logo
episode-header-image
May 2021
46m 11s

403 - Is this the smartest way to learn ...

OLLY RICHARDS
About this episode

In this episode, I speak with Michael Schmitz, the man behind the site Smarter German and the author of How to Learn German Faster. He holds a master's degree in German as a Foreign Language, and has been teaching the language all the way back to 1999. After teaching in traditional language schools for many years, Michael grew increasingly frustrated with the mainstream approach to teaching languages and decided to branch out on his own and begin teaching German in a more effective way.

In the conversation, we discuss:

  • The benefits of learning German through engaging stories (e.g. murder mysteries).
  • Why learning German in German is so inefficient (and the approach Michael recommends instead).
  • The most common struggles English-speakers have when learning German (and how to overcome them).

Do You Have A Question?

This show exists to answer your language learning questions! Send me your questions by visiting:

https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/ask

...and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show!

Leave a Review

If you'd like to support the show, the best way to do that is to:

  • Leave an honest review of the show wherever you get your podcasts. (You can normally do this within the app you're using.)
  • Share this episode with a friend (use the share buttons on your screen)

Olly's Language Courses

If you're learning a new language, or improving an existing one, then check out my language  courses. From complete beginner courses, to grammar and listening training, I've created unique, story-based programmes to help you reach you language goals.

Please visit:

https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/language-courses-select-your-language

Up next
Nov 24
$200 Off StoryLearning Courses | Black Friday Deal
<p>👉 Get $200 off my courses: https://storylearning.com/friday25 </p><p><br></p><p>Our biggest sale of the year starts right now. From now until December 2nd at midnight Pacific, every StoryLearning course is 66% off. That&#39;s $200 in savings. Normally $297, now just $97. Grab ... Show More
4m 37s
Nov 19
508: How to actually learn a language in 12 months
<p>👉 Grab your FREE Language Difficulty Guide: https://l.storylearning.com/difficulty </p><p><br></p><p>Can you really learn a language in 12 months? Definitely, with the right mindset, approach and effort. To give you inspiration for and insight into fast language learning, I l ... Show More
11m 40s
Nov 12
507: I don't maintain my languages...and you shouldn't either
👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/bingeI’ve learned eight languages - so how on earth do I maintain them all? It’s a question people often ask me. And my answer surprises and confuses them. Find out why. 👉 Got a question you want O ... Show More
10m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2013
CBG 1:09 | Saying that you are learning German
<p>In this latest episode of Coffee Break German we’ll be looking at how to cope with language difficulties and to explain that you don’t understand – that you’re just learning German! In this lesson you’ll do some practice of last week’s topic of giving directions, and you’ll le ... Show More
24m 46s
Nov 2021
#41 - Saying of the Week//News in German (with English translation)//Exercises to learn German
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/4GyfrXA7JAE" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">&lt;p&gt;Get interactive quizzes, vocabulary, exercises and more for each podcast episode. Join my Membership 💪&lt;a href=&quot;https://expertlygerman.com/learn-german-podcast/&quot;&gt;⁠⁠htt ... Show More
11m 42s
Jul 2020
#4 - Nachrichten zum Deutsch lernen | Konjunktiv 1
<p>Get interactive quizzes, vocabulary, exercises and more for each podcast episode. Join my Membership 💪<a href="https://expertlygerman.com/learn-german-podcast/">⁠⁠https://expertlygerman.com/learn-german-podcast/⁠⁠</a></p> You can also join my: <ul> <li>🗣️ Conversation Club, ... Show More
5m 11s
Nov 2021
#42 - Goethe Quote//News in German (with English translation)//Übung zum Deutsch lernen
<p>Get interactive quizzes, vocabulary, exercises and more for each podcast episode. Join my Membership 💪<a href="https://expertlygerman.com/learn-german-podcast/">⁠⁠https://expertlygerman.com/learn-german-podcast/⁠⁠</a></p> You can also join my: <ul> <li>🗣️ Conversation Club, ... Show More
12m 5s
Apr 2018
CBG 2.28 | Deutschschüler sind Leute, die Deutsch lernen
<p>Coffee Break German is the course&nbsp;<em>which</em>&nbsp;teaches you German. Andrea is the teacher&nbsp;<em>who</em>&nbsp;helps Mark learn. You are the student&nbsp;<em>who</em>&nbsp;is learning along with Mark, and this is the lesson&nbsp;<em>in which</em>&nbsp;you'll learn ... Show More
36m 20s
Jan 2013
CBG 1:01 | Saying how you are feeling
<p><br></p><p>Welcome to this first episode of Coffee Break German, our new German course for beginners. In weekly episodes you’ll join native speaker Thomas who’ll be teaching learner Mark in gradual, structured lessons. Our “Cultural Correspondent” Julia and our “Grammar Guru” ... Show More
21m 3s
Dec 2023
#131 - German Airport ✈️ (Vocabulary lesson & Quiz)
<p>If you are using a German airport you might want to show your friends how well you speak German by learning these words and phrases.</p> <p>Get interactive quizzes, vocabulary, exercises and more for each podcast episode. Join my Membership 💪<a href="https://expertlygerman.co ... Show More
21m 56s
Dec 2014
CBG 1:40 | Mein Deutsch hat sich sehr verbessert!
<p>In the final episode of this series of Coffee Break German, Mark reflects on his visit to Innsbruck and Thomas helps him talk more about things in the past in German. In this lesson you will:</p><ul><li>learn how to use the perfect tense combining the auxiliary verb <strong>ha ... Show More
17m 56s
Jun 2017
CBG 2.09 | Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich Deutsch eine schöne Sprache finde
<p>If you've been following our Coffee Break German lessons you can now use <strong>denn</strong> to give a reason - ausgezeichnet! However, there is another word which also means "because", and that's <strong>weil</strong>, and this word brings with it some challenges regarding ... Show More
24m 4s
Sep 2013
CBG 1:24 | Using the phone in German
<p>This lesson focuses on using the phone in German. In this lesson you will learn:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>how to answer the phone in German;</li><li>how to ask to speak to someone;</li><li>to understand other phone phrases in German;</li><li>how to use pronouns in the dative case ... Show More
25m 35s