Speak German with more courage: Why not only the language is holding you back (Part 2)

Six skydivers hold hands in the air – symbolizing that speaking German only works with others and requires courage.

The key points at a glance:

  1. 🗣 Your voice sounds different in German
    In every foreign language, your voice sounds different – deeper, higher, or simply unfamiliar. It feels strange at first, but that’s completely normal. With every opportunity to speak, you get used to the sound of your new voice.
  2. 🧠 Your mind sometimes works against you
    Almost every German learner knows this: You imagine in advance how embarrassing it might be to speak or that no one will understand you. This “negative scenario” blocks you more than grammar or vocabulary – which is why regular speaking practice is so important.
  3. 🌍 Get to know German culture
    Direct answers, clear body language, different social norms – by speaking German, you also get used to the culture. This makes the language easier to understand and gives you more confidence in conversations.

These invisible factors block your German speaking

In the first part of this series, I showed you why perfectionism, fear of mistakes, new situations, and self-doubt can hold you back.

👉 Reading tip: If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you can find it here → Speak German with more courage: Why insecurity is holding you back and how to change it (Part 1).

Now it’s about something else: factors that have nothing directly to do with grammar or vocabulary – and yet make it damn hard to speak German.

If you want to learn German, you first of all need a German course that really challenges you to SPEAK. But apart from that, you also need other occasions for speaking. Especially in Frankfurt, there are countless opportunities to actually use German in everyday life, at events, or in conversations with others. Even with absolute basics, you can start speaking.

1. The different sound of your voice when speaking German

Your voice sounds different in German. In every foreign language you speak, it sounds different. It can be deeper, higher, brighter, darker. And the person who notices it sounding strange first is YOU yourself. Because you are used to your voice in your native language.

German often sounds harsh at first, sometimes even “strict,” because the word stress is different.

But that’s exactly part of it: the voice and the stress. Both go much deeper than grammar. Your ears and your whole body need to get used to it.

2. The typical negative scenario when learning German

Almost every German learner knows this: You want to say something and already imagine in advance how difficult it will be, how embarrassing it will feel if you say something wrong or clumsy, and that your conversation partner might not understand you.
This mental movie blocks you more than grammar. And it makes you prefer to stay silent or switch back to English right away.

👉 In our German courses, you will overcome the fear of speaking German.

3. The new culture: How to get used to German directness

Germans say “yes” and “no” very directly. And you think: “That sounds rude!”

Culture and mentality are closely tied to language. Germans are simply very direct and like to get to the point, without meaning it in an impolite way. They appreciate a clear “yes” or “no” – and for many non-German speakers, that feels unfamiliar.

This also includes body language, which is different too. But that’s the case in every language. You only have to observe Italians. Germans would never be that extroverted. But once you start speaking a bit of Italian, you’ll notice that you automatically adopt this energetic, active way more easily. It comes WITH the language – along with an understanding of the culture and the people.

It’s no different with German.

That means: if you want to learn German, you also have to embrace the new culture to some extent. But you’ll adopt it automatically as you learn the language. Because the two are connected. Then, over time, the language won’t sound so strange anymore, and you won’t perceive Germans as so impolite, because through the language you’ll feel more connected to them.

The solution for more confidence in speaking German

When you are regularly challenged to speak in your German course, you notice:

👉 The solution is simple but crucial: You MUST SPEAK German.

In a good German course in Frankfurt, you don’t just learn the language – you specifically train speaking German and develop the right “feeling” for communication and reactions in German. That makes it much easier for you to really start conversations – even with simple basics.

Everything starts with the basics.

Franziska Becker M.A.

Linguistin, Anglistin und Romanistin mit Passion auch für die deutsche Sprache. Gründerin von SprachPassion (seit 2021), mehrjährige Lehrtätigkeit u.a. am Goethe Institut Frankfurt. Mein tolles Team bei SprachPassion bringt dir die Sprache mit großer Leidenschaft bei.

Ich liebe guten Wein, mit Freunden zu essen und Autofahren, obwohl ich gar kein Auto habe und immer mit dem Rad unterwegs bin. Kontakt aufnehmen.


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