I think it’s also called the Sherlock Holmes Method. Here it goes: you write the new words on post-its, and then, like a major detective, you start spreading out through the classroom (or house, works just as well at home).

You try to make associations, either with the meaning of the word and the nearby objects, or just to locate it within the room and to make yourself a mind-map with which word goes where. At start, I’d recommend you start with a few words, maybe five, but as you progress, you can up the number and have your room eventually covered in post-its. Ok, kidding, but you got the jest.

So, for example, the word ‘Strom’ could go next to the electrical outlet, or ‘Umweltproblem’ could go next to a map of the globe. I put up ‚Verkehr‘ next to a squibbly painting, because that’s how I associated it in my mind. Does it make sense to you? Give it a try the next time you have a long list of vocabulary words to learn, which you can break down in manageable bits and go through them 5-10 at a time. Good luck!

The post Tips for learning – the post-it method appeared first on Deutschkurs Blog Wien.

Learn with a partner. Read through the words and try to memorize them as best you can on your own, but then have someone else quiz you on them. Most of the time, when you just read through them, you think you’ve mastered them, but when you don’t have them before you anymore, things get trickier.

Flash cards. You can write the word on one part, the meaning on the back and do a similar process as described above, by yourself.

Putting the new words into sentences. This is a valuable tool, because your brain remembers associations better, and not just words on their own.

Audio lessons. Usually you hear the word, and then the speaker uses it in a sentence. It’s really good for learning pronunciation too.

Watching movies and TV shows in German. Can be with / without subtitles, as per your preference, or you can rewatch some that you already know, for better understanding.

What other tips for learning do you know? Share them in the comment section. Happy learning!

The post Tips for Vocabulary learning appeared first on Deutschkurs Blog Wien.