Share experiences of learning German from A1-B2 effectively at home

German language certificates are divided into 6 levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Depending on your personal goals, you will aim to reach the level that suits your needs. For example, if you want to participate in the German Vocational Study Abroad program, you need to reach at least B1. To conquer levels from A1 to B2, one German learning roadmap systematic and effective methods are indispensable. In this article, SHD Academy will share German learning experience from A1 to B2 right at home, helping you get clear direction and achieve the best results.

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German level A1

A1 is an introductory level for beginners of German, helping learners become familiar with the most important and frequently used knowledge, including pronunciation, vocabulary and basic grammar.

Since this is the foundation stage for beginners, you should focus on learning according to the standard curriculum and not rush to learn at a higher level. During the learning process, if you encounter complex grammar structures, you can take notes for later reference, instead of trying to analyze them right away. First, try to master the basic grammar introduced in the book. Advanced topics will gradually appear as you progress to higher levels, helping you understand and apply them more easily.

It is important to note that all German nouns are capitalized and come with their gender (der, die, das) and plural forms. Learning vocabulary in clusters with their genders from the beginning will help you avoid grammar mistakes later on.

Besides learning theory, one German learning experience One way you can learn a language is to imitate the pronunciation and usage of native speakers – just like how children learn a language. 

Mispronunciation is inevitable when learning a language, so be bold and repeat after your teacher or sample dialogues. Once you overcome your initial shyness, you will gain confidence and progress quickly in communication.

Level A1 mainly revolves around familiar topics in daily life such as self-introduction, shopping, time, weather, hobbies... However, if you have never studied German before, some points may be different from English, especially in grammar and verb conjugation. Therefore, you must focus on studying and reviewing regularly from the beginning. Once you have a solid foundation in A1, studying for levels A2 and B1 will become much easier and more interesting!

>> Reference: Is learning German difficult? How long does it take to achieve a certificate B1

German level A2

When you reach level A2, you will have a certain vocabulary and can start practicing listening to German more actively. You can find German learning videos on YouTube, DW or some other websites. 

At this time, you should prioritize short videos that are relevant to daily topics to get familiar with first, then gradually increase the difficulty. Rereading Transcript (listening transcript) will help you recognize vocabulary and sentence structures more easily, thereby improving your listening skills effectively.

A2 is an important level that helps you expand the grammar foundation you learned in A1, and at the same time get familiar with many new structures such as complex sentences, simple passive voice, past tense (Präteritum). If you have a good grasp of this part, studying at B1 will become easier because you have a foundation to expand your communication skills and express more complex ideas. To understand more deeply, you should divide each day into learning a part of grammar instead of rushing to rush through the stages.

One of the useful materials for practice is Grammatik Aktiv, this book provides many practice exercises suitable for levels A1-B1 and has an answer key included so you can study at home by yourself.

To remember and use vocabulary in the right context, you should learn by topic. When learning new words, imagine and put them into real-life situations. This way helps your brain connect information better and helps you remember vocabulary longer.

Practicing writing on small topics will help you memorize vocabulary and become more familiar with sentence structure. When you write paragraphs, you not only improve your ability to express yourself but also consolidate your grammar knowledge. Save all your writing so that when you study for B1 or review for exams, you can systematize your knowledge effectively and save time.

>> Reference: EXPERIENCE IN REVIEWING THE GERMAN B1 EXAM TO ACHIEVE HIGH RESULTS

German level B1

In the B1 course, you will focus more on topic-based speaking skills. Experience in learning German The effective way to do this at level B1 is to create a presentation template to express your personal opinion or describe an image. Preparing sample communication dialogues will also help you apply them more easily in practice. 

Write an outline or list of keywords on paper first, then ask your teacher to correct your mistakes and practice at home. Another effective method is to videotape yourself speaking, from which you can recognize your mistakes, improve your pronunciation and gain more confidence when communicating.

Learning to speak alone is boring and difficult to detect mistakes, so you can find a study partner, whether online or in person. Regular communication with others helps you practice your reflexes and improve your language skills. You can combine B1 exam preparation by practicing questions, listening and speaking on popular exam topics with a study group.

At level B1, you will expand and apply the grammar knowledge learned from A1-A2, and at the same time become familiar with more complex sentence structures such as hypothetical sentences (Konjunktiv II), passive voice (Passiv) and dependent sentences (Nebensätze). Therefore, while studying, systematize your grammar knowledge scientifically, this will help you save time when reviewing for higher levels.

>> Reference: Instructions for self -preparation of German vocational studies 2025

German level B2

To improve your listening and speaking reflexes, you should maintain the habit of practicing listening every day. If you study at German language center, take advantage of the official textbook, which usually includes dialogues, listening passages and practice exercises appropriate to each level. Listening practice according to the textbook helps you approach German systematically and closely follow the exam content.

If you study at home, you can still improve your listening skills by using online resources such as Deutsche Welle (DW), Goethe Institut, Slow German or courses on BBC Languages, LingQ. At this time, you should choose listening with subtitles for easy comparison and repetition to improve pronunciation.

At B2 level, in addition to listening to keywords, you can improve your skills by following the news on German radio stations such as Tagesschau, Deutschlandfunk or watching movies with German subtitles. When listening, try to repeat the dialogue with the correct intonation and pronunciation of native speakers. This is the shadowing method that helps you improve your pronunciation and increase your communication reflexes effectively.

Besides listening practice, reading books, stories or newspapers in German is also very important. This not only helps you expand your vocabulary but also familiarizes you with the writing style, supporting your reading of academic or research documents later.

In terms of grammar, the B2 course is a step up from the B1 level, focusing on complex sentence structures such as dependent compound sentences (Nebensätze), advanced passive voice (Passiv) and subjunctive sentences (Konjunktiv II). These structures appear mainly in writing, so you should actively review your knowledge and practice intensive exercises to consolidate a solid foundation. If you do not study at a center, you can refer to the books “Grammatik Aktiv B2”, “Sicher! B2” or join German learning forums to exchange knowledge.

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Experience in improving German language skills very quickly

1. Look up the German-German dictionary to understand the exact and deeper meaning

At first, using a German-German dictionary can be difficult for beginners due to limited vocabulary. However, when applied persistently, this method will bring many benefits to learners, helping you understand the meaning of words more accurately, improve pronunciation and practice word guessing skills effectively.

2. Always make sentences with new vocabulary to remember better

Just writing down vocabulary is not very effective. Instead, you should make sentences with new words to help your brain remember longer and practice natural grammar. In addition, combining learning synonyms, antonyms and idioms is also a way to expand your vocabulary and improve your German skills.

3. Review regularly to consolidate knowledge

German levels are linked together, so learners should not ignore old knowledge when moving to a new level. Regular review will help you maintain your memory and avoid forgetting important knowledge, and at the same time support you to apply it flexibly to real-life situations.

4. Watch movies and listen to German music to improve listening skills

Watching movies and listening to music in German is an effective learning method, helping to improve listening skills and get used to natural expressions in conversation. If you still don't know where to start, you can find familiar English songs and listen to cover versions in German. In addition to supporting language learning, music and movies also help you understand more about German culture and people, thereby making it easier to integrate when living in Germany later.

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Hope the above sharing has helped you have more German learning experience and a clear direction in the process of conquering this language. Whether you are just starting out or studying at a higher level, perseverance and applying effective learning methods will help you progress quickly. If you want to learn German systematically and save time, please refer to the courses at Shd Education – The German training center belongs to the SHD ecosystem, which provides a suitable roadmap and a team of experienced instructors, ready to accompany you on your journey to conquer German!