Why does it sometimes feel so impossible to break through to conversational German?

Prefer to listen: Podcast

Let's start with the symptom. That shows you how you can recognize whether this is affecting you at all.

You understand German quite well and can even say a few sentences. Whenever you're socializing. On coffee dates with colleagues or family, for example, and the majority speaks German, you try briefly but then switch back to English.

In other words, you say: “Hey, I can’t really express myself in German the way I would in English, and I can't really count German among the languages I actually speak.”

Let's first take a look at the possible cause for this:

To put it simply, you don't have the right tools yet. Here are some tools for different scenarios:

You think you need to study textbooks: This means that you have too few elements built into your learning that you can actually enjoy.

Many people suppress this because they think learning works the way they learnt it at school. And they forget that they perhaps didn’t have any fun at school either—and gave up far too quickly because the things they learnt didn’t help them at all.

And then, of course, there's the point...

Many people say, “OK, I've got it, I need to have fun learning.” But then they just use an app, thinking it will solve everything.

That’s a misconception. These apps don't even know where you currently stand, and you might waste a lot of time. Just to be back at the same point as before after a few months.

"Joa, but the main thing is that you had fun" 🤪 they think.

So what’s the solution?

Instead of relying solely on apps, you should combine different learning methods to achieve sustainable progress. The best solution is to use a method tailored to your next goals.

And I would advise you to use stories. That doesn’t mean fantasy novels. They should be real-life stories. In text, audio, or video form.

Can’t use the stuff that I learned in my German lesson

Another issue is relying on generic input that doesn’t help with real conversations.

Many people spend hours on social media memorizing useful things, but often, these don’t align with what they actually need for socializing in German.

What’s the alternative?

Think about the skills and topics you need to talk to your parents-in-law or work colleagues at the next dinner.

In my group program, I’ve already done this work for you. I’ve put together essential topics and skills for socializing in German.

Hey there, I’m Jennifer

I’m a German teacher and Holistic Learning Coach, and I help you get from a few sentences in German to socializing in real conversations.

You think you need to know everything perfectly

Are you afraid of making mistakes and sounding like a child learning to speak?

Many people struggle with this, and I’ve been there too! But perfectionism holds you back. I found group classes helpful for overcoming this fear.

The StorySpeak System

I developed this system based on how we naturally learn our first language:

Step 1: Familiarize: Listen and read first, just like a child learning their mother tongue.

Step 2: Decode: Identify new words, structures, and pronunciation.

Step 3: Activate: Practice in different ways, mixing interactive tasks with memorization.

Step 4: Use: Apply your learning with real people and get feedback.

This system helps you move forward in a structured way, ensuring progress without feeling lost.

Want to make the breakthrough?

That’s where inGerman Decoded comes in!
It’s a 10-week group program designed to get you to conversational German.

Sign up for the wait list to get early access and special bonuses. This doesn’t commit you. It’s just a way of saying, “Hey, I’m interested!”

I’d love to see you there. If you have questions, email me at info@in-german.com