My journey with German didn’t start in a classroom. My parents were born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in a community that later became part of Czechoslovakia. My parents spoke both German and Czech.
As children raised in Canada, my brother and I resisted German. English was our language, and we resented everything having to do with Europe. German was something I heard but never really paid attention to.
This changed when I was 19. While looking for a means of traveling to Europe, I found work with a captain of a German ship. I had my little German book, outlining the declensions and grammar of the language, but communication was horrendous. Regardless, German started to become more meaningful to me.
Later in life, while working for a Canadian timber company, I traveled to Germany more frequently to negotiate exporting Canadian wood. My interest and determination to learn the language became more pronounced. As my German language skills improved, my appreciation for German culture solidified.
How I Learned German
I dove into German headfirst. Back then, there was no LingQ, no online resources. So I did what made the most sense—I bought every German book I could find in secondhand bookstores.
These books weren’t exciting. They were full of dry texts, vocabulary lists, and grammar drills. I didn’t spend much time completing grammar exercises, but I’d look over the example sentences and try to grasp the patterns on my own.
I read, and I read a lot. And I listened. I found a cassette tape series with interviews of real German speakers, and listened to them over and over again. I still remember these conversations today. I recall interviews about farmers in Bavaria not finding wives and locomotive engineers. I felt like I was eavesdropping on real conversations.
I attribute my success with German to exposure. I didn’t worry about mastering grammar rules or memorizing word lists. I just absorbed the language through listening and reading, following my curiosities to keep me motivated.
Why I Appreciate German
It’s really important to value and enjoy the process. German culture is often regarded as less fun than…let’s say Spanish culture. Germany doesn’t stir up images of the Mediterranean, endless sunshine, and lively guitar playing. However, I’ve learned to appreciate German culture for what it is.
I associate German culture with comfort. You stay in a German hotel, and the door is closed solidly. The windows are sealed. To me, German culture is less about singing and dancing. It’s more about reading a book with Bach playing in the background on a rainy day.
Germans have had a major imprint on European history. Charlemagne, who is revered in France, was, in fact, a German. Martin Luther changed the world of Christianity. And we can’t overlook the military history of Germany. All that I’m trying to say is that every language has its own richness, its own particularities to appreciate.
How I Maintain My German Today
Even though I don’t use German as much as I once did, I can still pick it up again when I need to. When I know I’ll be speaking German, I spend a few days refreshing on LingQ—reading, listening to podcasts, and doing a few tutoring sessions.
With LingQ, you can access thousands of hours of German content—books, podcasts, interviews, and more. Instead of flipping through dictionaries or struggling with grammar drills, you can progress in German naturally by reading and listening to real German content, saving new words, and reviewing them effortlessly.
What’s interesting is that even after not speaking German for a while, I often find that my skills improve when I go back to it. The time I spend learning other languages actually sharpens my ability to notice details in German. This proves what I’ve always believed—language learning isn’t about talent, it’s about exposure, motivation, and developing the ability to notice patterns.
Why Learn German?
German is one of the most important languages in the world. With over 100 million speakers, it’s widely spoken in Europe and is increasingly valuable in business and academia. Whether you’re interested in philosophy, history, or science, German has a rich cultural and intellectual tradition.
And despite its reputation for being difficult, it’s not that bad. Sure, the grammar can be tricky, but with the right approach—focusing on input and exposure rather than memorization—it becomes much easier.
Ultimately, success in learning German depends on your motivation, your interest in the language, and your willingness to stay with it. Stay motivated to achieve your goals, develop your ability to notice patterns in the language, and immerse yourself in German through listening and reading as much as you can.
Final Thoughts
Learning German was a challenge, but it was also incredibly rewarding. It opened up new opportunities for me and deepened my appreciation for German culture.
If you want to learn German, don’t overcomplicate it. Read, listen, and expose yourself to as much of the language as possible. Forget about perfection. Focus on understanding, and fluency will come with time.
And most importantly—enjoy the process!
Interested in more advice on language learning? Check out my thoughts on the best way to learn a language or combine learning with humor by reading this post on German memes.
