German is a language spoken in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and several smaller European countries as well as by groups in other countries around the world. Around 100 million people speak German as their first language. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the European Union.

This page provides access to online courses, German/English/German dictionaries, current events, cultural information, grammar, vocabulary activities, tutorials, podcasts & blogs, Free and Fee-based software, other selected resources and general information.

If you are aware of other quality resources - courses or specific language aspects, let the webmasters know, so they can be considered for inclusion.

German Language Courses

Courses

• Deutsch-Lernen
  ‘10 German lessons for total beginners and 24 German grammar lessons for advanced learners are complemented by numerous interactive German language exercises, an introduction to new German language orthography and 2 online German language tests to improve and to evaluate your German language proficiency’.
• Deutsch - Warum Nicht ?
  A series of 4 downloads, all of which require iTunes installed. The first is done through the title, while you can get the second, third and fourth here. Introductory level.
• Free Online German Lessons
  ‘A professionally prepared course with up-to-date educational content : 3 levels - beginners, intermediate, advanced; 400 hours of entertaining learning; 1 845 interactive exercises and tests; Highest didactic features; Recorded by native speakers; 4 250 pictures and photos’.
• German Basic Course
  Foreign Services Institute. PDF documents, downloadable mp3 tapes for audio presentations. Two volumes. Multiple tapes for sections.
• German - BBC Languages
  Online beginner’s course - German Steps. An Intermediate level, Deutsch Plus has multiple activities, resources. Gauge your level, how to improve, Talk German, games & quizzes, more. Even get some Cool German, an ‘essential guide to young German people’s slang’..
• German for Travellers [Course]
  Vocabulary, grammar, text / graphic / audio / video / shockwave / flash based exercises, crosswords, games, general information, links to other sites. Fee-based but reasonable.
• Learn German
  ‘In this section you will learn how to speak German for Free and understand it, we will cover grammar, vocabulary, phrases … and the website will always add new features and subjects to help learners expand their knowledge constantly’.
• Learn German Easily
  ‘Basic German Units for Beginners. We are going to create a whole set of lessons for beginners on this site’. Linked to Learn How to Speak German [see below]. There are already a number of mini lessons.
• Learn German Online
  Deutschkurs. ‘Manual of German language for English speakers. With this you can learn German online and for Free. Complete German grammar with lots of sound examples. Explained in a clear manner, easy to understand, easy navigation’.
• Learn How to Speak German
  ‘Get to know a total different way to learn German as a second language. A little crazy, but it’s a lot of fun and it works. And fun is the most important thing. Without fun you will learn just a fraction. We will teach you to speak German effortlessly’. All lessons are Free. Check the menu on the right for the range of lessons available.
• Yes German [Learn German Online]
  Presently has 16 lessons covering a range of areas, plus there is a link to a German Dictionary.

Tutorials

• German Tutorial Index
  100+ sections, broken into multiple levels, further links to podcasts [see below], links to related sites, more. Three levels.
• Web German
  Access Deutsch im Netz for grammar, puzzles, web exercises, comics, more; German Online for audio, video, other resources, Foreign Language, Web Exercises, Software and Resources.

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Language Tools

Dictionaries

• Beolingus
  ‘700 000+ translations with examples, hints, explanations, synonyms, sayings, aphorisms, quotations in English and German’.
• Deutsche Welle
  Learning German. ‘Whether you’re a beginner, can already speak German, or just need business vocabulary, Deutsche Welle’s individualised German language courses can help you to improve your skills’. Free Interactive course.
• dict.cc : English German Dictionary
  ‘Besides browsing or searching for an English-German translation you can ask and answer questions related to English or German language using the translation forum. To improve language skills try the Vocabulary Trainer. If you’d like to translate German while browsing the web, install dict.cc’s Free toolbar’. There are also subject dictionaries.
• English German Dictionary [Babylon]
  One response providing answers from a range of dictionaries. Parts of speech, multiple meanings. Terms from a variety of areas covered.
• German Dictionary
  ‘Free German English Dictionary. Use our dictionary search for English to German and German to English translation’.
• German/English Dictionary
• LEO English/German Dictionary
  Service from a university in Munich.
• QuickDic
  Online and downloadable versions. German/English, English/German. Multiple options for selection.
• The Internet Picture Dictionary : German
  Browse by initial letter or category. For younger children.

General Sites

• Canoonet
  Free Online German Language Resources. Search for specifics or simply access databases of material on dictionaries, word grammar, sentence grammar, spelling, glossary. Get help, access the blog.
  Highly Recommended !
• Digital Dialects : German
  ‘Features Free to use online games for learning languages. Language resources include games for learning phrases, numbers, useful words, spelling, verb conjugation and alphabets. Games use Macromedia Flash Player’.
• Digital Dialects : German [Advanced]
  ‘Click on links below to begin the German language learning games. Buttons with the round speaker icon indicate games that include audio’.
• Free German Lessons and Courses
  ‘A number of Free language lessons and courses for those learning German, along with other German language resources, German online newspapers, German dictionaries, German internet radio sites, other sources relevant to the student of German’.
• German for Travellers
  Basic lessons, connections to travel resources.
• German Games and Learning
  ‘As you play with these fun activities, you’ll be learning German vocabulary and honing all your German language skills, including grammar and spelling’.
• German Language
  Includes geographic distribution, Standard German, dialects, history, phonology, writing system, grammar, vocabulary, cognates, words borrowed by English, references, external links. From Wikipedia.
• German Language Guide
  Language facts, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, language tools, courses, culture, translations.
• Germanic Language Links
• German on the Web
  A collection of briefly but clearly annotated links listed in sections such as Learning German, Grammar and Culture. Anne Rimrott, Simon Fraser University, Canada.
• German Studies Web
  ‘Designed to provide access to scholarly resources in German Studies, including all German-speaking countries. The resources organised here have undergone a selection and evaluation process. If needed, annotations have been provided’. WESS Web, Brigham Young University.
• German Translation Tips & Resources
  ‘Need a German translation … but not sure how to go about it ? Want to put down your German textbook and see how German is really used ? Or - like me - you’re a German translator, and always on the look out for professional tips and valuable resources ? Welcome to my one-stop German Translation resource centre !’
• Jim Becker’s German Page
  Collection of links for German. Culture, grammar, games, dictionaries, search engines, more.
• Languages Online
  Victorian Education Department. ‘Resources for language teachers and students. Downloadable Game Maker templates enable teachers and students to build their own multimedia games and activities using any language installed on your computer. The website contains over 220 engaging interactive tasks and games that introduce, reinforce and recycle vocabulary. Self-paced, self-correcting, can be repeated as desired. Activities presented in 35 topic-based sections, and include recordings by native speakers. Also includes over 190 printable worksheets with a variety of guided speaking, reading, writing, research tasks to complement the online activities’. Covers 4 languages including German.
• Languages Online - Deutsch
  UK site with sections including Beginners, Grammar, Topics, Crosswordfs and Quizzes plus more.
• Learn German [Guide]
  Language assistance, sections on aspects of the language, language facts, information about Fee-based courses in Germany. Advice on choosing courses, destinations.
• New South Wales HSC Online, German
  While for the HSC, it provides revision on all aspects of senior secondary German.
• Online Education Tools, German
  German, French, Italian versions. No longer Free.
• SprachenQuests [Goethe-Institut]
  ‘SprachenQuests are small projects for German lessons which involve Internet searches, teamwork and exercises’. Site is in German.
• The Best Free Learn German Resources Online
  ‘On this site I have put together the best material available on the net … picking out the websites and products that provide the most value for you’. Listed under several main headings.
• Top 20 German Language Sites
  A series of links, each with brief annotations.
• Warwick German Studies Web
  ‘The general sites folder contains lists of resources in a wide range of subject areas, search engines, and links to organizations, libraries and universities. Or you can browse the subject-related links in the Subject pages folder on the left’.
• Wikijunior : Languages - German
  Writing system used, how many people speak the language, where it is spoken, the history of the language, some famous authors or poets using the language, basic words in the language, a song/poem/story to learn in this language, references.
• YJC German Resources for Teachers & Students
  ‘About 1 000 Free resources to download or use online. Activities include : Hot Potatoes, Spellmaster, Powerpoint, Word, Excel - many activities are whiteboard friendly’.

Grammar

• German Grammar
  ‘Grammar Lessons and References by Topic’. From About.com.
• German Grammar - Review & Exercises
  Introduction and help, topics including tenses, the verb, word order, cases, adjectives/adverbs, miscellaneous item, more.
• The Internet Handbook of German Grammar
  ‘Intended to provide students, readers, and translators of German with a concise and comprehensive reference grammar, one available on the web’.
• Verb formen
  Conjugates all German verbs and can show orthography until 1996 if desired.

Vocabulary

• German : Deutsch
  Word Games to develop German vocabulary skills.
• German Vocabulary Guide
  Audio files for all sections. Presented in German gruppe with English translations either direct or on mouse over.

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Other Resources

Culture

• German Australia
  German-speakers in Australia. A practising teacher looks at the German migrant experience in Australia. Chronology, issues faced, primary sources [in German], bibliography, other information.
• German Stories
  Germanic myths, sagas, other legends, stories that help understand German culture.
• Juma
  A German magazine for young people to read.

General Sites

• Curriculum Resources
  ‘This page is designed to provide curriculum support for teachers of German, [particularly in Victoria] related to resources and professional practice’. Their Culture & Identity would also be useful. Association of German Teachers of Victoria.
• MyGermanClass.com : Lernen Wir Deutsch !
  Several programs enclosed in this. Sections on culture, other areas. By a distance educator in the US.
• Type German Characters Online
  ‘Allows you to easily type German accents, other German characters without a German keyboard. Edit text in the box, then copy to your e-mail application, word processor, etc.’.
• Years 1-10 Languages other than English [German]
  Sourcebook modules.

Podcasts, Blogs, Videos

• GerGermanGrammarPodcasts
  ‘Supplementary Grammar Explanations’.
• German GrammarPod
  ‘I’m making the German GrammarPod, to try and pass on the love and understanding of grammar’.
• GermanPod101.com
  ‘Learn German in the fastest, easiest and most fun way’. Accounts are Free.
• Learn to speak German with this Free Podcast
  ‘Learn to speak German, to read German and to understand German with this Free Podcast from Germany and Switzerland’.
• Let’s Speak German !
  A Daily Bit. ‘Welcome to this little blog with German audio samples. Each MP3 is published with transcript, so you can see the spelling of a word you did not understand and - if necessary - look it up in a dictionary’.
• MyDailyPhrase German
  ‘Learn German step by step, day by day, phrase by phrase’. About 100 sessions. MP3 format.
• MyGermanClass
  ‘Explore the MyGermanClass Video Podcasts, with creator Clark Shah-Nelson’. Teaching German since 1999.
• One Minute German
  ‘Each one-minute language lesson will equip you with just enough German to help you get by in lots of situations either on holiday or on a business trip to a German-speaking country, or just to impress your German-speaking friends and colleagues’.
• Pukka German !
  ‘German slang, idioms, funny sayings, common German words and phrases’. Some areas may cause offence, so be careful.
• Slowly Spoken News [Deutsche Well]
  a daily news broadcast that is spoken quite slowly to allow you to understand what is being said.
• Sprechen Sie Deutsch
  ‘Sprechen Sie Deutsch ? Nein ? Wollen Sie das ? Well, you soon will. Ok fine, I can’t promise that, but I will try to help’.
• Young Germany
  ‘Your career education and lifestyle guide’. Has a starter kit for beginners and listening and speaking exercises.

Software

• 1st German ExamCram
  ‘Simplifies learning to speak German. Included is a text to speech generator that pronounces all German [Spanish, French, Italian and English additional] words, including various conjugated forms and words and phrases you entered. Create your own lists of what you want to learn’.
• Before You Know It
  ‘Free BYKI downloads for Windows and Mac include more than a dozen lists of words and phrases with full learning functionality, images for many cards, native speaker sound for all of them’.
• Declan German Software Products
  Primary/Secondary.
• Learn German Program
  ‘Provides a combination of memory improvement teaching and training techniques for learning German words’. Fee-based, but reasonable.
• LingoPad
  ‘Freeware English/German dictionary for Windows with approx. 220 000 entries plus approx. 300 000 references in either language’.
• Quex
  ‘Free open-source dictionary German-English English-German. Written in Java and platform-independent’. More than 500 000 translations.
• Rocket German Premium
  ‘Rocket German Premium will allow you to engage in basic to complex German conversations with confidence and fluency’. Fee-based, but a Free short course as well.
• Tell Me More German
  Primary/Secondary.

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