What is German A1?
A1 is the beginner level in the CEFR system (the European framework used to measure language levels). At A1 you can understand and use everyday phrases, introduce yourself, ask simple questions, and talk about familiar things like family, food, and daily routine.
You do not need to speak perfectly. A1 is about handling basic, everyday situations in German.
The 7 steps to German A1
Step 1: Learn the most useful words first. (10–15 min/day)
Start with words you will actually use: numbers, days, food, family, common verbs, and question words. Our A1 vocabulary guide lists them by topic, and the first 100 German words give you a compact starting set. German with Levels teaches these in small, focused batches so you learn a few words at a time instead of long lists.
Step 2: Test your words until they stick. (5 min/day)
Knowing a word once is not enough. Use word tests to check that you remember each word before moving on. This builds a base you can rely on.
Step 3: Add simple grammar using words you already know. (10 min/day, from week 3)
Once you have a small set of known words, grammar becomes easier. Instead of learning rules with new, strange words, you apply rules to words you recognize, for example “ich habe” and “du hast” with nouns you have already studied. This is the core of the method; see learning German grammar with known words for how it works in practice.
Step 4: Practice listening. (5–10 min/day)
Hearing German trains your ear. Listening practice helps you connect written words to real sounds and natural speech.
Step 5: Practice speaking. (5 min/day)
Say the words and sentences out loud. Speaking practice helps you move words from memory into real use. Even one minute per new word batch makes a difference.
Step 6: Read short stories. (10 min, a few times a week)
Short stories let you see known words inside real sentences. This shows you how German works in context, not just in isolation.
Step 7: Review with the dictionary and words section. (weekly)
When you forget a word, look it up. A words reference section lets you check meanings and review what you have learned. A short weekly review protects everything the other six steps built.
A week-by-week A1 study plan
Here is how the seven steps fit into a realistic schedule at about 20–30 minutes per day. Move faster or slower as you need; the order matters more than the speed.
| Weeks | Focus | Daily time |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | First word batches: greetings, numbers, family, everyday nouns. Test every batch. | 15–25 min |
| 3–4 | More topics (food, verbs, question words) + first grammar with known words: sein and haben, der/die/das. | 20–30 min |
| 5–6 | Regular verb endings and simple word order. Daily listening; start speaking practice out loud. | 20–30 min |
| 7–8 | First short stories, simple questions and answers, review of all word batches. | 20–30 min |
| 9+ | Keep the same loop with new topics until the A1 material feels familiar, then look toward A2. | 20–30 min |
When the A1 material feels comfortable, the German A2 learning path shows you exactly what comes next.
Why start with words before grammar?
Many beginners quit because grammar feels like too much too soon. German grammar has cases, genders, and word order rules that are hard to absorb when every word is also new.
When you learn words first, grammar has something to attach to. You are not learning two hard things at once. This is the core idea behind German with Levels: build a word base, then add grammar with familiar words.
How long does A1 take?
This depends on how much time you study and your background. Language schools often estimate somewhere around 60–150 hours of study for A1, but there is no single fixed number. With 20–30 focused minutes a day, many learners cover the A1 material in roughly two to four months. The key is steady, regular practice: short daily sessions usually work better than rare long ones.
Ready to start day one? Download German with Levels and follow this exact plan in the app: word batches, tests, then grammar with words you already know. Or first see how the method works.