How to Learn to Speak German Like a Local

Ready to get serious about learning German? Next to full immersion, the best thing that you can do to speed up your learning is to incorporate the language into your daily life as much as possible. Going beyond vocabulary flashcards and grammar books also ensures that you learn to speak like the locals.

Keep reading for some of our favorite German movies, TV shows, podcasts, and more.

Movies

Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark. (We Are Young. We Are Strong.)
This film is a fictionalized account of the 1992 xenophobic Rostock-Lichtenhagen riots, told through the perspectives of three different characters.

Schubert in Love
For something lighter, try Schubert in Love, a comedy about a man named Olaf who starts searching for a girlfriend after his father demands offspring.

Dieter Nuhr: Nuhr in Berlin
This is a comedy special starring German cabaret comic Dieter Nuhr. His set covers topics like gender norms and primal instincts.

Offline - Das Leben ist kein Bonuslevel
In this adventure comedy, a competitive video gamer has his identity hacked by his arch-rival right before a big tournament. This one sounds like it will appeal to the nerd in all of us.

Lommbock
When Stefan returns to his hometown, he meets his old pothead friend Kai, and the two renew their friendship. Watch this if you’re craving a Seth Rogen film...but in German.

TV Shows

Dark
This mystery series was the first German original series produced for Netflix. Four families go on a frantic search for two children after they go missing, revealing their small town’s troubled history along the way. There are three seasons of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Babylon Berlin
This neo-noir series is based on novels by German author Volker Kutscher. Set in Berlin in 1929, it follows police commissioner Gereon Rath as he investigates one of Berline’s biggest pornography rings. Some reviewers have said it ranks with Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, so we say it’s definitely worth a watch.

Altes Geld
This Austrian dark comedy is about a dysfunctional wealthy family trying to find a liver for their father, who will give his wealth to whomever manages to get the organ. Sounds pretty weird, and we’re here for it.

Dogs in Berlin
Admittedly disappointed that this show isn’t just about dogs in Berlin. This is a crime drama that follows two cops as they investigate the murder of a Turkish-German soccer player.

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)
It’s not a complete list without a teen TV show. Main character Moritz becomes one of Europe’s biggest drug dealers after he starts selling ecstasy online to win back his ex-girlfriend.

Podcasts

Slow German
This podcast has content for absolute beginners and more advanced learners. It also has different episodes on popular German fairy tales, grammar, and dialogues.

Easy German
This weekly podcast covers topics from Germany and around the world, then explains words and expressions and answers listener questions. Members also get access to interactive transcripts and a vocabulary helper.

Gemischtes Hack (Mixed Hack)
This weekly comedy podcast was the only non-English-speaking podcast to be listed in the global top 10 podcasts by Spotify in 2020. Try this one if you’re already more advanced.

Methodisch Inkorrekt
The goal of this bi-weekly podcast is to break down scientific topics in a generally understandable way. The episodes are around three hours long, so you’ll probably want to take breaks.