Reading in German: A How-To Guide - German Learning Tips #7 - Deutsch lernen

In this video I explain not only what options you have in easy German books and stories, but also what to do with them once you have them. This guide will get you started reading in German on your own and should bring you one step closer to being fluent in German. Enjoy.

🚀 Recommended German Learning Resources!

✅ Recommended Playlists

Follow Herr Antrim on his social networks.

#learngerman #deutschlernen #germanwithantrim

Disclaimer: Some of these links go to my website and some are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission, if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

[knfrrhetoric]

I found through a quick google search, a bunch of Calvin & Hobbes comic strips in German. I loved going through those as a kid, and I'm sure going through them in German shouldn't be too hard.

[ThomasTV]

I love André Klein's books, I got them as e-books so if I don't know a word I can click on it to easily find what it means :)

[Why_Knott_Me]

I have had a passion for learning different languages in various ways since I was about 12 years old (I had to ask my mum) and to add some context, I'll be 29 right before Thanksgiving. Through all these years, I've never once thought to start with children's books. Thank you so much!

[aj]

I recommend reading Strewwelpeter first, although you could also do that on this channel.

[UnstopablePatrik]

The podcast transcripts on lingq work for me very well, though those are not at beginner level.

[piotrekn]

I like the part about checking whether or not the vocab included in the text is relavant. The only foreign language in which I read unabridged literature in English. When I tried finding something in Spanish or Italian I would often come across an unfamiliar word (or ten) which, after I checked its meaning, made me think "Why am I reading this? I don't need this type of language at my stage. I want everyday vocabulary."

[HerrGeisteskrank]

If you wish to purchase a book and you live near a "Half-Priced Books" (That's the name of the store), you may be in luck. Mine has a section for foreign languages and a whole shelf dedicated to German. I've picked up several, including a school textbook, for a buck or two apiece. It's hit-and-miss on the reading level and subject matter though.

I recently finished the easiest one "Das Grabmal Der Hexe", which I would guess to be aimed at 10 year olds. I tried to read it "in German" in my head, without trying to translate every word. I stopped at or near the bottom of each page and looked up only one word per page (usually a word that kept reappearing or one that seemed important to understand).I didn't understand every word and detail, but I think I did pretty good following the story (except I had a lot of trouble with a courtroom scene).

I'm now almost halfway through "Paranoid Park" (I think there's a movie/ book by that name in English also). Next will be a Stephen King book called "Das Mädchen". They must've changed the title in German, because I can't even guess what it is about. I'm sure I will need a new "Wörterbuch" by the time I'm done that one :)

[nancygoldenberg]

I like Andre Klein's books, but I wish the vocabulary list also included the gender of the nouns. That is super important when learning new German words, and because this is missing, I find I need to look up the word anyway. The graded readers by Angelika Bohn do include the genders, so you don't need to look up the word in a dictionary to find the gender. I also read some books for older children, such as Die Kleine Hexe, by Otfried Preußler, and Emil und die Detektive, by Erich Kästner. Also, on a trip to Germany a couple of years ago, I found a delightful book - "Niki & Flo sind Nicht zu Stoppen" by Nana Rausch. These were relatively easy once I got to a low intermediate level. Now I have "graduated" to young adult books, which are a bit more challenging but not impossible. I will definitely check out "Children's Books Forever, " so thank you for that tip.

[Learnoutlive]

Just saw this only now, for some reason. Thanks for the mention! By now there are actually 9 episodes in the series. Wie die Zeit vergeht ...

[fraudeutsch]

Another great advice video.  I will probably show my students the last couple minutes when I introduce them to Independent Reading this fall.  Do you have any advice for teaches on how to build a library of books for students to choose from?  I've used Childrens Books forever, have the Blaine Ray Readers, and most of the Langenscheidt readers.

[VickiBee]

I feel totally uncomfortable reading even Andre Klein's books. I feel like I'm reading everything backwards and all the words are out of order (to me they seem out of order) and i have to jump forward and then read backwards. Even when they're talking it's like that. His 6 year-old daughter said "Ich möchte nicht ins Bett gehen." Gustav replied "Du wirst ins Bett gehen. Verstehst du mich?"
Why do they end sentences with a verb like 'go to.' It translates as 'You will to bed go to.' That doesn't make sense in English. I can't get out of English mode either.

[joncarter]

I am from Ukraine. I am nativ speaker of Ukraine and Russia language. I started study English more twenty years ago (I started study in seven years old). Now in twenty seven I start learn German and want learn French too...

[goharkhan]

In all your videos you are holding a coffee container :p. Is there a particular reason for it or is it just to look cool :P

[theredbaron]

One of the first books I ever read was The Poisonous Mushroom. And before you ask no I'm not a NAZI or Skin Head I do not believe in their ideology. Just in Kindergarten at the start of the year people donated books and one of the books happened to be that book that had both German and English text. I don't recommend you read that children's book though.

[dat.kid_cam]

Ich bin ein Deutscher, der anderen Menschen hilft