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Kieran Ball

The whole of the German language can be broken down into several different structures. If you take any sentence from any German book or any utterance, you will see that it fits into one of these structures.

I remember one weekend, I was writing some lessons for the week ahead, when I suddenly realised this. I noticed that there are a certain number of structures in German, and that every sentence follows one of these structures. I spent the rest of the weekend working out all the structures, and I wrote them all down.

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The whole of the German language can be broken down into several different structures. If you take any sentence from any German book or any utterance, you will see that it fits into one of these structures.

I remember one weekend, I was writing some lessons for the week ahead, when I suddenly realised this. I noticed that there are a certain number of structures in German, and that every sentence follows one of these structures. I spent the rest of the weekend working out all the structures, and I wrote them all down.

Every structure you learn gives you the ability to say a huge amount. Some structures are used more than others, but all the structures together make up the whole German language. Once you’ve learnt how a structure works, all you have to do is insert different words into the slots and you have a sentence.

This course introduces you to structure 3. I’ve limited each course to one structure so as not to overburden you. By looking at just one structure at a time, you can really get to grips with it and understand its usage. It will help to clarify the German language and make it more like a reflex rather than something you have to think about as is it were a maths equation.

Each structure can also help to propel you to fluency; if you can manipulate the structures at high speed, you can start to say anything you want without having to thing about how to say it.

This course contains plenty of practice opportunities for you to revise what you’ve learnt and it also contains some hints and tips on how best to learn and memorise the structures and the vocabulary that goes with them. You’ll learn how to make questions out of structure 3, how to make statements and how to turn positive statements negative.

The Building Structures in German series is set out using the same learning techniques as the 3 Minute German courses. You can work through the course in three minute chunks, enabling anybody to learn German, no matter how little time you have.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn about the third structure in the german language.
  • Get to grips with how easy it is to manipulate this structure and say what you want with it.
  • Get plenty of opportunity to practise using this structure.
  • Learn how to form questions and statements in structure 3 in both the positive and negative.
  • Complete lessons in 3 minute chunks – perfect for the busy learner.
  • Build your own sentences without memorisation.
  • Get more familiar with the present tense in german.
  • Speak from the very first lesson.

Syllabus

Introduction
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 2a
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Breaks down the German language into manageable structures, which can help beginners grasp the language more intuitively
Focuses on a single structure at a time, allowing learners to master each concept without feeling overwhelmed
Presents lessons in short, three-minute chunks, making it easier to fit language learning into a busy schedule
Offers practice opportunities to reinforce learning and provides tips for memorizing structures and vocabulary
Builds sentences without rote memorization, which can help learners develop a more natural understanding of the language
Requires learners to take previous courses in the series first, which may not suit all learners

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Reviews summary

Effective structural approach to german

According to learners, this course provides a highly effective structural approach to German grammar, making complex concepts easy to grasp. Many appreciate the format of short, 3-minute lesson chunks, finding them perfectly suited for busy schedules. Reviewers consistently praise the clarity of instruction and the helpful practice opportunities that allow them to build sentences confidently. While a few felt more examples could be beneficial, the overall sentiment is strongly positive, indicating the method is successful for many students.
Instructor explains concepts clearly.
"The instructor explains everything very clearly."
"Easy to follow thanks to the clear explanations."
"I found the teaching style very straightforward."
Useful for reinforcing and building fluency.
"Plenty of practice opportunities provided to solidify understanding."
"The exercises are useful for applying what you just learned."
"I got lots of practice building sentences with Structure 3."
Fits easily into a busy schedule.
"The 3-minute lesson chunks are ideal when you don't have much time."
"I appreciate the short lessons; easy to fit one in during a break."
"Perfect for busy learners on the go."
Simplifies German grammar rules effectively.
"Breaking German into structures makes it so simple."
"This structural approach finally made German grammar click for me."
"Learning structure by structure is a really effective method."
Could benefit from additional examples.
"I felt like I needed a few more examples for some rules."
"Sometimes I wished there were more sample sentences to practice with."

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 Building Structures in German - Structure 3 with these activities:
Review Basic German Grammar
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental German grammar concepts before diving into specific sentence structures. This will make it easier to grasp the nuances of Structure 3.
Show steps
  • Review noun cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).
  • Practice conjugating common verbs in the present tense.
  • Familiarize yourself with basic sentence order.
German Quickly: A Grammar Book for the Self-Learning Student
Read a concise grammar book to reinforce your understanding of the fundamental concepts. This is especially helpful if you are new to German or need a refresher.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'German Quickly'.
  • Read the sections on basic grammar and sentence structure.
  • Take notes on key concepts and examples.
Hammer's German Grammar and Usage
Consult a comprehensive German grammar book to deepen your understanding of the grammatical principles underlying Structure 3. This will help you avoid common errors and use the structure more effectively.
Show steps
  • Identify the grammatical concepts relevant to Structure 3 (e.g., word order, verb conjugation).
  • Read the corresponding sections in the grammar book.
  • Take notes on key points and examples.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Sentence Building Practice
Practice constructing sentences using Structure 3 with different vocabulary. This will help you internalize the structure and improve your fluency.
Show steps
  • Choose a set of vocabulary words related to a specific theme (e.g., food, travel, hobbies).
  • Create at least ten sentences using Structure 3 with the chosen vocabulary.
  • Check your sentences for grammatical accuracy.
Practice with a Language Partner
Practice using Structure 3 in conversation with a language partner. This will help you improve your fluency and confidence.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner who is also learning German.
  • Prepare a list of questions or topics to discuss using Structure 3.
  • Take turns asking and answering questions, focusing on using Structure 3 correctly.
Create a Structure 3 Cheat Sheet
Develop a cheat sheet summarizing the key elements of Structure 3. This will serve as a quick reference guide during practice and application.
Show steps
  • Identify the core components of Structure 3.
  • Create a visual representation of the structure, including examples.
  • Include common variations and exceptions.
Write a Short Story Using Structure 3
Write a short story incorporating Structure 3 sentences. This will challenge you to apply your knowledge in a creative and meaningful way.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a simple plot for your story.
  • Write a first draft, focusing on using Structure 3 as much as possible.
  • Revise your story for clarity, grammar, and natural-sounding language.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Structures in German - Structure 3 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
German Language Tutor
A German language tutor helps students learn German, and this course focusing on structure 3 helps build a foundation for teaching. This role involves explaining grammatical concepts and providing exercises, similar to the course which provides practice opportunities for the learner. This course helps a tutor understand how to break down the German language into manageable structures, and this instructor can then pass that skill on to students. This course also delves into how to form questions and statements, as well as how to turn positive statements negative, crucial aspects of German grammar that a tutor must be able to explain. This method of teaching German in three minute chunks in the course can also inform a tutor's approach to lessons.
Language Curriculum Developer
A language curriculum developer creates materials for language learning, and this course centered on a core structure of the German language, structure 3, may be useful. The role involves designing lessons and activities that help students understand and use a language. This course's focus on breaking down language into structures can help a curriculum developer understand how to create a strong, scalable architecture for teaching any language. This course can inform the design of lessons that focus on how to build sentences without rote memorization. The course’s focus on forming questions and statements and turning positive statements negative also helps inform the design of teaching materials.
International Sales Representative
An international sales representative works with clients from different countries, and this course that introduces German structure is very helpful. The representative must be able to communicate effectively with clients, and this course imparts to learners the ability to form German sentences from structure 3 without rote memorization. This course also enables learners to form questions and statements, a key skill for interacting with clients. A sales representative needs to be able to speak German quickly and fluently and this course helps by teaching them how to manipulate the structures at high speed, enabling them to say what they want without having to think about how to say it.
Bilingual Customer Service Representative
A bilingual customer service representative interacts with customers in multiple languages, and a course which introduces German language structure can help. This role requires clear communication and the ability to understand and respond to different requests and questions. This course helps with the understanding of German sentence structure, and this improves a representative's ability to respond effectively in German. A customer service representative must be able to use German in a natural way, and this course helps by teaching the student how to make questions and statements, and also how to turn positives into negatives, all using structure 3.
German Language Content Creator
A German language content creator develops text or videos for German speakers, and this course that introduces a German language structure is very helpful. The content creator will need to be able to communicate effectively with the audience while understanding the structure of the language. This course offers an efficient way to get to grips with German language structures, and it provides opportunities to practice the structure. This course focuses on the present tense, and this will be pertinent to communicating to the modern audience. This course also covers questions, statements, and negative constructions, basic building blocks of any communication.
Translator
A translator converts written material from one language to another, and this course, which introduces learners to essential German structure, may be useful. Translators must have a deep understanding of grammatical structures in both languages to ensure accuracy, and this course provides learners with knowledge and practice in manipulating structure 3. This course focuses on how to build sentences, and this skill is very important for a translator. The ability to understand how to form questions, statements, and negative constructions in German as taught by the course directly relates to a translator's daily work.
International Tour Guide
An international tour guide leads groups of travelers in a foreign country, and this course, which enables the learner to speak German from the first lesson, helps the guide communicate. The tour guide will need to be able to communicate details of the tour and answer questions from the group, and this course teaches how to form questions and statements from structure 3. By being able to use the language in a natural way, a tour guide can provide a better experience for the traveler. A tour guide needs to understand the basic use of the German language, and this course gives them that foundation.
Language Learning Consultant
A language learning consultant advises individuals and organizations on effective language learning strategies, and this course on structure 3 may be useful. The consultant must understand how to teach and how to learn, and the course introduces learners to a specific method for breaking down large topics into smaller pieces. This course teaches learners about the importance of repeated practice, and this can inform a consultant how to advise on language learning. The consultant must be able to speak on language learning, and this course gives the learner a specific topic to discuss with clients.
Immigration Specialist
An immigration specialist assists individuals with the process of immigrating to a new country, and this course on language structure may be valuable if the specialist works with German speakers. The ability to understand clients is of paramount importance, and this course offers a foundation for comprehending spoken and written German. This course familiarizes the learner with the present tense in the German language and provides practical methods for forming questions and statements. An immigration specialist will need to know the German language well in order to best serve their clients, and this course can help build that foundation.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports news from a specific country, and this course, which focuses on German language structure, may be useful. Understanding how the language works allows a correspondent to interact with people and understand their perspectives. This course will familiarize the correspondent with the present tense of the German language, essential for gathering current events. The course introduces methods for questions and statements, and this skill set is crucial for a correspondent's day to day activities. A foreign correspondent needs to know the language well to get an accurate view of the world, and this course will help them get a start.
International Marketing Specialist
An international marketing specialist develops and implements marketing strategies in multiple countries, and this course on German language structure may be useful. Understanding the nuances of language is necessary to connect with customers. This course teaches methods for creating questions, statements, and negative sentences and the specialist will need to use that knowledge to connect with German-speaking clients. The specialist should be able to understand and use the German language fluently, and this course shows how the language can be manipulated and used at high speed.
Software Localization Specialist
A software localization specialist adapts software for use in different regions, and language skills, which can be enhanced by this course, are important for such a position. The ability to understand the structure of a language leads to better localization of software. This course provides a structured overview of the German language, and this can help give better insight into how to translate software. The course introduces how to form questions and statements, and these skills translate directly to the process of localization. This course may help the software localization specialist better understand the language.
Bilingual Paralegal
A bilingual paralegal supports lawyers by translating documents and assisting with cases involving clients who speak a different language, and this course on German structure may be useful. Accurate communication and understanding of legal documents in German for a paralegal is very important. This course helps give the learner a foundation for building sentences in German. The course describes how to manipulate the language to form questions and statements. This skill set is directly relevant to a paralegal. This course provides a method for helping the paralegal get to grips with German.
International Relations Officer
An international relations officer works to establish and maintain relationships between different countries, and this course on German structure can assist with communication. The role requires a delicate understanding of cultural nuances, and this can come with a firm grasp of a language such as German. This course helps the learner gain the ability to manipulate structure at high speed to say whatever they want. The ability to form questions and statements, as well as negative constructions, is key to expressing thoughts clearly and accurately. This course helps an officer express themselves with confidence and precision in German.
Academic Researcher in Linguistics
An academic researcher in linguistics studies language structure, and this course that introduces structure 3 may be useful. A researcher examines the fundamental workings of language and this course introduces a specific model of how German works. This course enables the learner to identify the basic structures of the German language, and this kind of knowledge helps with the process of research. This course delves into the present tense, and this may be of particular interest to a researcher. This course provides a real world example of how a common language works and thus helps inform the process of linguistics research. This role often requires an advanced degree.

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 Building Structures in German - Structure 3.
Comprehensive guide to German grammar, covering a wide range of topics in detail. It serves as an excellent reference for understanding the nuances of German sentence structure and usage. While not specifically focused on Structure 3, it provides the necessary grammatical foundation for mastering it. It is commonly used as a textbook in university-level German courses.
Is designed for self-learners and provides a concise overview of German grammar. It can be helpful for quickly reviewing basic concepts before or during the course. While it may not delve into the same depth as more comprehensive grammar books, it offers a practical and accessible approach to understanding German grammar. It is most valuable as additional reading to reinforce concepts learned in the course.

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