The Translation – the Great Traitor

I often hear in class: “I can’t say that because I’m missing the vocabulary … I don’t know the words.”And even though this sentence makes a lot of sense, I notice something behind it: this is probably someone who has gotten used to translating word for word from their native language into German.

That’s completely normal—a typical survival reflex. When we have to speak, our brain searches its mental library for something useful, and if the only input it has is in our mother tongue, it tries to transfer everything word for word.

But a language is like a game with its own rules. Expecting a translation from English into German to work word for word is like trying to play tennis with a volleyball, badminton with your foot, or checkers with dice: it simply doesn’t work.

This is often where many learners experience their first frustration: what I thought would help me isn’t working … so now what?

The good news: if you’ve already learned at least one language, there’s a very good chance you can learn others well too. You just need to break the habit of translating word by word and start learning and remembering complete sentences.

You might think, “Sure, but the grammar is hard.”But you really don’t need to know a lot of grammar. Just pay attention to corrections and sentence structure. That’s the first step.

When our brain wants to speak but we can only recall words from our native language, it’s difficult to put together meaningful sentences in a matter of seconds. That’s why it’s essential to consume content that matches your level of German in order to make solid progress.

Level A1

Look for videos or songs with only a few sentences and familiar situations.Be careful: not every children’s video is suitable, because A1 roughly corresponds to the language level of a 2- to 4-year-old child.This is the best time to memorize full sentences that help you in everyday life.

Level A2

Choose videos or songs no longer than 3 minutes.It’s important that the topics are relatively familiar to you and that you watch each video several times—repetition makes the difference.Reading is important, but it’s a passive activity. Don’t base all your study time on reading, because it won’t help you speak better.

Level B1

By now you already have a solid foundation for most everyday situations, but you need to work on your fluency.

Recommended duration: up to 5 minutes per audio or video.

Listen to slightly longer summaries on topics for children. These YouTube channels are especially helpful:

• SRF Kids – Einfach für Kinder erklärt: Simple explanations of current and interesting topics for children and teens.

• Sternenklar (WDR): Answers questions about the universe, nature, and science—short and entertaining.

• Dinge erklärt – Kurzgesagt: High-quality animations on science and technology, very clear and visual.

  
  

Level B2

The goal here is to sound natural and less like a learner.

Recommended duration: up to 10 minutes.

Listen to short reports, humorous segments, and short videos on topics such as the environment, finance, health, nutrition, or interpersonal relationships.

Level C1

At this level, it’s about thinking directly in German and mastering subtle nuances.

Recommended duration: up to 20 minutes.

Consume unfiltered content: novels, films without subtitles, specialized podcasts (science, economics, culture).Pay attention to idiomatic expressions, humor, irony, and different registers of speech.If possible, take classes or coaching sessions to perfect your pronunciation and style.

SummaryAt every stage you should leave behind the habit of word-for-word translation. When you choose material suited to your level and focus on complete sentences, German stops being a puzzle and becomes a living language, a natural part of your thinking.