Learn German Fast!

Can We Really Have You Speaking German in Just Ten Days?

Hard to believe, isn't it? Till you ask yourself one simple question: How did you learn English as a child? Did you wade through text books? Did you struggle with grammar? Did you drive yourself crazy trying to get the accent right?

No. You just "picked it up." You heard adults speak, and you uttered your first word. Well, that's how the Pimsleur method works. It's the natural way to learn German.

In easy half hour "bites" on CD, our scientifically sequenced lessons will have you speaking German the way the Germans do–or you pay nothing. Guaranteed. Just give it a try.

Why it's Important to Learn German

After World War II ended, the destruction that stretched across the country led allied countries including the United States and England to send aid to Germany. Since that time, the friendly relationship between Germany and English-speaking nations has grown, leading to a need for clear and accurate communication.

This relationship was further solidified in the early '90s when the Berlin Wall was finally dismantled, opening up the entire country to freedom, and to free enterprise.

Today, many companies from around the world do business in Germany, and some of the best products and engineering come from that country. Germany is known for its superior car brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Other companies such as Bosch and Deutsche Telekom have also taken the world by storm, producing high quality products distributed throughout the world.

Such success brings with it opportunity for those who would work with those companies, whether in Germany, or in the countries where they have factories and offices. Learning German can help you gain a lucrative position with a worldwide recognized brand.

Aside from the professional reasons, learning German is also a boon to anyone wishing to travel through the beautiful cities and countryside found throughout the country. And no trip to Germany would be complete without sampling some of the finest cuisine in the world. It's worth learning German just to be able to order schnitzel properly.

Conversational German vs. Academic German

Some subjects are better taught in a classroom, and from books. Math is one of them. And science requires reading and experimentation. Language, however, requires actual implementation to perfect its use. You'll gain much more from hearing a native speaker hold a conversation than you will from any textbook.

That's why Pimsleur is such an effective method for learning German. Rather than reading and memorizing, you're simply listening. You'll hear the proper pronunciation and accent straight from a native speaker. No reading, no lugging books around, and definitely no tests to take. And you'll learn important German phrases you can use right away. For example:

Wie spät ist es? – What time is it?
Ich heiß… – My name is…
Wo ist der Bahnhof? – Where is the train station?
Ich möchte Kaffee. – I would like coffee.

By learning German the natural way, using idiomatic expressions the Germans actually use rather than textbook phrases, you will benefit by speaking German that is "real" rather than academic.

A Logical Way to Learn German

Only after 20 years of scientific research did Dr. Pimsleur hit upon the right method to teach language–by watching his own children. Children have the ability to pick up languages quickly and naturally. What makes Pimsleur courses so successful are the specific scientific principles that replicate the speed and ease at which children learn languages. Read more about how this unique system–which has been purchased by the FBI and NSA (National Security Agency)–works.

No matter what situation you find yourself in–making new friends at a party, in a business meeting or negotiation, or just asking the way to the railway station or a good restaurant–you will find Pimsleur has given you the right German words and phrases, the ones that come naturally, without thinking. Read more about what you'll learn with Pimsleur.

German Facts

German is the official language of seven countries. In addition to Germany, it's been designated an official language by Italy, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Lichtenstein. It's a secondary language in ten more countries.

Many English words have German origins. For this reason, German and English share several cognates, which makes learning either language a little easier if you speak one of them.

In addition to cognates and roots, English has adopted many German words. Rather than changing them, English has simply adopted several German words as they're written and spoken in German, including kindergarten, schadenfreude, wanderlust, and zeitgeist.