📘 Learn Articles – The Foundation for Grammar and Fluent German. Essential for anyone who wants to learn German.
🗣️ Grammar + Speaking – Always practice together in your German course in Frankfurt and at home. Only this way will you speak confidently.
🏫 Quality of German Language Institutes in Frankfurt – Small groups, motivated teachers, and good materials are crucial.
⏰ Practice Actively – Your German improves only if you also practice outside of class.
What Really Matters When You Want to Learn German Fluently
Do you really want to learn German well? In over 20 years of teaching experience, I’ve learned what truly matters – and what many German courses and learners unfortunately get wrong.
Two of the biggest misconceptions I encountered in professional trainings:
- Articles in A1 are not important.
- Grammar is less important than understanding.
Today I know: These assumptions prevent learners from ever mastering German properly.
In this article, I’ll show you what really matters – from small groups to targeted grammar practice while speaking, the role of exams, and correcting entrenched mistakes in German courses in Frankfurt.
If you want to learn German effectively, read on and think about where you are right now in speaking German and what your goal is. Start integrating the tips from this article into your learning routine immediately.
👉 Enroll now in one of our German courses in Frankfurt – Intensive Courses, Evening courses, Morning courses (2x per week). We look forward to meeting you!
1. Articles Are Not a Side Topic – They Are the Core
When I started teaching German over 20 years ago, I learned in a training at a well-known language school in Frankfurt: “Articles in A1 are not important yet. Focus on communication first.”
I took this advice seriously. In class, I hardly corrected students using the wrong articles. Exercises for “der, die, das” were rare. I thought: This grammar will come later.
Today I know: That was a huge mistake. Articles are the foundation of the German language. Many essential grammar topics you need to speak fluently are based on them:
- Adjective declension
- Nominative, accusative, dative, genitive
- Relative clauses
- Indefinite pronouns
- Questions with “welch-”
If you don’t learn articles from the start, mistakes become fixed. Wrong articles become normal for you – and later very hard to correct.
📘 Key takeaway: Learn articles correctly from A1.1. They are not a “small detail” but the foundation for all grammar and speaking skills. Good German courses in Frankfurt ensure you master this from the start.
2. Grammar and Speaking Belong Together
Another fatal misconception I encountered: “It’s more important that A1 learners are understood than that they speak grammatically correct.” I believed it – and followed it.
But it became clear quickly:
Mistakes that aren’t corrected and explained become fixed. Later, often too late at B1/B2, learners realize: they aren’t progressing. The desire to speak German well remains unfulfilled because foundational A1 and A2 grammar is missing. Grammar and speaking cannot be separated. Without grammar, you cannot speak correctly.
Learners want grammatical explanations. Many find it easier to learn when they understand the grammar behind it and practice it repeatedly.
Previously, we offered pure conversation courses. After a few hours, students asked: “Why do we say this? Why not another way?” 90 percent of the explanations were grammatical. From then on, every course included: “Can we review grammar topic XY?”
Today, we no longer offer pure conversation courses. Grammar is always practiced together with speaking. In our German classes, you talk about yourself, your work, your daily life, new words AND grammar – using it actively. It becomes part of your language, not a separate topic. From A1.1, German is communication with structure.
🗣️ Key takeaway: Always practice grammar while speaking. Learning only rules or only conversation won’t take you far. Your German improves only when you do both simultaneously. A German school in Frankfurt that combines grammar and active speaking gives you the best chance to succeed.
3. Teaching Quality Doesn’t Happen by Itself
I’ve worked at many language institutes in Frankfurt and saw how limited teachers were in developing ideas. Creative materials were minimal. Often it was: “Most importantly, there is a teacher who teaches the class.”
Common problems I noticed:
- Slow, old printer producing poor black-and-white copies
- No copying room, few extra materials
- Copies were counted, teachers criticized for doing too much
- No observations, no chance to improve teaching methods
- No support for new ideas
- Groups too large (16–20 participants), so the teacher couldn’t focus on everyone
Back then, the only language school with quality management was the Goethe-Institut under Ms. Both-Billinger.
Today, we do it differently:
- Small groups (max. 8 participants) for sufficient speaking practice
- Internal training and team meetings
- Peer observations to learn from each other
- Exchange of creative, activating materials and games
- Wide selection of books, games, and extra materials
- Excellent resources to create teaching materials
- Focus on German courses in Frankfurt that actually deliver progress
👉 Key takeaway: Look closely at where you learn German. A good German langauge school supports teachers to provide creative exercises that truly make you speak. If “as long as someone teaches” is all that matters, there’s a high chance the lessons will follow the book rigidly, your speaking time will be very limited, and you won’t make real progress. If you truly want to improve, make sure your German courses in Frankfurt meet high standards.
4. Certificates Are Not Skills
A CEO of an international company once asked me:
“Franziska, how can applicants have a B2 certificate but barely speak German in interviews?”
That’s the problem. Many learn to pass exams, not to actually speak German. Exams measure only a slice of language, not real communication skills that cover the entire picture.
Reality: A certificate does not prove you can use German. It only proves you passed a test.
📌 Key takeaway: Learn German to communicate confidently in daily life and work – not for a certificate. A Telc B2 certificate, for example, is just a byproduct. If you truly master German, passing exams happens naturally.
5. Learning Doesn’t End in the Classroom
You don’t learn German by only attending classes. Teachers can provide input, inspiration, and exercises, but cannot learn for you. Learners who practice in daily life – asking at stores, speaking with neighbors, watching series, writing short texts – develop confidence faster.
A good German course in Frankfurt gives structure and tools. Applying them is up to you. Online translations can help but never replace real speaking practice.
⏰ Key takeaway: Practice German outside class – 30–60 minutes daily: speak, write, listen. Teachers guide you, but you must take the steps yourself.
6. Learning German Requires the Right Mindset
Be aware of your mistakes, especially if you’re B2 or higher and want to speak German well. In 20+ years, I’ve seen many learners want fluency but have deeply fossilized errors. They often fail to recognize the effort needed to correct them.
Problem: They got away with mistakes before, never taking them seriously, forming wrong habits. But if you don’t actively address mistakes, you will never speak German well. Patience, practice, and willingness to change old habits are essential.
Teachers can point out errors, provide exercises, and correct you. But relearning and conscious practice can only be done by the learner.
💡 Key takeaway: Take mistakes seriously and actively work on them.
- Already B2? Continuously reflect on your language, identify old errors, relearn consciously – it takes time and intensive practice.
- A1/A2? Practice grammar and speaking actively from the first course. Repeat and focus on areas you struggle with. Stop comparing German to English.
How to Truly Learn German – My Key Tips
After 20 years of teaching German in Frankfurt, I know: To really learn German, you need a high-quality language school that supports teachers in creative lesson preparation AND you must actively participate. Teachers can guide, give exercises, correct errors, and motivate – but speaking, practicing, and applying is up to you.
Key Learnings:
📘 Learn articles from the start – they’re the foundation.
🗣️ Practice grammar while speaking – rules alone won’t help.
🏫 Focus on quality – only good German courses in Frankfurt ensure real progress.
📌 Certificates aren’t the goal – actual skills matter, exams are secondary.
⏰ Learning doesn’t stop in class – practice daily, use real-life situations, apply the language.
💡 Mindset counts – recognize mistakes, practice deliberately, stay patient and consistent.
20 Years of Experience Teaching German. What’s Your Next Step?
Our team is specially trained to implement points 1–6 in every course – including targeted work on blocking mindsets.
Our teachers recognize within a few hours what you really need, tailor lessons exactly to that, and ensure quality through our management system – learners notice the difference. At SprachPassion – your German language school in Frankfurt – you gain high-quality instruction, confidence, courage, and real speaking practice step by step.
One thing is clear: You won’t learn German by doing nothing. If you expect progress without practice, homework, or active error correction, or only want to pass exams in group courses, SprachPassion is not the right choice.
Reading tip: “Where to find the best German course in Frankfurt?”
Start your German course in Frankfurt now:
- Intensive Courses: Learn German fast, every day – Monday to Friday.
- Evening courses: Ideal for working professionals wanting small-group practice after work.
- Morning courses (2x per week): Perfect if you prefer a less intensive pace.
- One-on-one lessons: At your own pace, focused on exactly what you need. Goal: your success.
Contact & Personal Consultation
Get personalized advice – we’re happy to help you!
Follow us on social media for news & tips
Leave a Reply