"Deutsch--Warum nicht?" is a German language program produced by Deutsche Welle in conjunction with the Goethe Institute. It is geared toward the beginner with little or no knowledge of the German language.
The program is centered on the story of Andreas, a journalism student. It is divided into four parts, or "series," each of which consists of 26 chapters. Dialogue translations, a grammar guide, exercises and vocabulary lists are also included.
Throughout the program, Andreas finds himself in a variety of situations, from working in a hotel in Aachen, to dealing with parents, to exploring a new city.
The format used by "Deutsch--Warum nicht?" is fairly typical of many beginning German language programs and is useful for the student.
First, it uses a story to convey its lessons. This helps to keep a student interested and presents language concepts in an entertaining manner. At the same time, the content is practical and useful, approximating how certain words and phrases may actually be used in context. The student, upon arriving in a German-speaking country, may find herself having to take a taxi, make reservations and ask for directions.
Secondly, the lessons are presented in order of difficulty and build upon what was learned previously. In the beginning, the student learns the essentials: verbs such as "sein" (to be) and "haben" (to have), as well as pronouns, verb conjugation and basic sentence structure. By the end of the program, he will also have learned about reflexive verbs, the subjunctive, and passive and dependent clauses. Taking each lesson one by one, with concepts presented slowly, makes it less frustrating for the student.
When learning German, the beginner should use a variety of aids. While using "Deutsch--Warum nicht?" or another program, the student should also try reading simple short stories, periodicals and websites in German. This is a wonderful way to learn new vocabulary and to observe what was learned "in action." A good German-English dictionary is also essential.
Of course, the downside of studying German through an online program at home is the lack of immediate opportunity for interaction as is found in a classroom setting. Practice speaking the language is vital. Luckily, there are a variety of resources for German students looking to practice with native speakers or other students. The student can use websites such as Language Exchange (see Resources), browse through social networking websites such as Facebook or MySpace, and create a Skype account to meet German speakers.