key differences. For example, the verb always comes second in statements:
Ich lerne Deutsch (I am learning German).
Heute gehe ich ins Kino (Today I am going to the cinema).
Speaking Tasks: Practice introducing yourself and forming simple questions like Woher kommst du? (Where are you from?) or Wie alt bist du? (How old are you?).
Week 5: Introduction to German Articles and Work Vocabulary
In Week 5, we tackle one of the trickiest parts of German—articles. German articles change based on the gender and case of the noun, so we start by introducing:
Definite articles: der, die, das (the)
Indefinite articles: ein, eine (a)
Negative articles: kein, keine (no, none)
Possessive articles: mein, dein, sein (my, your, his)
You’ll learn how to use these articles with different nouns and practice identifying whether a noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter. We also introduce vocabulary around work and the office, giving you the tools to talk about everyday work situations.
Speaking Tasks: Short dialogues about your job or daily routines help solidify this vocabulary. You’ll also start using basic articles in conversation.
Week 6: Articles, Adjective Declensions, and Modal Verbs
Building on what we learned in Week 5, we continue practising articles but now add basic adjective declensions in German. You’ll learn how adjectives like groß (big) and klein (small) change based on the article and noun they describe:
Der große Hund (The big dog)
Ein kleines Auto (A small car)
We also introduce the modal verb "können" (can). This is your first introduction to modal verbs, which are used to express ability or permission. For example:
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen (I can speak German).
Speaking Tasks: You’ll use "können" in simple sentences like Ich kann singen (I can sing) or Kannst du tanzen? (Can you dance?).
Week 7: Hobbies and Days of the Week
In Week 7, the focus shifts to speaking about hobbies in German. You’ll learn how to talk about what you like to do in your free time:
Ich spiele gern Tennis (I like playing tennis).
Ich lese gern Bücher (I like reading books).
We also introduce the days of the week in German (Montag, Dienstag, etc.), so you can talk about your weekly routines and schedules.
Speaking Tasks: You’ll participate in short dialogues where you ask others about their hobbies and describe your own. These conversations help you practice speaking in complete sentences with correct word order.
Week 8: Introduction to German Genders and Conjugation Review
In Week 8, we take a deeper dive into German genders. You’ll practice recognizing and using masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with their appropriate articles:
der Tisch (the table)
die Lampe (the lamp)
das Buch (the book)
Conjugation Revision
We’ll also revisit verb conjugation from earlier weeks to ensure you’re confident with regular verbs, while continuing to practice using "können" and other essential verbs.
Speaking Tasks: You’ll apply these grammar rules in sentences describing everyday objects and activities.
Week 9: Checking Into a Hotel, Nominative and Accusative Case, and "möchten"
In this week, we focus on practical conversation skills, like checking into a hotel in German. You’ll learn phrases like:
Ich habe eine Reservierung (I have a reservation).
Ich brauche ein Einzelzimmer (I need a single room).
We introduce the nominative and accusative cases, which are critical for understanding German sentence structure. You’ll learn how the article of the noun changes depending on whether it’s the subject (nominative) or the object (accusative) of the sentence:
Der Mann isst einen Apfel (The man eats an apple).
We also introduce the modal verb möchten (would like), which is crucial for making polite requests:
Ich möchte ein Zimmer (I would like a room).
Speaking Tasks: Practice booking a room and asking polite questions using "möchten" in role-playing exercises.
Week 10: Hotel-Related Vocabulary and More on Adjective Declensions
In Week 10, we continue with hotel-related vocabulary to solidify what we learned in Week 9. You’ll also practice using adjective declensions for both the nominative and accusative cases, adding adjectives to your sentences like:
Ich möchte ein großes Zimmer (I would like a big room).
Das Hotel hat einen schönen Garten (The hotel has a beautiful garden).
Speaking Tasks: Role-playing longer dialogues where you check into a hotel, request services, and describe your room will build your conversational confidence. You’ll also get more practice with adjective declensions and articles in context.
For all the important topics covered in these first 10 weeks and beyond, you'll find in-depth explanations and helpful resources on my German language blog "Auf Deutsch, bitte!". Whether it's verb conjugation, German adjective declensions, or mastering the tricky German cases, each post dives deep into the nuances of the language and offers practical tips to reinforce your learning. This is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of German grammar and vocabulary at their own pace. I regularly update the blog with new content, exercises, and answers to frequently asked questions, such as how long it takes to learn German, making it a valuable companion to your learning journey. Be sure to subscribe to stay updated on the latest posts and receive exclusive tips that will accelerate your progress toward German fluency.
Conclusion
By the end of these 10 weeks, you’ll have a strong foundation in German verb conjugation, basic vocabulary, sentence structure, and practical speaking skills. Each week builds upon the previous lessons, gradually introducing more complex grammar concepts and vocabulary while ensuring that you can apply them in everyday conversations. With plenty of opportunities to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing, you’ll feel confident using German in real-life situations by the end of the course. This structured and engaging approach ensures that you’re not just memorizing words and rules but truly understanding and applying them in context—laying the groundwork for your continued journey toward fluency.
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