Since moving to Berlin last year, I have made a concentrated effort to learn German. I have found that while there is no substitute for the structure and accountability of an intensive language course, there is plenty I can do outside of the classroom to bolster my German. Podcasts are one easy way to add a bit more German to my every day routine. I often find myself listening to them on the tram on my way to or from Alexanderplatz, where I take classes at the German language School Kapitel Zwei Berlin.

Here are some podcasts I have found especially helpful:

The Live Lingua Project provides free language learning material for over 150 languages from around the world. It includes ebook, audio and video courses for well known languages like English, Spanish and German as well as rare languages like Acholi, Ikbatan and Maasai.

Studying in Germany:  Studying in Germany website has created a comprehensive guide to help beginners speak German fast. Some of the main sections in this guide talk about the reasons why you should learn German, how to understand the German grammar, learning the common phrases, German idioms, slang words, and even a few funny words that would be great to know. German level: Absolute Beginner.

Wort der Woche – Deutsch Lernen, by Deutsche Welle. Deutsche Welle has a multitude of podcasts for the German learner, from absolute beginner to advanced. Released weekly, this specific program introduces a German word and its meaning in just a minute or two.  These micro-podcasts are a quick and friendly way to broaden your vocabulary and pick up some German slang. Recent examples are Der Elfenbeinturm (meaning “Ivory Tower”), Die Kohle (a slang word for cash), and Die Menschentraube (roughly translated to a “knot” or throng of people). German level: Intermediate

Slow German mit Annik Rubens is, as the title says, a slow and relaxing podcast narrated by a German journalist. In short segments of about five minutes or less, it introduces and explains bits of German culture, such as German wine or the German Presidency. Crucially, each podcast episode also includes a full transcript. This means you may read along as you listen, or listen first then check your understanding afterwards. It’s a great way to improve listening comprehension and increase your familiarity with German history and culture. German level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate.

What’s so Funny About German? is a video podcast produced by the BBC featuring stand-up comedian Henning Wehn. In a series of ten short videos, he humorously introduces some basic aspects of German language, such as the alphabet or telling time. This tongue-in-cheek series will offer you a brief respite from your German textbooks. German level: Absolute Beginner.