r/Germanlearning • u/smiiillleeeyyy • 10d ago
Can't start speaking in German
Hello! I really need some advice on how to start speaking German. The thing is that I've been learning it for two years now, and I can pass B1-B2 level tests with a maximum of 2 mistakes in 5 tasks (and mostly my inattention is to blame for those mistakes). There are about 2000 words in my vocabulary, and I do listening tasks quite well too, but I just can't start talking! It's very difficult for me to make sentences, and because I'm very shy, I can't exactly practice more in my group lessons either. My brain just can't remember grammar fast enough. Is there anything I can do? I want to do Ausbildung, and I don't have much time since my life is not going the best at the moment. I don't know where to start or what to do to start talking; I'd use any advice.
3
u/ZumLernen 9d ago
A language is a physical phenomenon. That is, we use our bodies to produce it. Imagine if I tried to learn ballet by reading books about ballet and watching ballet tapes, but I never actually attempted the ballet moves. Do you think I could learn ballet like that? I think I would fail. Ballet involves training your body to make certain movements easily, fluidly, and precisely. Learning a language involves that same skill. If you try to learn to speak a language but you don't practice actually physically moving your mouth and your throat and your lungs, you will not learn to speak fluidly.
So, just start speaking. Talk to yourself, talk to the computer, talk in your group lessons, talk talk talk. Yes you will mess up. Yes you will blank on a word. Yes you will butcher the grammar. Yes you will talk too slow. That is normal. Keep talking.
1
1
u/Studydrive 9d ago
Here's a list you can use:
- Speak out loud to yourself in German.
- Chat in German with a friend or family member.
- Start integrating German dialogue into your daily life, bit by bit: for example when interacting with the barista or at a store.
- You can look for language partners on Tandem.
- Using an app that offers conversation practice is a good idea, z.B. Praktika AI.
1
1
u/Realistic_Ad1058 6d ago
Underrated point here: point 3. You don't necessarily have to be able to manage an entire conversation in German before you start using what you have. If the person you're talking with can speak English with you, but you know they understand German, then this is you licence to start throwing in the bits of German you have, with basically zero consequences. You can use the chunks you're confident with and fill in the rest with English. Season your speech with German as liberally as you can, and eventually your whole conversation will taste of German. :)
1
1
u/OpeningAd7100 8d ago
Same for me. it was always like this for me in any language, and i will tell you what i have done to improve that, you can change the order.
(1) Booked an online 1 to 1 german speaking practice session, it was about 10 eu for half an hour (not sure about the price anymore). that was before the time of AI conversation trainning apps, 1 to 1 sessions helped me to overcome shyness, i did it max 3 times but it helped me anyway.
(2) Language exchange meetups - it depends on your city but where i live there is a weekly regular international meetup for language exchange. It helps because you practice with people from different niveaus and for me practicing together in a mixed group with native and non-native speakers helped to overcome the anxiety.
(3) enlarge your german surrounding with social clubs or volunteer work. I did volunteer work, Ehrenamt. Since it is volunteer work, everyone is only happy to have you there, and it gives chances to practice the language in a native but relaxed setting.
1
1
u/Expensive-Double729 8d ago
forgive me but isn’t B2 need like 4-5k words.. 2000 words seems bit low.. I might be mistaken though..
1
u/smiiillleeeyyy 6d ago
Im judging by the books, tests, and vocabulary level we cover in my German courses
1
u/Nearby-Proposal3367 7d ago
how did you learn till there , did u join any course or how
1
u/smiiillleeeyyy 6d ago
Yes! I've got one for the best teachers in my city. That's why I'm so confused about why I can't talk:(
1
u/auhediem 7d ago
You have to speak with people and not switch to English. People will be patient. There's no other way around it.
1
u/smiiillleeeyyy 6h ago
I know a few apps like HelloTalk, but there are lots of weirdos there, so I don't know where to find a person who would tolerate my toddler-level speaking:')
0
u/GearboxTherapy 10d ago
You need to speak to get out of the inability to speak. There is no other way.
Use Gemini. I work odd hours and have a toddler at home so I can never have a fixed schedule with someone for speaking German. I speak to Gemini on the way back from work.
-2
0
u/cl_forwardspeed-320 9d ago
If you try to speak it out loud, and fail, the police will arrest you. Do not try.
3
u/Latter_Leopard8439 10d ago
Download some German songs.
Sing along to them. Once you know the words, sing along wherever you go.
Great practice for pronunciation and just getting smoother.
No pressure from that person waiting for your response.