7 language challenges for beginnersGermanMind method
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  • Writer's pictureSarah
    • May 2, 2023
    • 5 min read

7 language challenges for beginners

Whether you are learning German for travel, work, or simply for fun, there will always be challenges along the way but instead of avoiding them, its best to know what they are and how you can tackle them. So, if you want to find out what the 7 language challenges are for beginners let's dive in!



1. Fear of talking to strangers

When it comes to learning German, one of the most intimidating aspects can be the fear of talking to strangers. After all, making conversation with a native German speaker is often the best way to learn the language. But for many German learners, the thought of putting themselves in a position where they’ll have to speak German, they’re not yet comfortable with can be quite scary. The fear of talking to strangers in German can be overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that it’s completely normal and can be overcome with some simple tips and tricks. One of the best ways to overcome this fear is to start small. Instead of talking to a native German speaker right away, try speaking to someone who speaks German as a second language. This can be a great way to practice your conversation skills in a less intimidating environment as they were once in the same position as you so they’ll be more empathetic when it comes to any mistakes you may make when speaking German. If finding a native or fluent German speaker in person is still to daunting there is aways the option of finding them online through social media to help ease the anxiety.


2. Lack of motivation

When it comes to learning German, it’s easy to become discouraged. The grammar can be difficult to grasp, and it can take a long time to get to a level where you feel comfortable communicating in German. But there are a few things you can do to help yourself stay motivated and keep learning German. The first is to set realistic goals. Don’t try and learn the entire language in a week, but instead break it down into smaller, more manageable goals. This will help you stay focused, and it will also make it easier to track your progress. Another way to stay motivated is to find activities that make learning fun. There are many non-formal fun ways you can study German such as by watching German movies and tv shows, listening to German music, playing German language learning games, etc.


3. Self-doubt

it’s perfectly normal to feel uncertain or experience self-doubt when learning German. After all, there’s a lot to learn, and it can take a lot of time and effort.

One of the best things you can do to help combat self-doubt is to set realistic, achievable goals. Remember that learning German is not a competition or a race, you can learn at your own pace and time and making small steps will help you accomplish much more learning as you’re giving your brain reasonable time to digest the new German vocabulary. By setting yourself weekly or monthly goals, such as learning a few new words in German, mastering a new grammar point or having short conversations with native German speakers, will give you a sense of accomplishment and help you to stay motivated.

It’s very normal and common to experiences setbacks when learning German as there will be times when you make mistakes, don’t understand something or feel like you’re not making any progress. This is completely fine so don’t let it stop you from continuing to learn German. Instead, take it as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and become a better German speaker.


4. Thinking it’ll be easy

Many people seem to think that learning German will be a breeze as it shares a similar alphabet to the English language and has some words that also resemble English words. However, German is a complex language with its own unique rules and regulations, and it’s not as easy as you might think. To begin with, German has four different cases nominative, accusative, dative and genitive. This means that the words you use will change depending on the context of your sentence something that isn’t a feature of English. The German language also has a vast range of verb conjugations which can make understanding how to create different tenses quite a challenge. It’s important to understand the various forms of the verbs –such as the perfect and subjunctive tenses in order to communicate effectively in German.


5. Procrastination

Procrastination is something that many people struggle with especially when it comes to learning a new language such as German. Sometimes it can get tricky learning to think in a language different to your native one, so it can make you lose motivation. The best way to beat procrastination is by finding ways to keep yourself entertained as you’re studying German, so to do this you should start focusing on certain topics that you find particularly interesting whenever you feel yourself getting distracted. This will help to keep you motivated and engaged in the learning process. It’ll also help you stay on track and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done.


6. Fear of learning a new language

German is known for its long and complex words, which can be difficult to pronounce and understand. However, with some patience and dedication, learning German is very achievable you just need to have the right mindset. One of the biggest obstacles to learning German is the fear of making mistakes. Many people are intimidated to make mistakes and worry about embarrassing themselves in front of native German speakers. But the truth is that everyone makes mistakes when learning German and you shouldn’t feel ashamed. Speaking German with native German speakers can be a great way to practice and gain confidence in the language. Having someone fluent in German will help you improve your German as they can give you feedback and guidance which can help boost your confidence and encourage you to keep on learning.


7. Stuck in your ways

In a stubborn mindset, you tend to focus on the small details and become overly critical of yourself and your progress. This can be especially frustrating when it comes to learning German. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the complexities and nuances of German, and the tendency to compare yourself to other learners can lead to feeling discouraged or even defeated. The key to getting out of a stubborn mindset is to focus on making small, achievable goals and reminding yourself of your progress. Instead of criticizing yourself for not being able to understand a certain German phrase or word, view it as an opportunity to learn something new. Take the time to practice and practice some more, and remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes. Don’t forget to make sure to take breaks and enjoy yourself. Learning German isn’t meant to torture you, it should be a fun and rewarding experience.


Conclusion

If you enjoyed learning about the 8 reasons to learn new languages this year and would like to find the best German classes for beginners in Dublin then please check out the GermanMind website where you can learn German from amazing German teachers at affordable prices.



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