Concentrate on German grammar. Grammar is the building block of all languages. An inadequate knowledge of grammar makes vocabulary building a much more difficult task. An adequate grasp of German grammar provides a context for understanding and building a German vocabulary. German nouns always have a specific gender, masculine, feminine or neuter. Always learn the gender of the noun when learning a new noun. German nouns are always conjugated into the first, second and third persons singular and plural.
Build a basic vocabulary. Essential verbs include haben (to have), sein (to be), gehen (to go), sprechen (to speak), verstehen (to understand), sehen (to see) and wissen (to know).
Learn German phrases. Phrases provide a context that helps make the words more memorable and practical. It is helpful to learn groups of phrases that are related to one another. Greetings represent one example: Guten Morgen (good morning), Guten Tag ( good day or hello) and Guten Abend (good night). Saying goodbye is another example: bis spater (see you later), bis bald (see you soon) and bis morgen (see you tomorrow).
Organize vocabulary in themes, activities or goals. Central words associated with travel in Germany include Der Flughafen (airport), Der Bahnhof (train station) and Die Bushaltstelle (bus stop).
Pay attention to German and English words that sound similar. English and German share a number of words that are closely related such as Hallo (hello), Gute Nacht (good night), gut (good), ya (yes), danke (thank you) and willkommen (welcome).
Label everyday items and objects around the house with a German word for the object. A fun and easy way to learn German is to familiarize yourself with everyday objects such as knives, spoons, plates, chairs, mirrors, cups, pants, shirts and so forth.
Listen to tapes or CDs during your morning commute or at other times during the day. Listening to the language being used in a conversational context helps embed the new vocabulary into your memory.
Read German newspapers and magazines without a dictionary. Once you have developed a basic vocabulary, reading an article in German without a dictionary is a useful way to develop your vocabulary. Newspapers are helpful because they deal with current affairs. Not relying on a dictionary forces your mind to use the context to fill in the gaps. As many German words are built by combining words together, the newspaper provides a context in which you can decipher the larger words from words that you already know.