3 Minute German - Course 1 | Language lessons for beginners from Udemy

Hallo und wilkommen :-)(Hello and welcome)

There is nothing more thrilling than being able to speak to the locals in their own language when you visit a foreign country. Well, now you can experience that amazing feeling too.

My name is Kieran Ball and I’ve been teaching foreign languages in my hometown for over fifteen years. I love languages, I love learning and I love teaching. I also love chocolate, but this isn’t really the place to discuss my chocoholism.

I created 3 Minute German as a way to make learning German easier than ever before and accessible to anybody, especially people who have tried and failed in the past. My course is perfect for the complete beginner as I break down the German language into tiny chunks that I show you how to build back together again in a logical, simple to understand way. You can go from knowing no German at all to putting together your own sentences in just a few minutes. Watch the free preview lessons below and you’ll see what I mean.

If nothing else, I just want you to see how easy it is to learn German.

As the name suggests, each lesson in this course lasts just three minutes (more or less. ). In each lesson, you learn a tiny chunk of German that you can use to build sentences. As you work through the course, you learn more and more little chunks and your sentences will gradually get longer and longer.

The chunks that you learn in the first lessons are carried through to the last lessons. This means you don’t have to worry about trying to remember everything; you will get so much opportunity for practice that you will find the words and phrases just sink into your brain.

The lessons in this course are focused, practical and effective, and you will build language skills that you can use straight away in real-world situations. You will be able to speak German comfortably and with confidence whenever you’re in a German speaking country.

When you begin learning something new, you tend to start off with lots of excitement and motivation. You might spend a few hours on the first day learning, but then the next day, you can only manage one hour, and then that goes down to half an hour, and then you get bored and you give up. Well, the reason behind the very short lessons is that it helps you to stay motivated and it also enhances the learning process.

By keeping your learning to short chunks, you will find three wonderful things start to happen:

1. You will maintain enthusiasm

If you want to learn anything, you have to maintain enthusiasm or else you won’t continue. If you limit your study time to just three minutes, you’ll keep German fresh and exciting and you’ll be eager to learn. If you spend hours studying, very quickly you’ll get bored with German and it’ll turn into a chore.

2. You will study more consistently

It’s much better to study for just three minutes once a day than to study for three hours once a week. A spare three minutes is relatively easy to find even in the most hectic of schedules. If you make sure you complete at least one three-minute study session every day, it’ll quickly become a habit that you’ll do without thinking. It’s much easier to fit in a daily three-minute habit than a weekly one-hour habit. By doing this, you’ll become a much more consistent learner, and consistency is the key to success.

3. You will remember things better

This is my favourite reason as to why you should limit your study to just three-minute chunks. If you study something for just three minutes every day, you’ll trick your brain into memorising the information more quickly than if it were to see the information for hours each day. It’ll think, “I see this information every day so it must be important, but I don’t see it for very long, so I’d better hold onto it and make it into a memory fast. ” You’ll be amazed at how much more easily things tend to stay in your brain if you limit yourself to just three minutes a day.

So, that’s why I keep the lessons to just three minutes.

It still amazes me when I get an email from somebody on the other side of the world telling me how much they have enjoyed learning German with me. Apart from the thrill it gives me to find out people are listening to my voice in places like Mongolia, Peru and even Fiji, it also confirms to me that the 3 Minute Languages courses work.

So, if you want a course that teaches you to speak German you can use in everyday situations using a simple and fun method, then sign up to 3 Minute German today.

Danke :-)

Kieran

What's inside

Learning objectives

Speak german confidently and comfortably in everyday situations
Understand what's being said back to you
Be more than just an average tourist when travelling to german speaking countries
Go from complete beginner to building your own sentences after the very first lesson
Build a solid base vocabulary of words and phrases you can use straight away in the real world
Understand and use grammatical and linguistic features of the german language with ease
Understand the structure of the german language

Give your opinions in german
Give descriptions of things in german
Greet the locals when you are in a german speaking country
Order food and drinks in german
Get to grips with german pronunciation
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Speak german confidently and comfortably in everyday situations
Understand what's being said back to you
Be more than just an average tourist when travelling to german speaking countries
Go from complete beginner to building your own sentences after the very first lesson
Build a solid base vocabulary of words and phrases you can use straight away in the real world
Understand and use grammatical and linguistic features of the german language with ease
Understand the structure of the german language
Give your opinions in german
Give descriptions of things in german
Greet the locals when you are in a german speaking country
Order food and drinks in german
Get to grips with german pronunciation
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Here is a brief introduction as to why three minutes is key to effective learning.

German in just three minutes?

In this lesson, I'll give you your first set of German words and phrases. These words and phrases are extremely useful and can be used in a variety of situations.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Breaks down the German language into small, manageable chunks, making it accessible for individuals who have struggled with language learning in the past

Focuses on practical language skills that can be immediately applied in real-world situations, enabling learners to confidently navigate everyday scenarios while traveling

Emphasizes consistent, short study sessions to maintain enthusiasm and improve memorization, which is beneficial for learners with busy schedules or short attention spans

Builds a solid foundation of vocabulary and phrases, allowing learners to construct their own sentences from the very beginning, fostering a sense of accomplishment

Includes PDF versions of practice exercises, providing learners with opportunities to reinforce their understanding and apply what they have learned in each lesson

Requires learners to have access to PDF reading software, which may pose a barrier to learners who do not have access to this software

Reviews summary

Beginner german via bite-sized lessons

According to learners, this course offers a positive and accessible introduction to German, especially for absolute beginners. Many appreciate the course's unique short lesson format, finding it excellent for maintaining consistency and motivation even with a busy schedule. Students report learning practical vocabulary and phrases that are immediately useful in everyday situations. However, some note that the course provides limited depth and only covers basic fundamentals. Learners often find it beneficial to use this course as a foundation and supplement it with additional practice or resources to progress further. Overall, it is seen as a great starting point for those new to the language.

Helps maintain motivation.

"Studying for just a few minutes each day really helped me build a consistent learning habit."

"It's much easier to commit to 3 minutes than a longer session, which keeps me motivated and on track."

"The short, daily practice reinforces memory better than longer, infrequent sessions."

"This method tricks your brain into remembering things quickly through daily exposure."

Focuses on useful everyday language.

"The phrases and words taught are really practical. I feel like I can actually use them when I travel."

"I appreciate the focus on real-world situations like ordering food and greetings."

"Learned lots of useful chunks of language that I can piece together for simple conversations immediately."

"The vocabulary feels relevant and helpful for basic communication from day one."

Excellent starting point for novices.

"As a complete beginner with zero German knowledge, I found this course incredibly easy to follow and understand."

"I had tried other German courses before and felt lost, but this one breaks everything down simply."

"Starts right from the absolute basics and builds up gradually, which is perfect for someone starting out."

"No prior language learning experience required. Very welcoming for newbies."

Easy to fit into a busy schedule.

"The three-minute format is brilliant! It makes it so easy to squeeze learning into my day, even when I'm short on time."

"I love that the lessons are only 3 minutes. It keeps me from feeling overwhelmed and helps me stay consistent every day."

"Perfect for busy people. I can do a lesson while waiting for coffee or during a short break."

"This method is great for building a daily habit. Just 3 minutes is totally manageable."

Not a standalone solution.

"This course needs to be used as a starting point alongside other resources for full development."

"You'll definitely need additional practice, especially speaking and listening, outside of these short lessons."

"It's a great introduction, but expect to supplement it with other methods to truly progress."

"Provides a good framework but isn't comprehensive enough on its own."

Covers only basic fundamentals.

"While it's great for getting started, the course doesn't go into much detail on grammar or more complex topics."

"It provides a foundation, but you won't become fluent or have deep conversations with this course alone."

"Focuses heavily on phrases and basic sentence structure, but lacks the depth needed for intermediate levels."

"Good for a quick introduction, but very limited in scope."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 3 Minute German - Course 1 | Language lessons for beginners with these activities:

Review Basic German Grammar

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental German grammar concepts before starting the course. This will make it easier to grasp new concepts and build sentences effectively.

Browse courses on German Grammar

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Review the cases: nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive.
Study the articles: der, die, das, ein, eine.
Practice conjugating common verbs in present tense.

Read 'German for Dummies'

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Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to German language basics. This book will provide additional context and examples to reinforce the course material.

View German All-in-One For Dummies, with CD on Amazon

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Read the chapters on basic grammar and vocabulary.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Focus on the sections that cover topics you find challenging in the course.

Duolingo German Practice

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Reinforce vocabulary and grammar through short, interactive exercises. Consistent practice on Duolingo will solidify your understanding of the material covered in each lesson.

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Complete one Duolingo German lesson daily.
Focus on the skills that align with the current course lesson.
Review past lessons to reinforce your knowledge.

Four other activities

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Create Flashcards for New Vocabulary

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Actively engage with new vocabulary by creating flashcards. This will help you memorize words and phrases more effectively and improve your recall during conversations.

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Write the German word or phrase on one side of the flashcard.
Write the English translation on the other side.
Use the flashcards to quiz yourself regularly.

Practice Conversational German with a Language Partner

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Improve your speaking and listening skills by practicing with a language partner. This will give you the opportunity to use the vocabulary and grammar you've learned in real-world conversations.

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Find a language partner online or in person.
Agree on a topic to discuss beforehand.
Speak only in German during the conversation.
Provide each other with feedback after the conversation.

Read 'Short Stories in German for Beginners'

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Enhance your reading comprehension and vocabulary by reading short stories in German. This will expose you to different writing styles and help you learn new words in context.

View Short Stories in German for Intermediate... on Amazon

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Read one short story per week.
Look up any unfamiliar words in a dictionary.
Summarize the story in your own words.

Write a Short Journal Entry in German

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Practice writing in German by keeping a short journal. This will help you solidify your understanding of grammar and vocabulary and improve your ability to express yourself in German.

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Write a short entry about your day or a specific event.
Use the vocabulary and grammar you've learned in the course.
Review your entry for errors and correct them.

Career center

Learners who complete 3 Minute German - Course 1 | Language lessons for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people through new places and shares information about local culture, history, and attractions. This role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with a diverse group of people. Completing a course like 3 Minute German helps build a foundation for communicating with German-speaking tourists, making a tour guide more versatile, and increasing opportunities for work in German-speaking regions or with German-speaking groups in their own area. The course's focus on practical, everyday language is particularly useful for this role, enabling a guide to greet and interact with visitors comfortably and confidently, as well as order for them in restaurants.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tour Guide

Hospitality Worker

Hospitality workers provide service to guests in hotels, restaurants, and other similar establishments. They must be friendly, customer-focused, and able to communicate clearly. A course like 3 Minute German can help by providing basic conversational skills so a hospitality worker can interact with German-speaking guests. The course specifically focuses on greetings, ordering food, and other useful phrases for the hospitality sector, making a hospitality worker more versatile to work with a wider range of guests. This is helpful in countries such as Germany, Austria or Switzerland, but also for hotels and hostels that cater to many international guests.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hospitality Worker

Travel Blogger

A travel blogger creates content about their travel experiences and shares this with an online audience. They may travel to many different countries and need to be able to communicate with locals. A course like 3 Minute German helps in developing the basic linguistic skills necessary for interacting with German speakers. This is particularly relevant for those who visit German-speaking countries, as it provides the basic vocabulary to order food, ask basic questions, and greet locals, which may help one have a more authentic and richer experience that can be shared with their audience. The course’s focus on short, manageable lessons helps a busy travel blogger to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.

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Event Coordinator

Event coordinators plan and manage events, ensuring all aspects run smoothly. They must be able to communicate with a variety of people, including vendors, staff, and attendees. A course like 3 Minute German may be useful for an event coordinator who works with international clients or in a region with many German speakers. The course provides basic conversational phrases that enable the coordinator to communicate with German-speaking attendees or vendors. Having such practical language skills helps build a welcoming environment for all attendees. In addition, familiarity with ordering food and greeting attendees can be particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Coordinator

Translator

Translators convert written or spoken material from one language into another, preserving the original meaning and context. They work in various fields such as literature, business, and technology. This course may be helpful for a translator who wants to work with German, though it does not provide sufficient depth to be a translator outright. However, building a base understanding of the language, as well as German grammar, helps to set the foundation for further study and practice. This course also provides practical vocabulary and phrases, such as how to order food and greet locals, which will be relevant should one use the language while visiting a German-speaking country as a translator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Flight Attendant

Flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers during flights. They interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures and must be able to communicate effectively with a range of people. This role requires interpersonal skills and the ability to handle stressful situations calmly. A course like 3 Minute German may be useful for a flight attendant as it provides the basic phrases and vocabulary necessary to communicate with German-speaking passengers. The course’s focus on practical, everyday language helps flight attendants to assist passengers with basic requests, such as ordering food and greeting them upon arrival. This is particularly useful for international flights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Flight Attendant

Park Ranger

Park rangers help maintain and protect natural areas, interact with visitors, and enforce park regulations. They must communicate effectively with diverse groups of people. A course like 3 Minute German will be helpful for interacting with German-speaking visitors to a park. The focus on simple phrases and practical vocabulary will enable a park ranger to greet visitors, provide basic information, and ensure their safety by establishing some basic communication to help them navigate the park, as well as offer them assistance if they are in trouble. In an international park or a park in a tourist destination, this will be critical.

See salaries and explore the career path for Park Ranger

Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives help customers with inquiries, resolve issues, and provide support for products and services. They must possess good communication and problem-solving skills. A course like 3 Minute German may be helpful for a customer service representative, as it provides basic German language skills that they can use to assist German-speaking customers. The course's focus on simple, everyday language can help service representatives greet customers, understand their basic needs, and communicate effectively. This is particularly useful for international operations or those involved in translation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

International Sales Representative

An international sales representative works with clients in other countries to sell products and services, often requiring travel and a deep understanding of different cultures. This role requires communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to present persuasively. A course like 3 Minute German may be useful because it provides basic conversational German that aids in interacting with clients and customers who are German speakers. The course teaches simple, practical phrases that assist with day-to-day interactions, as well as basic grammar, which is helpful for building a foundation for more complex conversations. While this course alone is not adequate for fluent interactions, it helps one get to know some of the necessary vocabulary.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Sales Representative

Language Tutor

A language tutor helps students learn a language by providing one-on-one instruction or small group lessons. While this course does not provide the depth required to become a German language tutor, a course such as 3 Minute German may be helpful for a tutor who works with very young or beginning learners. The course’s emphasis on building simple sentences from small chunks and providing ample opportunity for practice may be a method that a tutor may introduce to their own students. The course also provides a starting point for vocabulary and basic grammar that tutors may wish to build upon.

See salaries and explore the career path for Language Tutor

Immigration Officer

Immigration officers work in government agencies to oversee the entry and departure of people across borders. One major duty is to communicate with individuals in a respectful and clear manner. A course such as 3 Minute German provides basic phrases, particularly greetings, that help an immigration officer do their duties. The course’s focus on practical and simple language helps immigration officers communicate with German-speaking individuals with greater ease. While it is not sufficient to reach fluency, it is a starting point for those who expect to encounter German speakers at work often.

See salaries and explore the career path for Immigration Officer

Teacher

A teacher educates students in various subjects and may work at different educational levels. Teachers must have in-depth subject knowledge and the ability to explain complex material simply. Although the course does not provide enough German to be a teacher of the language, a course such as 3 Minute German may be useful for a teacher who welcomes students from diverse backgrounds as it will assist in communicating with German-speaking students and their families. Its focus on easy to understand instruction and simple sentence construction can be helpful for teachers of many different subjects. In addition, the course’s method of breaking down language into small chunks may be a method a teacher can themselves apply in their own pedagogy.

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Retail Associate

Retail associates work in stores, helping customers find products, and processing sales transactions. A course such as 3 Minute German may help a retail associate work with customers who speak German by using greetings and providing assistance with purchases. The course’s focus on practical language can be directly applied in a retail setting. This may be especially useful in areas with large German-speaking populations. This will help a retail associate to be more confident and effective in assisting that customer base. It helps create a more welcoming customer environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Retail Associate

Librarian

Librarians help patrons find resources and provide support in a library setting. They interact with a variety of people and need to communicate clearly. Though this course is not directly related to a librarian’s duties, a course like 3 Minute German may be helpful for a librarian who serves a diverse community. If German is spoken in that community, this course provides basic German skills, enabling librarians to assist patrons who may speak German as a first language. In particular, it will allow them to greet patrons in their language and offer basic support through the library’s services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Museum curator

Museum curators oversee the care and exhibition of museum collections, often involving extensive research and communication with the public. Though this role is more focused on historical and artifactual knowledge, a museum curator can be aided by a course such as 3 Minute German if they work at a museum that is frequently visited by tourists from German-speaking countries. This course will help a museum curator to communicate essential information, as well as greet guests upon arrival. The course provides a basic understanding of German grammar, which, in turn, may aid one in their research should they have to work with German language sources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in 3 Minute German - Course 1 | Language lessons for beginners.

Short Stories in German for Intermediate Learners

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Offers engaging short stories designed for beginner German learners. It helps to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition in a fun and accessible way. While the course focuses on basic conversational skills, this book provides valuable exposure to written German and expands your understanding of the language. It is best used as additional reading to supplement the course material.

Short Stories in German for Intermediate Learners:...

Paperback

(Deutsch) Short Stories in German for Intermediate Learners:...

Kindle Edition

German All-in-One For Dummies, with CD

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Provides a solid foundation in German grammar and vocabulary, making it an excellent resource for beginners. It covers essential topics such as pronunciation, basic sentence structure, and common phrases. While not strictly required, it serves as a helpful companion to the course, offering additional explanations and examples. It is commonly used as a supplementary textbook for introductory German courses.

German All-in-One For Dummies, with CD

Paperback

3 Minute German - Course 1

Language lessons for beginners

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Beginner german via bite-sized lessons

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

Reading list

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