There are many amazing resources to study languages online. However it is difficult to find them sometimes, especially for languages that require you to understand most aspects of them (grammar, vocabulary, syntax) since the very first day of your study. Every student of German should be aware of this fact. So here is a list of my personal favorite websites that have saved me many a time when walking through the intricate paths of the German language.
This is just a handful from a plethora of websites, apps, and YouTube channels you can find online to learn and practice Deutsch.
1. Duolingo
Every language geek knows this amazing resource that guides you from zero to an basic-intermediate level in the acquisition of a new language. The great thing is that you can learn not only German but also many other languages completely for FREE. Yes, you read well, free and without ads! It also has mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Yeah sure... We all know the struggle of deciding between der, die, or das (or all their other possible transformations). If there's something every student of German knows is that die Grammatik is not just important, it is the whole point of German! Fortunately, this website explains it simply and with useful examples of real-life situations. Additionally, it is free and covers all aspects of German grammar.
3. Verbformen
I must confess that I didn't know this one until a couple of weeks ago; however it is now my first resource when I'm not sure whether a verb is regular, irregular or simply doesn't exist. Its mobile site is very convenient for everyone that uses a smartphone as their regular studying tool. This dictionary shows you all the meanings, conjugations, forms and Perfekt of every verb in the German language. Definitely a must!
4. PONS
A powerful translator, this tool provides you not only with the meaning of a word but also with its case(s), phonetics, examples of usage and synonyms. Additionally, you can select other languages and translate them as well. I find the sentence translator especially good because it is idiomatic and uses better grammar than Google Translator.
Not my teacher's favorite, but definitely a useful resource if you know how to use it well. For quick your-language to German searches it works fine, but I wouldn't recommend it for translating more than simple words or idiomatic phrases. The good ol' google translator does its job, but it could do better. Nevertheless, the app is a must and its out-loud pronunciation capability makes it worth it.
If you're a student of German, I'm sure these websites will come in handy during your homework or assignments. Personally, they have made easier my learning of German and have become the most important tools I use to study.
There are a lot of resources out there, but without a doubt the most helpful and effective is one's own diligence and good study habits.
