This routine is for learners who know some German but need more practice putting sentences together. Start with short answers. You do not need to fill every pause or get every ending right.
A five-minute routine to try
- Choose a question. Spend the first minute picking something familiar, such as what you did yesterday. Write three useful words, rather than a full script.
- Answer out loud. Speak for up to a minute. If you lose a word, try a simpler sentence. You can also say "Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch?" to ask how to say it in German.
- Change one detail. Spend another minute answering a follow-up question. If you talked about yesterday, explain what you would like to do tomorrow.
- Check one sentence. Use the next minute to look up a phrase or ask a teacher or conversation tool for feedback. AI feedback can be wrong; check explanations you are unsure about.
- Try again. Use the last minute to answer without reading your first attempt. Include the sentence you checked, then stop.
Questions for A2 practice
- Was hast du gestern gemacht? What did you do yesterday? Then explain what you enjoyed.
- Was machst du am Wochenende? What are you doing at the weekend? Then change your plan because it is raining.
- Wie kommst du zur Arbeit oder zum Kurs? How do you get to work or class? Then explain what you do when you are late.
Questions for B1 practice
- Würdest du lieber in einer Stadt oder auf dem Land wohnen? Warum? Would you rather live in a city or in the countryside? Explain your choice, then give one disadvantage.
- Welche Gewohnheit möchtest du ändern? Which habit would you like to change? Explain what makes it difficult and what you could try.
- Erzähl von einem Plan, der sich geändert hat. Talk about a plan that changed. Explain what happened and how you responded.
What if I understand German but cannot answer quickly?
Make the answer smaller. Start with one sentence that gets your meaning across. Add a reason or an example only when you are ready. Try a different follow-up each time so you practise choosing words, rather than reciting a fixed answer.
How can I get feedback?
A teacher can explain a mistake and help you decide what to work on. A language partner gives you practice responding to another person. An AI conversation app is another option when you want to practise on your own, but its corrections still need judgment.
For your own notes, keep a short list of corrections you have checked. If the same point appears in several attempts, bring it into your next practice session.
Where Tongue-tied fits
Tongue-tied is an AI language-practice app starting with German on iPhone. You have a voice conversation, review feedback and practise recurring mistakes. It uses patterns from your conversations to shape later practice.
Tongue-tied is available for iPhone. The Free plan includes 15 Talk minutes in total, which do not renew. Check the pricing page for the full allowances. Talk requires an internet connection.
Use this routine alongside the lessons, listening and conversations that suit you.