5 Books that will Improve your German (A1 to C2 level)

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  • Опубліковано 22 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 100

  • @AlsWeiderNetRatze
    @AlsWeiderNetRatze 7 років тому +129

    It's very interesting that you read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Nighttime" to learn German. We read it as our first english novel in english Class in School here in Germany :D

    • @xamguti8481
      @xamguti8481 6 років тому

      How was it as an English learning tool?

    • @katek8311
      @katek8311 6 років тому +1

      @@xamguti8481 I had to read it too and personally I didn't really like the book, but it was easy to understand

    • @emiliuxltu1655
      @emiliuxltu1655 5 років тому

      Oh we read that book a few months ago in Yr 9

    • @azersamaali2016
      @azersamaali2016 5 років тому +1

      I've been researching into speaking German quickly and discovered a fantastic website at Landra language tactic (google it if you are interested)

  • @korbendallas5318
    @korbendallas5318 4 роки тому +31

    I don't agree with the general idea that you should read translation to learn a language. I think you should always prefer books native to the language. So here are some recommendations. (I have a hard time putting books into CEFR brackets, so I won't.)
    My first choice has to be Erich Kästner. Crystal clear langauge in an excellent style, very good stories. The best-known is probably _Das doppelte Lottchen_ followed by _Erich und die Detektive_ and its sequel. I also recommend _Pünktchen und Anton_ probably my favorite.
    Patrick Süskind: Die Taube - You might have heard about _Das Parfüm_ by Süskind, excellent book, truly amazing. _Die Taube_ is als very good, but it's much shorter, just 100 pages. Language is advanced.
    I would also recommend Kurt Tucholsky, for his clear and expressive language. A lot of his stuff is pretty political though, so you'd have to have to interested in that, better yet know something about it already.
    If you want to get into classics, try _Kinder- und Hausmärchen_ by the Grimms. Much easier to read than Goethe, much quirkier than Disney, usually very short and easy to swallow.
    I can't think of any comic book originally written in German, I'm mostly into French/Belgian comics and stuff written in English. There is one body of work though where I would make an exception to the translation rule: The Barks Library. I specifially bought the translation by Erika Fuchs, because it's said to be very influential to the German language. The Language is easy to understand.
    If you don't mind reading a work translated to German, try Stanislav Lem. Translations into English are apparently very poor, so this might be your best chance to read Lem. It's very simply the best SF literature outside the English language (and very high up in general), outstanding work, very inventive, don't miss it.

    • @alice_hml
      @alice_hml 3 роки тому

      Thank you! I find that reading translations is really not motivating: why do I even need to learn that language if I can read the book in the original language? and why read this book if it doesn't tell me anything about German culture?

    • @user-nk8zx1yw8s
      @user-nk8zx1yw8s 3 роки тому

      Thank you so much for the recommendations! I appreciate it a lot

    • @Nancy-sj7yg
      @Nancy-sj7yg 2 роки тому

      I also liked "Als ich ein keiner Junge war", by Erich Käster. This book is an autobiography focusing on his youth, also written for children. I am reading the Harry Potter series, but try to mostly read stuff in the original language.

  • @raulsaavedra709
    @raulsaavedra709 6 років тому +14

    Right now at B2 and starting "Eine kurze Weltgeschichte für junge Leser" (A little History of the World) by Ernst. H. Gombrich. It's a beautiful book on world history written for children (author wrote it to her own daughter decades ago, now it's a sort of international classic.) Also have the audio book, with the voice of no other than Christoph Waltz. So I will not only read it slowly, but will listen to it over and over to catch proper pronuntiation and intonations. Tackling that before going ahead with Harry Potter 1 which I find slightly more difficult

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  6 років тому +3

      Wow! Such a good recommendation. I just listened to the first few moments of it and love it. I had no idea Christoph Waltz did audiobooks! Thanks :) Going to get it with my next credit I think.

    • @jsirkerp
      @jsirkerp 6 років тому

      Raul Saavedra thanks for the post! I am learning german and will definetely get this book!

  • @pincmin
    @pincmin 7 років тому +15

    I'm reading "Tschick". It's a coming of age story narrated by the voice of a 14 year old boy, short sentences and colloquial vocabulary. There is a little bit of slang, but there's even online a Slang Woerterliste to download :D. A B2 reader would feel at ease.
    Thanks for the book suggestions, I got the motivation I needed.

    • @sebastiansilva8490
      @sebastiansilva8490 6 років тому +1

      pincmin I‘ve been learning German for 6 months in Germany. I would say I have a B1/B2 and am also currently reading Tschick. not much of a „schwierig“ read, really enjoying it :)

  • @quellarpammler6469
    @quellarpammler6469 7 років тому +22

    Français: Le petit Prince and the series written by Comptesse de Ségur.
    German: Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink (hope I got this right!)

    • @SG-hc8nb
      @SG-hc8nb 6 років тому +2

      Quellar Pammler not ‘by’ it would be ‘von’

    • @HoudaOussous
      @HoudaOussous 5 років тому

      @@SG-hc8nbwhy?

    • @HoudaOussous
      @HoudaOussous 5 років тому

      It's comtesse not comptesse

  • @Brubblez
    @Brubblez 7 років тому +19

    You're really engaging! Thanks mate! Keep it up :)

  • @justinthesissmith920
    @justinthesissmith920 7 років тому +2

    Yeah, man -- thank you so much for putting this out there! I'll be moving (back) to Berlin at the end of this summer, so I've been itching to find some good reads that can also help get me back on track with my German learning. This was exactly what I needed to hear

  • @samahbendada6
    @samahbendada6 7 років тому +15

    I just admire your BRITISH ACCENT. Like it so so much

  • @matildawolfram4687
    @matildawolfram4687 2 роки тому

    Awesome video! Many thanks to the author of the channel for the recommendations! The problem with many people is that they want to take a "magic pill" or get "secret knowledge" and immediately have skills and abilities. However, the truth of life is that knowledge, skills, and abilities do not come by themselves. You can't learn a foreign language without doing anything, without wasting your time and effort, just like you can't learn to ride a bike lying on a comfy couch, listening to lectures and watching videos about "modern methods of learning" on a bike. To really learn something, you have to really practice every day. You're going to fall down while you're learning, and you're going to get bumps - that's normal! The ups and downs of learning are an integral part of our lives. Motivation from success and depression from failure will always be your study companions. However, every student has problems in his or her studies that he or she lacks the knowledge to solve. It can be: poor memorization of words; no progress in language learning; the student can speak, but does not understand speech by ear; misunderstanding of grammar; incorrect pronunciation, etc. Agree that a problem you don't know how to solve is very demotivating. In order to find the answer to our question we have to spend a lot of time to read videos, articles and books by polyglots. In today's world, we have to solve problems as quickly as possible. I don't have time to study and analyze a huge amount of information. My goal is to master the basic knowledge of a foreign language as quickly as possible and already start earning money effectively in the international arena. I settled on the practical guide by Yuriy Ivantsiv " Polyglot's Notes: practical tips for learning foreign language". This book is always in my bag. If I have a problem while learning a language, I quickly find the answer in this book. There are many different techniques and tips for learning a foreign language in Polyglot Notes. I have made my own individual schedule and plan for language learning. Now I know what I am going to study, how I am going to study, when I am going to study and what results I am going to achieve. No problem could stop me! With an effective language learning plan my professional skills are more and more in demand internationally every day. Friends, don't stop there! Everyone has talents that millions of people around the world need! Learn the language and make your ideas and dreams come true! Thanks to the author of the channel for the informative and useful video! Your videos motivate me.

  • @ebstenner2244
    @ebstenner2244 7 років тому +51

    You should do a video on German music and recommend music that will help people improve their German skills! I listen to several different songs and they have helped me improve. Luftballons would be a good start! Mein kleines Herz is good, as well as Auf Uns.

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  7 років тому +12

      Hey! This is a great idea. I've actually thought about expanding it to more of a "how to immerse yourself in German" kind of thing. So Radio, Books, Music, Television...
      I'll let you know when it's online :)

    • @quellarpammler6469
      @quellarpammler6469 7 років тому +1

      ebony stenner Silbermond will help.

    • @omarsabry9489
      @omarsabry9489 4 роки тому

      Anna blue and Damien dawn

    • @ondachica
      @ondachica 4 роки тому

      Ich empfehle Euch BBRadio Nur Deutsche Hits.
      Wenn Ihr BBRadio Nur Deutsche Hits mit aktiviertem Shazam hören, dann habt Ihr Zugriff auf die Songtexte in deutscher Sprache und können im Karaoke-Stil mitsingen.

  • @olakolade6656
    @olakolade6656 2 роки тому +1

    I loved the book "the curious incident of the dog in the night time" when I was 13 or 14. It is actually on my table right now lol. I read it 3 years ago.
    I'm reading it again(in english) nd maybe i'll get it in german when I feel confident enough to read in German.

  • @lookingforanickname
    @lookingforanickname 7 років тому +8

    Hi Tom, I think you can attempt to read some of Walter Moers "Zamonien" novels. They are written in a style that is modern and conversational and should not be too hard for the most part. On the downside, most of them (except for "Ensel und Krete") are quite long. Also, while Moers writes in a very accessible style, he is a master of wordplay and in general loves to playwith language. So, some of the humor might get lost on speakers who don't know too much German and he also loves to invent words, though he usually explains what they mean. If you like Terry Pratchett's diskworld-series, you might like Moers as well.
    If you want to go into the YA-Spectrum, I would recommend Klaus Kordon, esspecially his "Trilogie der Wendepunkte" ("Die roten Matrosen", "Mit dem Rücken zur Wand", "Der erste Frühling"). Again, these books are quite lengthy, but I think they are also accessible, except that they use a little bit of Berlin dialect in some dialogue sections. The books deal with the adventures of a German working-class family during a) the revolution of 1918, b) the rise of the Third Reich and c) the end of World War 2. Contentwise, these books are quite rough and it is very clear that Kordon has a very leftist view, but especially the first too books are quite thrilling. If you enjoyed these books, Kordon has recently finished a second trilogy about a different family and their adventures around the failed revolution of 1848. So, you can improve your German and learn a bit about German history.
    Bernhard Schlink's "Der Vorleser" has the advantage of being quite short and also each chapter is only a few pages long. Languagewise, it is a bit more advanced than the aforemetioned.
    I think one shouldn't discard poetry when trying to learn German. I think the best author that you could use in that regard is Heinz Erhardt. He was a German comedian in the post-war era and was very successful with his poems which were usually full of wordplay and humorous observations. Most of his poems are quite short and they mostly use everyday German language, no over the top poetic style. While he loved playing with words and metaphors, most of the humor should be understandable even if you don't know German too well. Look him up on UA-cam there are quite a few scenes on here with audio or video samples of him reciting his poetry. (just try to avoid his movies....)
    I hope at least some of these suggestions sounded interesting to you.

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  7 років тому

      +lookingforanickname such an amazing comment! Thank you! I will certainly read up on these and let you know how it goes

    • @abdikaniadam5987
      @abdikaniadam5987 6 років тому

      i am German language beginner can you give me some hints to improve my language?

  • @nats9524
    @nats9524 3 роки тому

    I love the books by Angelika Bohn, she does a range from A1 to C1. The stories are easy enough to understand but they are interesting enough to keep me engaged. They're not too long either and they have a bit of slang so you can see the way people talk

  • @sanft6070
    @sanft6070 4 роки тому

    I've read "Supergute Tage" because of your recommendation, and i love it! I listen to the audiobook in english first to get context, and then jump into the german version. I must say the german sentence structure is really tough and confusing at times, but it gets easier the further i read. Im going to read it again to expose myself more.
    Thank you so much for this video! I'm planning to read "Der Kleine Prinz" and the 1st Harry Potter after this book :)
    Edit : I forgot to add that I tried to read "Charlie und die Schokoladenfabrik" first, but i was super confused and gave up after a few pages... Supergute Tage is much easier (for me, at least)

  • @ErklaerMirDieWelt
    @ErklaerMirDieWelt 6 років тому +10

    Der Spiegel is getting more and more lurid. They used to be better at really serious, investigative journalism.
    Neon sadly was discontinued. The last issue came out a few weeks ago. It's not a "hot topic" magazine :D it's more like a magazine for university students and young professionals. There is also a spin off magazine called Nido in the same style but for young parents.

  • @andreatavaglione6459
    @andreatavaglione6459 6 років тому +9

    a tip for whoever wanted to practice their language reading a book in their foreign language of choice: use a kindle or, at least, the kindle app because you can search the meaning of a word just by tapping it, which I find absolutely game changing.

    • @arturo3747
      @arturo3747 6 років тому

      I got the paperwhite, which book have you read in German?

    • @tiannat6996
      @tiannat6996 4 роки тому

      Can do similar with basically any if not all ereaders. I have a kobo as it takes any format of book

  • @ivanzq21
    @ivanzq21 5 років тому +5

    In french: "LE PETIT PRINCE" if not read it yet, its a short and very objective book 👌

  • @ellespears3808
    @ellespears3808 6 років тому +1

    I recommend and author called "zoran drvenkar", I read a book of his (tell me what you see/sag mir, was du siehst") when I was 14 and fell in love with it (its my favourite book). The language isn't too difficult and the books are available in German and English (although I can't find a kindle version of sag mir, was du siehst unfortunately)

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  6 років тому

      Thanks for the recommendation! I'll put them on my list

  • @gamenailed9604
    @gamenailed9604 6 років тому +4

    Any thoughts on reading the Goosebumps books in German? I think they're written for kids (maybe teenagers?), so I imagine they shouldn't be too complicated to read.

  • @Dannykhc
    @Dannykhc 3 роки тому

    Emil und die Detective for me. I really enjoyed the English translation so I bought the original German book. I'll do Das Kapital later as there are both German and English versions. For military and geopolitical terms, Hitler's directive no 1 of 1939 of which there are also German and English versions.

  • @duocoreciko
    @duocoreciko 5 років тому

    You sir .. are a learn german goldmine.. thanks!

  • @johncontoso7232
    @johncontoso7232 6 років тому +4

    How about magazine Deutsch perfekt ?

  • @ofgodzeus
    @ofgodzeus 4 роки тому +2

    for learning French, I know two awesome UA-cam channels which are called InnerFrench and Français Authentique!

  • @nojonnunuboy4445
    @nojonnunuboy4445 5 років тому

    French: Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain Fournier, the only book he ever wrote during his lifetime. It gives one that dreamy wafty feeling that are so typical of French novels.

  • @justincagle6075
    @justincagle6075 6 років тому +1

    I am reading Charlie und die schokoladenfabrik, and I came across this sentence. Im Sommer ging das noch, Aber im Winter war es schrecklich. I understand the second half, but the Im Sommer ging das noch. Should translate to In the summer was not that bad., but I can't see how. Can someone please help.

    • @sandyvdh6226
      @sandyvdh6226 6 років тому

      justin cagle we 'll need the previous paragraph to solve this mystery... it means sth was a problem less in summer...

    • @jackolantern7342
      @jackolantern7342 6 років тому

      yeah, what Sandy vdh. Need a bit of context. i.e. blah blah...In Summer it was ok, but in Winter it was terrible.

  • @jurtrypik
    @jurtrypik 5 років тому

    Mein erstes Buch war eigentlich "Er ist wieder da" von Timur Vermes und das war, muss ich sagen, wirklich herausfordernd, denn mein Niveau war wohl B1. Jetzt lese ich mein zweites Buch "Der Partner" von Grisham.

  • @MajorGrooves
    @MajorGrooves 7 років тому +1

    Nice video. Thanks for sharing your book suggestions. I'm about to start B1.3 lessons on Monday, although I get so.... bored reading children's' books that are way below Harry Potter that I wonder how I would get on with these. I have Olaf der Elch and at least one Asterix and Obelix in German that I seem to have been reading for years!

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  7 років тому

      Hey! If you've completed B1.2 then I could certainly recommend picking up some of the ones I mentioned here. Try Maus. It's a really important and interesting book and I think you'd be ok with it at B1.3 (perhaps with recourse to a dictionary occasionally).
      I would also recommend The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at that level (in German: "Supergute Tage oder Die sonderbare Welt des Christopher Boone"

  • @buchdrache1409
    @buchdrache1409 6 років тому +9

    Momentan lese ich Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch! Mein Ziel ist auch, diese Serie in diesem Monat zu beenden, sodass ich andere Deutsche Bücher lesen kann. Ich freue mich eifrig darauf, Momo und Die Unendliche Geschichte (beide von Michael Ende) zu lesen.
    Laut mir ist Der Spiegel nicht so schwierig zu verstehen. B1 Niveau genügt.

  • @abhijeetmalik7039
    @abhijeetmalik7039 3 роки тому

    Which book should I study in Beginning

  • @hacenem2579
    @hacenem2579 2 роки тому

    Hello, please so did you find anything similar to Maus after your return to London? Thanks a lot

  • @mzone7750
    @mzone7750 4 роки тому

    Sir please suggest one b1 level german language book for reading

  • @vahagkachaturian5682
    @vahagkachaturian5682 Рік тому

    why zou move the books so fast one can not read the titels

  • @tamilarasanmanokaran
    @tamilarasanmanokaran 6 років тому

    Hello Tom I'm beginner of German. Can you suggest me to How and understand and how to fluently read Speak in German.. can you please tell me for the beginning books

  • @nadahesham6198
    @nadahesham6198 6 років тому +1

    it helps a LOT THANKS, ANY HINTS ABOUT learning new languages

  • @iakobkv271
    @iakobkv271 5 років тому +3

    I followed your suggestion and picked Supergute Tage. I am currently on early B1 level and I feel like I miss 50% of what is written.
    I feel like it doesnt matter if I dont understand. Or should I continue?
    Thanks!

    • @sanft6070
      @sanft6070 4 роки тому

      Listen to the audiobook first (in English) to understand the story, and then read the german version... That's what im doing rn and it really helps

  • @lilitghazaryan3662
    @lilitghazaryan3662 6 років тому

    Awwww, thanks! I've discovered Momo ^_^ Love your vids

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  6 років тому

      Love that book! Glad you've discovered it 😍

  • @chamarawedamulla5264
    @chamarawedamulla5264 4 роки тому

    Very interesting.. thanks.

  • @davidg8104
    @davidg8104 6 років тому +1

    hey have you tried the "???" they are mostly dialogs

  • @abdikaniadam5987
    @abdikaniadam5987 6 років тому

    Hi Tom,
    I am Somali student who live and study in Addis ababa ethiopia, i have probably started learning german language before more than one year.i really want to study German language. would you please give me any hints to follow inorder to study it well?
    thank you.

  • @magdadrague
    @magdadrague 5 років тому

    Should i read a book if i don't understand anything?

  • @olgaurueta542
    @olgaurueta542 6 років тому

    Thank you!!

  • @olgaurueta542
    @olgaurueta542 6 років тому +1

    Read the little Prince in french

  • @imii9323
    @imii9323 6 років тому

    Thanks to help ..How much time to finish level A1 to C2 level in German... language..

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  6 років тому +2

      Hey! This depends on so many different things! The main one though is exposure to the language. If you are moving to Germany, I think you could get to C2 after about 7 - 9 months of living there. If you're studying at home, it could take a lot longer, and I think there would be a limit of about B1/B2, after which you kinda *need* to go to the country, in my opinion.

    • @imii9323
      @imii9323 6 років тому

      Tom Crewther + thank to reply I really appreciate that no I m from Asia in my country alot government German learning institute I will take admsion first in apart from it what you think that crucial stuff to get early good command on German language...I think electronic German grammar & vocabulary book is easy way instead of novels & books...

    • @buchdrache1409
      @buchdrache1409 6 років тому +5

      Tom Crewther "Reach C2 after 7-9 months"!!! Das ist lächerlich! C2 bedeutet, dass man genauso gut wie selbst Deutschen (und beim Schreiben manchmal besser) ist! Dieses Niveau kann man gar nicht in 7-9 Monaten erreichen! Das reicht ja gar nicht! Von 1.5 bis 2 Jahren werden für ein richtiges C2 niveau gebraucht. Sie sollten vielleicht ein bisschen mehr forschen, da Sie UA-cam videos zum Thema erstellen.
      Ich wohne in Deutschland seit einem Jahr und kann Sie versichern, dass eine fremde Sprache zu beherrschen, nicht so einfach ist. Ich habe zwar meine B1 Prüfung bestanden, aber viel mehr Zeit, Mühe und Aufmerksamkeit werden gebraucht, C1 oder C2 Prüfungen zu bestehen. Darauf können Sie Gift nehmen!

  • @isaacmonterrosa4657
    @isaacmonterrosa4657 3 роки тому

    Where you got the books?

  • @kelseywagner7828
    @kelseywagner7828 7 років тому

    Vielen Dank 🙏🏻

  • @yasamanpj6276
    @yasamanpj6276 4 роки тому

    Hi tom, I have recently finished b1 by self study but I have heard that for b2 i should get a teacher because it’s very harder than b1 a2 a1 ...I’m really confused, could you please give me some advices?

    • @ugorjifelix6670
      @ugorjifelix6670 4 роки тому

      Hallo Yasaman. Pls what type of B1 Prüfung did u write & how did u prepare for it & also what books did u read as well. Thanks👏

  • @dudedude5843
    @dudedude5843 3 роки тому

    I don't advise Harry Potter for everyone who's B1 Level. This is guy clearly doesn't go through the words and keep jumping from page to page since he knows the story line. also most of Harry potter words are useless and can't use it in daily conversation. I'm saying this from my own experience and after i finished 8 chapters

  • @nojvaz2392
    @nojvaz2392 6 років тому

    You kept jumping from B1 to C2, A1, etc etc. How do you quantify your german level? Do you set goals and once you reach those goals your in that specific level? Or do you claim any level depending how comfortable you are in the language. Thanks

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  6 років тому +1

      Hey there! I have mixed feelings about the A1 > C2 system. It's a good way to track your rough level, but in reality there is so much nuance within any one individual's ability that it gets confusing fast.
      So how do I do it? Well, I like to split my ability over the four main skills: Reading, Speaking, Listening, Writing. For each one, I try to honestly compare what I can do against the CEFR definitions (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages#General_scales).
      But for me, I consider speaking is the most important of the four skills and so when someone asks me what level I am in a language, I usually give them my "Speaking" level, which for German I feel is C1.
      But if someone asked me what my "Writing" level was, I would have to tell them something like B1, because I find that really hard in German (it's also not super important to me in my daily life) and so I have never tried to improve it. I have a different response depending on what part of the language we are talking about.

  • @dhanishago
    @dhanishago 6 років тому +1

    how long for you to master German language?

    • @TomCopeland
      @TomCopeland  6 років тому

      I certainly don't think I have fully mastered it yet! So far I've been studying for about two and a half years, but in that time I've only had 3 months at an actual langauge school. Most of the time I was self-teaching. I think if you really wanted to then a good level of German is possible with three to four months of concentrated effort.

  • @AlteLiebeHSV1896
    @AlteLiebeHSV1896 5 років тому

    Harri Töpfer!

  • @carthaginianexmuslim6623
    @carthaginianexmuslim6623 7 років тому

    jezz you read harry potter in German omg , how did you deal with the vocabulary ?

  • @szatanowska
    @szatanowska 6 років тому

    Yo mate 😆

  • @paper3993
    @paper3993 6 років тому +6

    What about Mein Kampf?

  • @TheLibtv
    @TheLibtv 7 років тому +1

    Danke 😀

  • @ivanzq21
    @ivanzq21 5 років тому

    good video Tom, but Dont know why you speak too fast! I understood everything but I guess you should take a pause you know… Im just saying… 😳