Learning German isn’t just about cramming vocabulary, going to some random language group class every day or sweating over grammar charts or fiddling around with language learning apps like Duolingo, Babbel or Busuu—it’s about using the language in ways that matter to you. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or an advanced learner, the digital world offers more ways than ever to practice speaking and listening to authentic German, without booking a flight or cornering an unsuspecting Berliner at the bakery.
Below you’ll find 15 honest, proven, and sometimes delightfully unconventional ways to get your German talking (and listening) online. This is not a “magic list”—it’s a toolbox. Use what fits your style, skip what doesn’t, and remember: fluency isn’t built in a week, but consistency beats intensity, every single time.
1. 1-on-1 Video Lessons with Native Speakers
The fastest track to real-world German is real conversation. Use platforms like italki, Preply (this link here will grant you a 50% discount on the first lesson) , or even local tutors (many offer online sessions now) for regular, targeted practice. Want structure? Choose certified teachers which might be a bit more costly. Someone selling their services for 10 bucks an hour for German lessons is unlikely to be an experienced professional. Prefer “just talking”? Community tutors are usually more affordable.
Pro tip: Look for tutors who push you to speak 80% of the time, and who don’t teach you all the time or simply answer your questions about grammar and such.
2. Group Conversation Classes
If you thrive on peer interaction or need a push, try group classes like Lingoda, Babbel Live or try Easy Germans conversation membership These facilitate interactions with actual people which beats any AI bot out there to date.
3. Online Language Exchanges
Platforms like or ConversationExchange connect you with Germans learning your language. You’ll swap half the time in German, half in your language. Results vary wildly, but the randomness mimics real life, and you’ll meet fascinating people—plus a few “character-building” ones.
4. Interactive Listening Practice
Try sites like Deutsche Welle Learn German (DW), or use SmarterGerman’s listening exercises, or Easy German’s YouTube street interviews. These platforms offer real German: mumbled, regional, and far from textbook-perfect. If you’re tired of classroom German, this is your antidote.
5. Podcasts & Audio Courses
From the structured (Coffee Break German, DW Deutsch: Warum Nicht?) to the wild (ARD’s True Crime podcasts), you’ll find everything. Listen on the go, or pour yourself a nice drink and just enjoy the beautiful sound of the German language like a concerto.
6. Shadowing Native Audio
“Shadowing” means repeating what you hear, instantly and out loud—yes, even if you sound ridiculous at first. Use news videos, audiobooks, or SmarterGerman dictations. This hones your ear and mouth together, and you’ll soon notice your accent fading. And don’t expect much. This is a very tough exercise and mainly used by interpreters. That’s an extreme form of translation so keep your expectations at bay. Then you stand a chance to enjoy this occasionally and to benefit from it.
7. Self-Recorded Voice Journals
Forget “diary writing” if it feels like homework. Instead, speak into your phone for 3 minutes a day—what you did, what annoyed you, what you plan. Play it back a week or even a month later to track your progress and cringe at old mistakes (an underrated but also not easy to handle learning tool).
8. Speech Recognition Tools
Test your pronunciation with tools like Google Translate’s mic, or the “dictation” feature on your mobile phone. It’s not always 100% accurate, but it forces you to articulate clearly. If the machine understands you, odds are a human will too.
9. German Online Communities
Platforms like Reddit’s r/German or German-language Discord servers are full of learners and natives exchanging advice, jokes, and memes. Lurk, read, then jump in. Even writing comments counts as “talking”—and you’ll learn up-to-date slang.
10. Live Online Events & Webinars
From book readings to “Stadtführung” tours streamed on YouTube, cultural institutions across Germany now broadcast live events. Join, listen, and ask questions in the chat. It’s low-pressure, but keeps your brain tuned to natural German.
11. Watching German TV with Active Listening
Netflix, ARD Mediathek, or YouTube—pick a show, but don’t just let it wash over you. Pause, repeat lines, imitate tone, and—here’s the secret—mutter replies as if you’re part of the scene. It may look odd, but it works. And do yourself a favor and install the language reactor plugin.
12. Subtitled Movie Nights (No Cheating)
Watch films with German subtitles—not English. The dual input reinforces listening and reading skills. Pause to jot down unknown words, then look up only what keeps coming up (don’t become a slave to the dictionary).
13. German Audiobooks with E-books
Sites like Audible.de offer thousands of audiobooks. Pair them with the e-book version to see and hear words in context. Children’s and young adult books are a goldmine for intermediate learners.
14. Voice Messaging Apps
Instead of endless texting, send voice notes on WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram – careful, in Germany Telegram is rather a place where conspiracy theorists gather – to German-speaking friends or language partners. It’s asynchronous, pressure-free, and allows you to rehearse before hitting send.
15. Participating in “Deutschgym” or Similar Groups
Programs like Deutschgym offer topic-based discussions, friendly hosts, and the chance to make speaking mistakes in a supportive environment. Expect lots of everyday topics—and the occasional cultural rabbit hole.
Final Thoughts: No Silver Bullet, Just Smart Practice
There’s no single “best way” to get your German talking online, but there is a best principle: Make speaking and listening part of your real life, not a side project. Rotate between these options, try each for a few weeks, and don’t be afraid to drop what doesn’t serve you.
If you need a structured path or want the comfort of a guided course with real-life scenarios, explore programs that put authenticity first—not just those that promise fluency in 30 days. And remember: every awkward voice note, every misunderstood podcast, and every brave group chat brings you closer to real-world German, one conversation at a time.
Michael Schmitz is a German tutor, online German course designer, and founder of SmarterGerman, based in Berlin.
Disclaimer: some of the links on this page are affiliate links. When you click on them and purchase a product with those companies I’ll receive a share which will allow me to continue offering my premium German online courses A1-B2 for free. You are not only supporting my family but also tens of thousands of German learners who otherwise couldn’t afford high quality German classes.