4 Reasons why you don’t make progress when speaking German
Here’s a typical situation that probably feels very familiar to you:
You want to say something and start with the first words. Then the block begins: You search for a specific word, the correct grammar, and you become unsure whether people understand you. Then you wonder what others might think if you speak so poorly. Then you think: It’s always the same. My German is too bad. I just can’t make progress.
I understand you all too well. Because I know this feeling myself. Here I show you 4 reasons why you don’t make progress with your German—especially when SPEAKING German.
1. Perfectionism
The first reason is: In that moment, you want to say everything perfectly and correctly, step by step, and use the grammar rules nicely in order. But that’s impossible because grammar is complex.
And suddenly, you end up on Google.
You try to figure out how grammar and words work in your native language so that you can say exactly what you want. But you DON’T SAY it. You read it from your phone. For a moment, you feel relieved. BUT: You immediately forget it again.
The consequence: The learning effect that had just started—without Google—is gone. Because you are back in the language you already know.
So the problem isn’t your insecurity. It’s what you do in that moment to turn insecurity into security. And that slows you down. Why? I explain it here:
- Problem 1: You want a direct comparison with your native language or English.
- Problem 2: You want to translate into English.
- Problem 3: You want to memorize what you don’t understand in order to apply it later.
All three problems are fatal for your German. Because you don’t give German a chance to develop in your brain.
2. Fear of making mistakes
The second reason why you don’t make progress when SPEAKING German is that you are afraid of making mistakes. And these mistakes are mainly in vocabulary and correct grammar. Often, these 4 questions come to mind:
1. What’s the word?
Searching for the right word can drive you crazy. You know the word in your native language, but not in German.
BUT: That’s normal! You can’t know all the words because you are still learning the language.
Do this instead: Try to use another word, even if it doesn’t fit perfectly. Show it with your hands, with your facial expressions. Signal to your conversation partner that you’re looking for the word. They can help you.
BUT: If your conversation partner wants to help you in English, say, “Stop, please only in German. Because only this way can I learn it properly.” This is very, very important.
2. Am I using the correct verb form?
You are unsure whether you conjugated the verb correctly or whether the verb is in the right tense. You conjugate, search for the correct tense, and stop speaking.
Do this instead: Think for 5 seconds. Say the verb and signal to your conversation partner that you’re not sure. Then they might help you automatically.
3. Are all words in the correct position?
Sometimes it’s frustrating that the position of the verb changes in German: in main clauses in position 2, in subordinate clauses at the end. And then you’re totally confused. Understandable! But also: Totally normal.
Do this instead: Think for 5 seconds and say your sentence slowly. It’s not bad if it’s wrong. At home, you can write the sentence down again and think about how it should be correct. Then also ask someone who knows German well to correct it for you.
4. Am I using the correct article?
You ask yourself: How do I know which article is correct? How do I know that the table is ‘der’ Tisch? Tisch is an object, and things are neutral, so it should be “das,” right?? That’s also how it is in English!
All this questioning and searching for a sensible explanation is usually in vain. It doesn’t help you in the moment.
Do this instead: Think for 5 seconds, say an article, and then ask whether it was correct. Maybe you even get the answer directly from your conversation partner.
Articles are extremely important. True. You have to learn them. There’s no way around it. But you don’t have to get them right spontaneously in conversation. Just like you eat regularly, you should regularly learn the articles for each noun. AND: You just have to use them regularly, with mistakes.
Start now to learn the articles. Do the article test: Article rules.
3. New situations
The third reason why you don’t make progress when SPEAKING German: A new situation in which you suddenly have to speak German triggers panic and you feel insecure.
BUT: Isn’t that always the case in life? When something new awaits us, we become nervous. It can be even the smallest things in everyday life, like a phone call with a stranger. Becoming nervous and feeling insecure is completely normal.
What’s important is that you can handle the insecurity and don’t get stuck in it.
4. Self-doubt
The fourth reason that prevents you from SPEAKING German: You fear the judgment of others. You are unsettled by all the people around you who speak the language well and fear what they might think of you. They speak well, but maybe you’re not quite there yet. That’s why you doubt yourself.
This thought spiral blocks you.
Remember: Everyone has their own rhythm and learns in their own way. Some are faster, others a little slower. But everyone can reach the goal. You too!
What does all this lead to?
It mainly leads to you not saying what you could actually say spontaneously and confidently. Your confidence when speaking decreases, and you stay silent. If you don’t speak, you also don’t see progress. A vicious cycle. This is how the boomerang effect arises.
Boomerang effect: The opposite happens to what you intended. You intended to learn German perfectly, but because you’re insecure, you say nothing or switch directly to English.
It’s completely natural to search for words and the correct grammar and to become unsure. BUT: That it blocks you and you stop speaking doesn’t have to happen.
5 Solutions for more confidence when speaking
Here are 5 tips to gain more confidence and finally speak German more freely. You stop clinging too much to correct grammar and end up thinking only in German.
1. Accept every language as it is!
Be aware that grammar is different in every language, rules vary depending on the language, and vocabulary is different. Even the sentence structure is different in every language. So be aware that you can never translate a sentence one-to-one into the target language/native language.
2. Practice thinking in the target language!
Thinking in the target language may be difficult at first, but try to translate some thoughts into German. Write them down in German. Even with mistakes or only with basic words. Then read your thoughts again and again. It doesn’t have to be long! Describe your daily routine in German. Do question-answer exercises, describe pictures, videos, movie scenes. You will notice after some time that you will speak much more spontaneously in German.
3. Make German part of your daily life!
Learn the language in every situation.
A small talk with neighbors. Ask what they did today and talk, for example, about the weather. Confront your own insecurities and SPEAK. Be aware that insecurity is part of learning.
Read things in the shop, on the street, in the subway. Take EVERYTHING as learning input.
You can only learn what you couldn’t do before. This way, German becomes a fixed part of your day.
Don’t be afraid of mistakes.
Don’t let them stop you from speaking, even if you don’t formulate exactly what you want to say. Mistakes are there to learn from. It’s also okay if you don’t get the chance to speak German with someone. Simply speak to yourself or in your thoughts in German.
Don’t cling to grammar.
Grammar exercises don’t mean you can use the grammar while speaking. You have to practice that separately, over and over. In every conversation.
4. Don’t be intimidated!
If you don’t understand something, it’s no reason to become pessimistic. Every language has a colloquial form. Be aware that sometimes people say, “hab’s erledigt” instead of “Ich habe das jetzt erledigt.” You might eventually reach a point where you shorten words and sentences because you already master the language so well.
Stay consistent in German, no matter how others look at you and no matter how uncomfortable or insecure you feel.
5. Courage is more important than perfection!
The ABC of speaking German is DOING—so SPEAKING, not constantly analyzing and translating.
Speaking comes first in learning. Therefore, always have the courage to speak. It doesn’t matter if you speak correctly or incorrectly, a lot or a little. Because: Mistakes are part of the process—the goal is communication, not perfection. Perfection only comes with mistakes. If you make no mistakes, you can’t perfect anything.
Think of it like learning to ride a bike: You fall often at first before you can ride safely.
My TOP tip for you
Be patient! Keep going! And don’t give up!
The point at which you understand much more and suddenly can say more ALWAYS comes. You probably won’t notice the progress until then. Something happens like in a Pandora’s box. You only notice it when you reach that point. In between, you notice nothing.
Accept German as it is, without constantly analyzing and without translating everything. The more you speak, the more familiar you become with the language. Each day you just start speaking, you get more confident. Think of the Pandora’s box 😉
Warm regards,
Your Büşra
Büşra Taş
I studied German to become a teacher and now teach as part of the SprachPassion team. I am a native speaker of both Turkish and German. Find out more about me here: About.
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