Do you have the urge to accomplish something, but are lacking options due to COVID-19?

Learn German online!

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives and many of us are spending significantly more time at home. We are keeping busy at home by either working from home, home-schooling our children, and perhaps even taking up a new hobby.
If you would like to add learning a new language to your list of activities – why not learn German? Especially if it’s free! There are a great many e-learning programs, games, apps and other tools that can help you accomplish just that.
Here is our curated list of your options, all at no charge.

Curated by the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA)

NameLevelDescriptionLink
pasch-netA1-C1Website for all pasch schools (PASCH = Partnerschulinitiative des Auswärtigen Amtes/Partner School Initiative of the Federal Foreign Office): competitions, videos, texts, audios, worksheets
https://www.pasch-net.de/de/index.html
LINGO macht MINT (CLIL)A2 and upDaF materials for listening, reading and puzzling / Learning German + MINT (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology)https://www.lingonetz.de/mint
Vitamin deB1 and upDigital version of the language learning magazine Vitamin de: Worksheets, audio files etc.https://www.vitaminde.de/
Step into GermanA2 and upVideos, podcasts and worksheets of the Goethe-Institut on topics such as music, football, film and sustainabilityhttp://www.goethe.de/ins/us/saf/prj/stg/mus/ cli/eindex.htm
SchlaudinoA1 and upPrintable worksheets (e.g. pre-school)https://vorschule.schlaudino.com/­foerderprogramm/kinder-arbeitsblaetter/
SchlaukopfA1 and upInteractive online exercises for primary school
https://www.schlaukopf.de/grundschule/
Grundschul­königA1 and upFables, fairy tales, cloze textshttps://www.grundschulkoenig.de/
Grundschul-AtelierA1 and upWorksheets reading comprehension, puzzles etc.https://www.grundschulatelier.de/kostenlose-arbeitsblaetter-fuer-die-grundschule
Stiftung LesenA1 and upInteresting offers for reading promotion; new stories to read aloud every weekhttps://www.einfachvorlesen.de/
LesejuleA1 and upFree learning material for reading and writing for the very younghttps://lesejule.de/
TeddylinguaA1 and upWorksheets, videos, games for the very young (from pre-school)https://teddylingua.de
LingudoraA1 and upIllustrated online vocabulary exercises with audio component (e.g. colours, food, body parts)http://www.lingudora.com/
LernoxA1 and upExtensive collection of DaF/Daz materials as an integration aid for refugees (e.g. greetings, regional studies, fairy tales, professions)http://lernox.de/
Deutsch-musik-BlogA1 and upGerman language songs and videos with didactic suggestions, teaching materials and filter functionhttp://deutschmusikblog.de/
ABCund123A1 and upReading, writing, calculating - many worksheets and gameshttps://www.abcund123.de
LingoliaA1 and upGrammar, listening / reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling (exercises appear in green if the answer is correct)https://deutsch.lingolia.com/de/
1300 Arbeitsblätter DeutschA1 and upGrammar and spelling worksheets (with search option)https://www.mittelschulvorbereitung.ch/
Deutsch-TrainingA1 and upGerman exercises, e.g. online vocabulary quiz with online correctionhttps://deutschtraining.org
Schule ATA1 and upGerman as a second language and intercultural learninghttps://www.schule.at/portale/deutsch-als-zweitsprache-und-ikl.html
DaF/CHA1 and upDaF worksheets on grammar, spelling, word fields by topichttps://www.deutschalsfremdsprache.ch/
Derdiedaf (Klett Verlag)A1 and upTeaching materials from Klett Verlag, can also be used without the textbookhttps://www.derdiedaf.com/
CornelsenA2 and upDaF worksheets on regional studies and vocabulary, plus games and puzzleshttps://www.cornelsen.de/empfehlungen/­erwachsenenbildung-sprachen/daf-daz/arbeitsblaetter-und-landeskunde
CornelsenA2 and upInteractive exerciseshttps://www.cornelsen.de/empfehlungen/schulschliessung/fuer-lehrer/interaktive-uebungen
Schubert VerlagA1 and up99 worksheets basic level DaFhttps://www.schubert-verlag.de/aufgaben/arbeitsblaetter_a1_z/­a1_arbeitsblaetter_index_z.htm
Hueber VerlagA1-C2Exercises / Templateshttps://www.hueber.de/deutsch-als-fremdsprache/lernen/pg_kopiervorlagen_lrnzg
Hueber VerlagA1 and upOnline exercises on textbooks, e.g. on steps (can be filled in online, there is online feedback)https://www.hueber.de/shared/uebungen/schritte/
Institut für Intern. Kom­mu­­nika­tion A1-C1DaF Exerciseshttps://elearning.iik-duesseldorf.de/course/view.php?id=2
Antolin (Westermann Verlag)A2 and upReading exercises (access to reading materials necessary - digital or as book)https://antolin.westermann.de/
Mildenberger VerlagA1 and upReading, Grammar (Recht)Schreiben via the syllable methodhttps://www.mildenberger-verlag.de/page.php?modul=GoShopping&op=show_rubrik&cid=1177#Deutsch
QuiaA2 and upOnline games and exercises by teachers for teachers -with search filterhttps://www.quia.com/shared/german/
Victoria (AUS)A1 and upOnline games, exercises and worksheetshttps://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/german/german.htm

The second table lists additional resources such as apps, media and courses.

NameLevelDescriptionLink
DuolingoA1-C2Android und iOS
BabbleA1-C2Android und iOS
50 SprachenA1-C2Android und iOS
BusuuA1-C2Android und iOS
AntonA2-C2App for all subjects, grades 1-8, including GermanAndroid und iOS
Planet SchuleB1-C2Films, educational games, simulations, apps; primarily for students in Germanyhttps://www.planet-schule.de
NDR/MärchenA2 and upFairy tales in German with audio (for the little ones), barrier-freehttps://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/service/ leichte_sprache/Maerchen-in-Leichter-Sprache, maerchenleichtesprache100.html
NDR/leichte SpracheA2 and upNews spoken in easy language, barrier-freehttps://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/service/leichte _sprache/Der-NDR-in-Leichter-Sprache,leichtesprache104.html
Deutsche Welle (DW): Nachrichten B2/C1Important news from Germany; normal speed and slowly spoken https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/nachrichten/s-8030
DW: Deutsch LernenA1-CCourses by levelhttps://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/s-2055
DW: Ticket nach BerlinB1-CTrip across Germany; six young German students face exciting challengeshttps://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/ticket-nach-berlin/s-32294
DW: Deutsch­land-LaborA2 and upExpedition in 20 videoshttps://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/das-deutschlandlabor/s-32379
DW: Deutsch­trainerA1/A2Basic vocabulary training (video clips, English-German)https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/deutschtrainer/s-32888
Deutsch to Goab A2460 listening comprehension exercises; two new listening texts every weekhttps://www.deutsch-to-go.de/
DeutschglobalA1-C2All levels, e.g. grammar, vocabularyhttps://deutschglobal.blogspot.com/
ZDFA2 and upZDF television for children (e.g. Logo)https://www.zdf.de/kinder
ARDA2 and upARD children's films and documentarieshttps://www.ardmediathek.de/daserste/shows/­ Y3JpZDovL2Rhc2Vyc3RlLmRlL2tpbmRlcmZpbG1lLXVuZC1raW5kZXJkb2t1cw/
kikaA2 and upChildren's channel ARD and ZDFhttps://www.kika.de/index.html
GeolinoA2 and upTexts, online gameshttps://www.geo.de
AudibleA2 and up"Around the World in 80 days", "Tom Sawyer", "Robinson Crusoe" and other children's/youth books - as audio books in Germanhttps://stories.audible.com/discovery/enterprise-discovery-21122524011?ref=adbl_ent_anon_ds_ds_dccs_sbtp-0-7
KakaduA2 and upPodcasts and radio plays for children by Deutschlandfunk Kulturhttps://www.kakadu.de/
Alba BerlinA1 and upDaily digital sports lesson of the basketball club Alba Berlin for kindergarten, primary and secondary schoolhttps://www.albaberlin.de/news/details/reaktion-auf-coronavirus-albas-taegliche-digitale-sportstunde-fuer-kinder-und-jugendliche/
Please note that while we have done our best to verify the information, all details are without guarantee.
Want to broaden your horizons in times of social distancing? Learn German! For free!

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