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A useful listening task checks which information belongs together. Consider this constructed announcement: “Der Zug fährt um neun Uhr, nicht um acht Uhr.” It means “The train leaves at nine o’clock, not at eight o’clock.”

A learner who catches acht Uhr (eight o’clock) near the end might write “eight”. The word nicht means “not”: eight is the rejected time, while neun Uhr (nine o’clock) is the departure time. Listen again for the correction, give the answer, then explain which words settled it.

To turn listening into speaking, answer “Wann fährt der Zug?” (When does the train leave?) with “Der Zug fährt um neun Uhr” (The train leaves at nine o’clock). A tutor can change the times for another attempt or ask the learner to make the announcement. This gives a concrete focus for feedback: identifying the correct detail and producing an accurate response.

If speaking feels daunting, begin with the answer visible, rehearse it, and then remove the prompt. Agree whether corrections should interrupt the sentence or come afterwards. The next challenge should follow what the learner can manage comfortably.

For AQA GCSE German 8662 in England, first examined in 2026, the four assessed skills include specific tasks such as dictation in listening, reading aloud in speaking, and translation in reading and writing. Recognising a word on a revision card is therefore only one part of preparation.

For a dictation practice task, listen to a short sentence without seeing it, write what you hear, then compare with the transcript. Separate a word you did not recognise from a word you knew but could not spell: the next practice task should address that particular difficulty. For speaking, follow a prepared answer with a changed question so the learner has to understand and respond.

Begin with a small sample of speaking, listening, reading and writing suited to your goal. This can reveal an uneven starting point: a returning learner may understand everyday speech but hesitate when writing, while a confident reader may need time to recognise familiar words in audio.

Look for teaching experience with the goal you have chosen. For exam tuition, that includes the current course and the kinds of speaking or writing tasks involved. For an adult learner, it may mean explaining grammar clearly and building conversation around situations you will actually use.

Use the free introductory meeting to discuss a real difficulty and how the tutor would approach it. Ask how they balance German practice with explanations you can follow, how they give corrections, and what they expect between lessons. This is a meeting about goals, approach and arrangements.

Tell the tutor about useful adjustments, such as written instructions, a slower pace or time to rehearse before speaking. For a child, agree how a parent will hear about priorities and progress. Choose the person whose explanations make sense to the learner and whose proposed routine is workable.