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LearnPlus Deutsch Review

By Gerrit du Plessis

LearnPlus is not a well-known company and it's a relatively new method of learning German online. That being said, there are aspects of their program that show great potential. Their online program is priced competitively and it features a wide range of approaches targeted to just about every learning style you could imagine.

However, it still needs work, both in the philosophy behind the teaching approach and the design and execution of the program. Each LearnPlus lesson starts with grammar, apparently assuming that you have to understand the grammar and syntax of the language before you can learn to speak it. Vocabulary is then introduced, again under the assumption that words are like verbal building blocks you need to have memorized before you can use them. Only then are dialogues (known as role-plays) introduced, followed by games and exercises, and concluded by assessment tests.

All the components of a really good learning system are here - they just seem to be in the wrong order. Why would you teach grammar and vocabulary before you have a conversation to use them in? In addition, the games are childish both in their appearance and playing factor (although at least LearnPlus does recognize their importance as an educational tool). And three months of tutoring and support is not nearly enough to learn German online. LearnPlus Deutsch 1 may someday give other German courses a run for their money - but so far, there's no contest.

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Bottom line - if I needed a fast, easy way to learn German online, I'd go for Rocket German hands down.