Learning break between German courses? How to stay on track – at every level!

Whether you’ve just completed your first German course or are almost at native speaker level – sometimes you just need a break. There are all sorts of reasons for this: Work, studies, family, summer holidays – or you simply need time to process what you have learnt so far (especially after intensive courses).

However, there are many ways to continue learning between two courses – flexibly, according to your schedule and without any pressure to perform.

In this article, you’ll find recommendations for websites, books, podcasts, films and more – for beginners, advanced learners and everyone in between.

1. Use additional course offer

In addition to the regular level courses such as A2.1, some language schools also offer additional courses to deepen, refresh or practically apply what you have learnt. These options are also available at DIALOG:

Request additional courses

2. Websites & apps for self-learning

Regardless of your level, you can continue learning online – here are some powerful tools:

  • DW Deutsch Lernen | Extensive platform with courses, videos and exercises for A1 to C1 (e.g. “Nicos Weg”, “Top-Thema”, “Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten”).
  • Duolingo | Good for vocabulary and motivation – even during short breaks in learning.
  • LingQ | Very helpful for advanced learners: listen to texts, read and learn interactively.
  • Goethe-Institut – Deutsch üben | Podcasts, tasks, games, reading texts for all levels – very high quality.
  • Anki | Vocabulary trainer based on spaced repetition – particularly useful at higher levels.
  • Reverso Context | App: combines AI-supported translation tools with intuitive learning functions
  • Hueber interactive | Your course books “Momente” & “Vielfalt” are also e-books with additional online exercises, redeem your code from the book here!
  • DIALOG online | Blog: lots of grammar & vocabulary content, free learning material, quick inputs on Instagram @dialog.wien, videos on YouTube:

3. Self-study materials and books

Here we recommend suitable materials for self-learning at all levels:

4. Podcasts

You can find everything you need to know about podcasts for learning German in a separate article on our blog. Click here!

  • Our highlights for first & second language learners

5. Films & series

Films & series are also suitable for training listening comprehension and expanding vocabulary. They are even more accessible thanks to the visual component and subtitle option. Our blog already has tips for you here too: Film tips for learning German, Series tips (part 1) & Series tips (part 2).

Our highlights here are partly updates to the articles and focus on Netflix. Did you know that you can get certain genres listed with codes? Here is the code for “German movies”.

  • Films
    • Das Leben der Anderen | A Stasi agent begins to monitor an artist – and doubts the regime.
    • Im Westen nichts Neues | A young soldier experiences the horrors of the First World War (Trailer below)
    • Systemsprenger | A girl breaks all the boundaries of the youth welfare system.
    • Leberkäsjunkie | Village policeman Eberhofer solves a murder case – and has to give up Leberkäse. (Dialect comedy from Bavaria)
  • Series
    • Der Pass | A serial killer is up to mischief in the Alps – on the border between Austria & Bavaria.
    • Kleo | An ex-Stasi killer takes revenge on her betrayers after the fall of the Berlin Wall. (very funny despite the subject matter, see trailer below)
    • Dark | Children disappear – a village discovers time travel and dark family secrets.
    • How to sell drugs online (fast) | A schoolboy starts an online drug trade from his childhood bedroom. (Comedy!)
    • Braunschlag | An Austrian village fakes an apparition of the Virgin Mary – chaos ensues. (very Austrian, so lots of black humour)

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Another tip for TV content: In the Joyn app you will find (almost) the entire range of Austrian TV channels (ORF, ATV, Puls 4, Servus TV etc.).

6. Practise speaking & writing

You don’t have to wait until the next course starts to actively speak or practise writing. You can find our recommendations here:

  1. Do you have German first/second language learners in your social circle? Fantastic! If you don’t usually speak German with each other, ask the German-speaking person to only speak German with you for a certain time slot (e.g. 10 minutes)! Our blog offers even more tips here.
  2. Don’t know anyone you can speak German with? Then find someone with the same interests on the Meetup platform. Shared interests provide plenty to talk about.
  3. You can also practise speaking online with these apps to find someone to improve your German: Tandem & HelloTalk
  4. To practise writing: keep a diary in German – simple, honest, regular.
  5. Write comments on social media under German posts, e.g. on DIALOG’s Instagram.
  6. Have a “conversation” with ChatGPT and get corrected.
  7. Try a conversation course with DIALOG (see picture below) if 1-6 doesn’t help 😉 – also available as an online option!

Request conversation course

7. Set mini-goals

Whether you study for 10 minutes a day or once a week – small successes count:

  • 🎯 Discuss 1 new topic per week with a real person: e.g. “In the supermarket”, “Talking about politics” or “My favourite film”

  • 📖 Read 1 short text per day – news, blog posts, etc.

  • 🎧 1 podcast episode per week – with notes on vocabulary

  • ✍️ Note down 5 new words a day including example sentences

  • 🎬 1 film or documentary per week with subtitles, later without

Dialog Deutschkurse in Wien

Zu kompliziert? Wir können helfen!

Melde dich jetzt für einen Deutschkurs in Wien an und lerne effektiv Deutsch in Kleingruppen und mit hochqualifizierten Lehrkräften.

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Enjoy the learning break

You don’t need to study for hours every day. But with 10-30 minutes of regular input (and a bit of fun) you can not only maintain your language skills – you can even improve them!

Choose what you enjoy. The next course level is coming – and you’ll be well prepared!

Click here for the free DIALOG supplementary material: Learning material blog

July 2025