A little German every day. A plan that works for you.

Your short 20-minute routine

This suggested plan can be adapted to your level and schedule. The key is to use the language actively rather than only looking at new words.

• Listen for 5 minutes: choose a short dialogue and listen twice.
• Speak for 5 minutes: repeat three sentences aloud, then say them without looking.
• Vocabulary for 5 minutes: write down five words with their articles and your own example sentences.
• Write for 5 minutes: write three sentences about your day or a task you are planning.

Learn words through small situations

Do not just learn “Termin” (appointment); learn “einen Termin vereinbaren” (make an appointment). Turn “Unterlagen” (documents) into “Ich habe meine Unterlagen dabei” (I have my documents with me). This makes it easier to use what you learn in a real situation.

For nouns, note the article and, where possible, the plural: der Termin – die Termine. Add an Indonesian explanation if it helps. Later, check whether you understand the German sentence without translating it.

Feel confident asking questions

You do not need to understand every word immediately. These phrases help in class, on the phone and at work: “Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?” (Could you speak more slowly, please?), “Was bedeutet dieses Wort?” (What does this word mean?) and “Könnten Sie das bitte aufschreiben?” (Could you write that down, please?).

Record a short voice message for yourself. Listen back and choose just one thing to improve next time. It might be the pronunciation of a word or the order of words in your sentence.

Repetition is part of learning

Revisit earlier example sentences and use them in new contexts. After learning “Termin vereinbaren”, practise changing an appointment: “Kann ich den Termin auf Dienstag verschieben?” (Can I move the appointment to Tuesday?).

The Goethe-Institut offers free materials for practising German. Choose a task that matches your level. A course and independent practice can complement each other. Your next step: set a study time for tomorrow and choose a specific exercise.