Better German Podcast

German articles ( der, die, das ) are one of the biggest frustrations for learners—but many of the things you’ve heard about them simply aren’t true. In this episode, I answer the most common questions about German articles, explain why native speakers don’t learn complicated rules either, and show you a practical way to learn articles without driving yourself crazy. In this episode you’ll learn:...

🎧 German Articles: Do Native Speakers Really Know Them? German articles can feel confusing when you’re learning German. Do native speakers actually know all the genders? Are there secret rules that tell you whether a noun is der, die, or das? In this episode, I answer some of the most common questions about German articles and explain why this topic is often made more complicated than it needs to...

🏙️ Learn German City Words: Streets, Squares, and More In this episode, you’ll learn useful German vocabulary for talking about cities, streets, public transport, and the places around you. We cover common words you are likely to see in German-speaking cities, including streets, squares, houses, traffic lights, buses, trams, underground trains, and more. You’ll also discover some interesting vocab...

German profession words are something you will hear very early when learning the language — especially when introducing yourself or talking about other people. In this episode, we go through common German occupation words like teacher, doctor, waiter, police officer, hairdresser, and more. You’ll also learn an important difference between words like Beruf, Arbeit, Arbeitsstelle, and Job, plus how...

🎧 Episode 69: Why is German so difficult – or is it? In this episode, Better German Podcast, Susi takes a closer look at one of the most common beliefs about learning German: that it’s “very difficult.” But is that actually true—or just something many learners have come to believe? You’ll explore what makes German objectively more challenging than some languages (especially for English speakers),...

What would you do for fun in a German-speaking country?   In this episode, you’ll learn the most useful German words for entertainment — from concerts and opera to cafés, markets, and more — so you can understand what’s happening around you and actually take part in it.  Whether you’re visiting, living there, or planning to move, these are the words you’ll see everywhere.  🎧 Better...

How would you say, "would like..." in German?🤔 If you want to say things like "I would like a coffee," or "I would like to go swimming," in German, then this episode is for you. You’ll learn how to use one of the most useful verbs in everyday German: möchten - English, "would like ."  This is a key building block for speaking naturally, whether you’re ordering food, making plans, or saying w...

Why People Study German for Years Without Success Have you been learning German for a long time—but still don’t feel confident speaking? In this episode, we look at why this happens and what most learners don’t realize about how German is usually taught. Whether you’ve already struggled or you’re just getting started, this will help you see things differently. 🎧 Better German Podcast+ - Exclusive...

🌤️ German Weather Words You’ll Actually Use Talking about the weather is one of the easiest ways to start speaking German — and in this episode, you’ll learn the core words and simple sentence patterns to do exactly that. From “the sun is shining” to “it’s raining right now” , I break it down step by step so you can start forming your own sentences immediately. 🎧 Better German Podcast+ (referred...

🌟Welcome to Better German Podcast Plus🌟  Welcome! There's now a Plus version of the Better German podcast — and in this episode, you'll see what's different and how it can help you actually start using German. In this short welcome episode, you'll see exactly what you now have access to — and how to get the most out of it from the start.  🔑 What You Get with Better German Plus This is...

What Does Real Practice of German Actually Look Like? In this episode, you'll learn why most learners stay stuck — even after years of studying — and what to do instead. This is not about memorizing word lists or doing endless exercises. It's about how to turn words into something you can actually use . You'll learn a simple, repeatable way to practice vocabulary so that it sticks — and more impor...

What do you actually say at breakfast in German? In this episode, you'll learn the most important German words for breakfast — from Breakfast and Breakfast Buffet to eggs, bread, coffee, and more. You'll also see how German builds long words by combining smaller ones, and why some everyday words work differently than in English. This episode is about understanding what you'll actually hear and say...

In this episode, you’ll learn how “haben” (engl. "to have") works in real sentences! And you will learn how to add objects to a sentence (what are you having) - and what change is happening with the article "der". This is a very basic episode to make slightly longer sentences in German.  If you want to stop guessing and start forming correct sentences, this is one of the first building blocks...

Many learners believe that self-paced courses are the problem. They assume they need discipline, pressure, or a classroom environment to finally succeed with German. But the real issue is something else entirely. In this episode, I talk about a conversation from one of my recent workshops with a learner who believed he couldn’t succeed in a self-paced course. His experience is actually very common...

Many learners see ä, ö, and ü and immediately feel confused. What are those two dots? Are they new letters? Are they just decoration? In this episode, we look at German umlauts in a very practical way. You'll hear how they sound, how they relate to the normal vowels a, o, and u , and why they often appear when words change form — for example, when a noun becomes plural. Most importantly, you'll pr...

Description Why do so many people study German for years and still feel stuck? In this episode, Susi looks at one surprising problem with how many German courses are structured. You’ll hear why the starting point matters much more than most learners realize—and how approaching German differently can change the entire learning experience. 🎧 Better German Podcast+ - Exclusive Podcast and Community...

🎙️ Better German Podcast – Episode 58 German Adjectives Made Simple with Practical Examples   In this episode, you learn how German adjectives change when they come before nouns — in a clear, beginner-friendly way. You’ll practice adjectives like big, beautiful, old, and small and see how they behave with the articles - “the” (der / die / das) and “a” (ein / eine), you’ll practice clear, prac...

🎙️ Better German Podcast – Episode 57 Practice German Restaurant Phrases + Real Dialogues In this episode, you actively practice German restaurant vocabulary from Episode 53 with real sentences, pronunciation, and two short dialogues. You’ll hear useful phrases for ordering food, asking for the bill, understanding menus in Austria, and talking about typical dishes like Schnitzel or Kaiserschmarrn....

Part 2 of this mini-series looks at the most common obstacles that quietly stop learners from making progress — and what you can do instead. We talk about misunderstood words, skipping steps, unrealistic expectations, and why practice really matters. A bonus tip at the end shows you how to keep German interesting so you don’t quit. 🎧 Better German Podcast+ - Exclusive Podcast and Community Early...

Many people start learning German motivated — and then hit a point where they think: “I can’t do this. It’s too hard.” In this episode, Susi explains why that happens and what you can do to prevent it, so you can keep going and make real progress. This is Part 1 of a two-part series and covers tips 1–5 . 🎧 Better German Podcast+ - Exclusive Podcast and Community Early access exclusive PLUS conten...

Learning German usually doesn’t fail because German is hard — it fails because the habits don’t work. In this episode, Susi talks about realistic learning habits that actually help you make progress in German, whether you’re restarting, learning on the side, or finally want to do it properly this time. No gimmicks, no unrealistic promises — just what actually works. 🎬  Free PDF: Learn German...

PDF for the episode: https://bettergerman.info/restaurant In this episode, Susi explains how to talk about restaurants in German in a simple, practical way . You'll learn how restaurant language actually works in real life, which phrases people really use, and what's typical in Austria and Germany. The focus is on useful words, natural sentences, and confidence , not textbook rules. 🎧 Better Germ...

This episode makes German verbs that change their form (irregular verbs / starke verbs) super easy. There is a free PDF to follow along (and practice further). 📥 Download Part 2 of the FREE German Verbs Guide: https://bettergerman.info/verbs2 German is a funny language sometimes. You learn a word like fahren (to drive) and you think, “Great, I know this word!” But then German plays a little trick...

If you’re ready to finally speak with confidence — not just “know things” — this course is built for you. Clear explanations, practical exercises, and the kind of guidance that actually gets you talking. Pre-sale is live now, and it’s the perfect moment to jump in before doors fully open.   In Episode 51 of the Better German Podcast, host Susi Blumel walks you through the 7 ways of practicing...

Grab the free PDF for this episode here: https://bettergerman.info/clothes This guide gives you all the clothing vocabulary from episode 46 so you can follow along as Susi practices it in real sentences. In this special 50th episode of the Better German Podcast, Susi Blümel brings the clothes topic back to life — not just listing the words, but showing you how to use them in clear, everyday senten...