Wow, Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal German lessons, what is that you might ask? Let me explain.
Why I Started This Journey
I took German in school for a long time, and a lot of my colleagues did as well. But German often gets pushed aside because English is so dominant. When you finally try to learn it again, it can feel very daunting. I decided to change things and make it fun.
For me, it was watching cooking videos from Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal, so it was only fitting that I named my project “Mein Deutsch, Dein Deutsch!”
Scientific studies show that simple exposure is one of the most powerful parts of language learning. If you wonder why staying in a foreign country helps you learn so much faster, this is why! But even if you are not able to live there, just by hearing native speakers, your brain naturally learns the rhythm and begins to recognize which sounds belong together.
But I also wanted a bit more. I wanted to practice, and since there are so many new words in each episode, I wanted to be prepared. This is why I built these games, which are split into two parts: pre-watch and post-watch. (Obviously, the YouTube video is in the middle! 😊)
So, let the videos provide the immersion so that you feel like you are really there, and let the games keep the process fun while you practice the words.
But please, please don’t stress yourself out while watching the videos. Just listen. You don’t have to be perfect, you just need to start.
How It Works
It’s simple. My Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal German lessons are built on three steps: the pre-watch game, the video, and the post-watch game. Everything is structured in a way that doesn’t interrupt the flow of the series. Especially when they start to pick on each other, trying to find mistakes in the cooking. I love it!
1. Pre-watch Game
In the first step, you get a list of new words. You can choose between a short list, a medium list, or practicing all the words. First, you practice the meaning of the words, and next, you move on to practice the articles that are so important in German language.
2. Watch video on YouTube
This one is kind of obvious: sit back and relax, listen, and once again, please don’t stress yourself. You are here to have fun. Just listening is all you need to do.
3. Post-Watch Game
Now things get real (sorry, I had to do it). We are still having fun, but this time, we practice what we heard, saw, and observed. This part surprised me as well, you have to focus pretty well to get some answers right! Woven in between questions about the video are some words for you to practice.
Try one of Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal German lessons and you will get the feel for it. And if you learn just one new word, I’m happy.
What is “Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal”?
If you aren’t familiar with this gem yet, Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal is a hugely popular German reality television show where restaurant owners visit, taste, and rate each other’s food.
I decided to build my Mein Lokal Dein Lokal German lessons around this series because it is simply fun. I love watching cooking shows, and I realized this show is actually a secret weapon for learning.
Here is why: you get to hear authentic, everyday German. Sometimes you might feel like you understand nothing, but other times you will catch just enough to understand the twists and plots. You are hearing real people joking, talking, and expressing their opinions naturally.
There is also built-in repetition, which is great for learning. Every episode involves reading a menu, ordering, tasting, and paying the bill. This natural repetition locks food names, numbers, and descriptive vocabulary into your brain without it feeling like you are studying.
You will also notice that the chefs love to pick on each other a bit, not too much, but just enough to make it fun. When you are emotionally invested in the drama, your brain absorbs the language much faster.
For me, it is the perfect bridge between studying a language and actually living it.
