Flashcards can help you learn German vocabulary–and grammar, in some cases (no pun intended!)–more quickly. German vocabulary is so rich with meaning that often different words–whether nouns, verbs, or adjectives–expressing similar meanings, each with its own nuances and tones. Not to mention cases, declensions, number, gender, and other aspects of the fascinating, enchanting German language!
Find lots of German flashcards sets HERE.
For learners who want to practice the vocabulary, whether you need help memorizing basic nouns and verbs, or you need advanced practice to remember, flashcards are a very useful tool. The above link gives several sets to practice with, and read below for activities on how to use them!
How to Use Flashcards to Practice German
Surprisingly, there are lots of ways to use flashcards to practice a language! Here are a few suggestions:
- Practice with a partner. Use 10 cards at a time. First, show your partner the German word, and have him or her say the native language word. Repeat the process for all 10 cards. Then, show the native language word, and have your partner name the German word for all 10 cards. Finally, it’s your turn! Have your partner repeat the above steps so that you can name the words.
- Practice yourself. Use 10 cards at a time. We’d recommend first looking at the German word and guessing the native language word, as we tends to recall native words more quickly than foreign language words. Next, repeat the process, this time looking at the native language words and naming the German equivalents.
- Use one group of cards at a time. After you’ve practiced 10 cards at a time for several groups of vocabulary, place the cards into a deck of 50. Randomly draw cards and name them. When you name a word correctly, put it into a pile of “known” words. When you name it incorrectly, put it into a pile of cards to “repeat”. Practice the “repeat” pile before moving onto new words.
- Don’t just say the word aloud–write or draw it! For audio learners, it is helpful to read a German word on one side of a flashcard, and name the native language word on the other side–then check the answer. However, some learners are visual learners–for this group, flashcards with pictures might work even better than flashcards with only words. For tactile learners, it might help to practice by writing the answers, rather than just saying them, and then check the other side of the card.
- Practice aloud, not silently! Remember, when possible, practice with flashcards by reading words and naming the equivalents aloud, not silently. The reason for this is because attaching words to your senses is more helpful than simply thinking them (though practicing by thinking them is better than nothing when on public transportation, on break during work, or in other situations when you must be silent!)
Enjoy practicing German language vocabulary with flashcards!