Stuck at A2 German? How to Get from A2 to B1 (and Break the Plateau)

Feeling stuck at A2 level in German? You’re not alone. Many adult learners hit a “plateau” at A2 – that frustrating stage where progress seems to stall. Moving from A2 (elementary level) to B1 (intermediate level) can feel daunting, but it’s absolutely achievable with the right strategies and mindset. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain why learners often plateau at A2 German and provide practical, skill-by-skill tips to help you reach B1 level German. We’ll also give some motivational encouragement (yes, you can do this!) and suggest effective learning activities – from graded readers to speaking exercises – to reignite your progress. Plus, we’ll highlight how Olesen Tuition’s services (private lessons, group classes, intensive courses, online lessons, exam prep) can support you on this journey.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear roadmap to improve your German at A2 level and push through to B1. 🚀 Los geht’s! (Let’s go!)

Table of Contents

• Why Learners Plateau at A2 Level

• Strategies to Break Through to B1

  • Boost Your German Grammar Skills

  • Improve Your German Listening Skills

  • Practise Speaking Regularly in German

  • Read More to Expand Your Vocabulary

  • Write Often to Reinforce Your Learning

• Staying Motivated on the Path to B1

• Leverage Professional Support

• Conclusion

Why Learners Plateau at A2 Level

It’s common for German learners to make quick gains in A1 and A2, then suddenly feel progress has slowed to a crawl – often called the intermediate plateau. Here are some reasons you might be experiencing an A2 German plateau:

• Grammar Overload: German grammar becomes more complex as you approach B1. New concepts like past tenses, subordinate clauses with the verb at the end, and stricter word order rules pile on. Many learners feel overwhelmed by the grammar complexity and start making frequent mistakes with cases or word order, which can hinder confidence. It’s normal at this stage to feel like “I’m not getting it” because there is a lot to learn – but don’t worry, this is a phase you can overcome with practice.

• Insufficient Speaking Practice: At A2, you might understand quite a bit of German in theory, but still struggle to speak out loud. Some learners plateau because they don’t practise speaking enough. Remember, speaking and listening are active skills – you can’t learn to speak German solely from a textbook. If you’ve been shy about speaking or relying only on apps, you might find your progress stalls when it comes to real conversations.

• Vocabulary and Content Repetition: Perhaps you’ve been cycling through the same beginner vocabulary and phrases without significantly expanding your vocabulary. At A2, it’s essential to start learning more words and topics beyond the basics; otherwise, your ability to understand and express new ideas remains limited. (For example, moving up from A2 requires adding hundreds of new words to discuss everyday topics more freely.) Not introducing fresh vocabulary or content can make you feel like you’re stuck in place.

• Lack of Structured Progression: After finishing A1 or an initial course, some learners lose structure – maybe you stopped following a curriculum or don’t have clear goals for moving forward. Without a plan, it’s easy to linger at A2, reviewing what’s comfortable instead of tackling new challenges. A lack of structured learning (like a course or study plan) can leave gaps in your knowledge and skills needed for B1. Learners often need a more structured push (e.g. a B1 course or a tutor’s guidance) to keep progressing.

• Intermediate Plateau Mindset: Psychologically, the transition from beginner to intermediate can be tough. At A1–A2 you were learning lots of obvious new things (and seeing fast progress), but as you approach B1 the improvements become subtler and require more effort. This can feel demotivating. Progress does continue, but it might not feel as dramatic as when you first started German. Many learners at this stage underestimate how far they’ve come and get discouraged by what they can’t do yet, rather than recognising what they can do now.

• Avoiding Grammar or Overreliance on “Survival German”: Some people reach A2 with minimal grammar study (focusing on phrases or using only the present tense, for instance). That might work up to A2, but to express more complex thoughts at B1, you need solid grammar foundations. Skirting around grammar can lead to a stall in progress around A2-B1 – you might find you’re still speaking in broken sentences or making the same mistakes (like Ich gehen… instead of Ich gehe), which prevents you from moving forward. In short, what got you through A1/A2 (memorising phrases or relying on context) isn’t enough for B1’s demands.

Do any of these sound familiar? If so, don’t fret – identifying the issue is the first step. Next, we’ll dive into targeted strategies for each skill area to help you break through the A2 ceiling.

Strategies to Break Through to B1

To get from A2 to B1 in German, you’ll want to strengthen all your language skills (grammar, listening, speaking, reading, writing) in a balanced way. Pushing each of these up a notch will collectively lift you into the B1 range. Below, we offer practical strategies in each area, along with recommended activities and resources. Mix and match these tips into your study routine. Consistency is key – a little progress in each skill every week can yield big results over time.

Boost Your German Grammar Skills

Why it matters: At B1, using grammar more accurately becomes important for being understood. Many A2 learners feel grammar is their weakest point or actively avoid it – but conquering a few key grammar hurdles will dramatically improve your German. It will allow you to form more precise sentences and break out of the “Tarzan German” of beginner levels.

Strategies:

• Focus on Core Intermediate Grammar: Make sure you’ve mastered the A2 basics (present and perfect tenses, noun gender and cases in simple sentences, separable verbs, etc.), then tackle the new B1-level grammar topics one by one. Important areas include: subordinate clauses (Nebensätze) where the verb goes to the end, past tenses (Präteritum for common verbs, Plusquamperfekt for storytelling), future tense, conditional (Konjunktiv II) for polite requests or hypotheticals, and adjective endings. Rather than seeing grammar as a giant mountain, approach it as a series of manageable hills. For example, spend a week on word order in subordinate clauses, another on adjective endings, and so on. There are plenty of resources to help: grammar workbooks, online exercises, or our Olesen Tuition blog posts on specific grammar points (e.g. word order, cases, negation).

• Learn Grammar in Context: Grammar doesn’t have to mean rote memorisation of tables. Try an input-based approach – learn through examples and exposure. For instance, read simple German texts and pay attention to sentence structure: notice where the verb is, how endings change after der/dem, etc. Use dual-language texts or graded readers (more on those later) and observe the grammar in action. When watching a German video with subtitles, take note of how sentences are formed. By seeing grammar used correctly over and over, you’ll start to absorb the patterns naturally. Our philosophy is “learn grammar naturally, but don’t ignore it entirely.” A balanced approach works best – you combine real German exposure with the occasional look-up of a rule to clarify things.

• Target Your Weak Spots: Identify which grammar issues most often trip you up at A2. Is it using the correct case endings (der vs. den, etc.)? Or conjugating irregular verbs? Maybe sentence structure (verb placement) is confusing when you try longer sentences. Actively repair your most common mistakes. For example, if you often say “ich bin gegangen ins Kino” instead of “ich bin ins Kino gegangen”, practice that structure specifically. Write out a few example sentences correctly, or do targeted exercises on that point. (Our blog’s article on the 5 most common German mistakes and how to avoid them is a great reference to see typical learner errors and fixes.) Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as you practice, but do learn from them: each corrected mistake is a step closer to B1 accuracy. Even at B1 you will make errors, but you’ll be making fewer basic errors, which means people will understand you more easily.

• Use Grammar References Wisely: Have a good reference at hand (a grammar book or reputable website) to consult when you’re unsure. But use it like a dictionary – look up answers to specific questions that come up in practice. For instance, if you’re writing a diary entry and aren’t sure how to say “because” correctly, quickly look up subordinating conjunctions to remind yourself that weil sends the verb to the end. Then apply it by fixing your sentence. This way, grammar study is integrated with actual usage. Over time, the “rules” will start to feel more intuitive, we promise!

• Get Guidance if Needed: Sometimes, self-study hits a wall when it comes to grammar. Don’t hesitate to seek help – a few sessions with a tutor can clarify months of confusion. A good teacher can explain why something is said a certain way, and give you personalised exercises. If classes or tutoring are an option, they can fast-track you through tricky grammar points. (At Olesen Tuition, our experienced tutors specialise in helping intermediate learners overcome grammar hurdles – often a short burst of one-on-one lessons can resolve persistent issues and get you unstuck.) The bottom line: you don’t have to love German grammar, but don’t run from it! Embrace it as a tool that will empower you to say anything you want in German, not just a few stock phrases.

Improve Your German Listening Skills

Why it matters: One hallmark of B1 is being able to understand the main points when people talk about familiar topics. If you find native speakers still unintelligible or fast speech overwhelming at A2, it’s time to sharpen your ears. Better listening skills will not only help you comprehend German, but also make speaking easier (since you’ll internalise the rhythms and sounds of the language).

Strategies:

• Switch to German Audio (Daily): Start immersing your ears in German every day, even if just 10-15 minutes. The key is consistency – daily exposure attunes your brain to German sounds. Replace some of your passive listening (like during commutes, chores, workouts) with German audio. For example, play a German podcast for learners such as Coffee Break German (which is great for beginner to lower-intermediate and provides explanations in English) or Slow German (news and stories read slowly in German). These are specifically designed to be understandable at A2-B1 level. Even if you catch only part of it at first, over weeks you’ll notice improvement. German music is another fun way – put on some German songs in the background to subconsciously train your ear. We’ve even curated a Spotify playlist of the best German songs for language learners. Give it a try for a mix of pop, rock, and more. The melody and repetition in music can help phrases stick in your memory.

• Active Listening Practice: Don’t just let the language wash over you – also do focused listening exercises a few times a week. For instance, pick a short audio clip or video (1-3 minutes). Listen to it once without pausing. Then listen again, pausing after each sentence to check if you understood it. Try to summarise out loud or on paper what you heard. Even if it’s simple (e.g. “A woman is talking about her holiday in Spain. She had some problems with her luggage…”), this practice of summarising forces you to process the meaning actively, not just let it flow past. If there were words you didn’t catch, go back and listen a third time, or look up a transcript if available, to fill in gaps. Another tip: occasionally listen without any visual cues, for example, if you usually watch German YouTubers with subtitles, try closing your eyes or looking away and just listening. It’s harder, but it trains you to rely on audio alone (which is the case in real life conversations and exams).

• Use a Variety of Audio Sources: Expose yourself to different kinds of listening material to broaden your comprehension. News broadcasts (like Deutsche Welle’s Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten – “news read slowly”) use clear, standard German and are great for picking up formal language. Conversational podcasts or YouTube videos from German creators will familiarize you with everyday speech, filler words, and even a bit of slang – this is closer to how people really talk. Audiobooks read by professional narrators can improve your listening and reading if you follow along with the text; children’s audiobooks or YA novels are often suitable for intermediate learners. The more variety, the better, because at B1 you’ll encounter German in many contexts – from radio interviews to chatting with friends. Don’t worry if accents like Swiss or Austrian German still throw you off (they throw many Germans off too!); focus on Hochdeutsch (standard German) first, then gradually challenge yourself with regional accents or faster dialogue as you grow more confident.

• Leverage Video with Subtitles (Wisely): Watching German TV series or films with subtitles can be a great way to train listening if used properly. As an A2/B1 learner, it’s okay to start with German audio + English subtitles to get hooked on the story. But to truly benefit, switch to German subtitles when you can – this way you’re reading and hearing German together. It reinforces word recognition and listening at the same time. A clever trick is to watch an episode twice: first with English subs for general understanding, then with German subs to focus on language. Or watch with German subs and pause to translate key lines. Additionally, short videos (like YouTube clips) can be looped or slowed down. Use these tools to bridge the gap until you can follow more naturally. Over time, aim to watch things with no subtitles at all – perhaps cartoons or shows you’re already familiar with in your native language, now in German. This really forces you to listen actively. It’s challenging, but reaching B1 means being able to catch the gist without text support, and practice will get you there (even if at first you only catch 50%, keep going – it will improve).

• Repeat and Shadow: A great exercise to improve both listening and pronunciation is shadowing. Listen to a sentence in German and then immediately try to repeat it exactly, imitating the speaker’s pronunciation and intonation. For example, play a line from a dialogue, pause, and echo it aloud. This helps you notice details of pronunciation you might miss otherwise (like how “Ich habe” might sound like “Ich hab’ ” in casual speech, or how intonation rises in yes/no questions). Shadowing not only trains your ear, but also trains your mouth to produce German sounds more fluently. It’s okay if you miss some words – focus on the flow. Over time, your listening comprehension will sharpen, and you’ll find it easier to parse rapid speech because you’re used to the natural rhythm of German.

Practise Speaking Regularly in German

Why it matters: Speaking is often the scariest skill for self-taught learners, but it’s also the one that truly tests your ability to use the language independently. At B1, you should be able to handle everyday conversations – describing experiences, giving opinions, asking for things – without reverting to English. The only way to get there is to speak, speak, speak! The more you practise forming sentences on the fly, the more fluent and confident you will become.

Strategies:

• Find a Conversation Partner or Tutor: There is no substitute for real conversation practice. If you’re not living in a German-speaking country, seek out opportunities to speak German elsewhere. This could be a language exchange partner (online or local meetups) – for example, you chat in German for 30 minutes and then switch to your native language for 30 minutes. There are apps and platforms (Tandem, HelloTalk, Meetup.com, etc.) where you can find German native speakers or fellow learners. Alternatively, consider working with a German tutor for dedicated speaking practice. A tutor can correct your mistakes and tailor the conversation to your level. (Olesen Tuition offers online private German lessons where you can practise speaking with a native tutor who will guide and correct you.) Aim for at least one speaking session a week. In the beginning, it might feel awkward and you’ll search for words, but that’s normal – your partner/tutor can help by speaking clearly, rephrasing, or typing a word you’re missing. Each session will get a bit easier as you learn to think on your feet in German and overcome that mental block of speaking out loud.

• Start with Themes or Scenarios: If open-ended conversation is intimidating, prepare structured speaking activities. Decide on a theme for each chat so you can gather some vocabulary and ideas beforehand For instance, plan to talk about family during your next exchange – you might look up how to describe your relatives, or common phrases for talking about siblings. Or focus on a scenario like ordering in a restaurant, talking about your last holiday, or discussing a piece of news. By having a scenario in mind, you give yourself direction and reduce the “umm, I don’t know what to say” panic. You can even role-play with your partner: “Today, let’s pretend I’m checking into a hotel and you’re the receptionist,” which is a fun way to practice a real-life dialogue. Structured themes ensure over time you cover a variety of situations – which is exactly what B1 demands. Many textbooks and exam prep books have sample speaking prompts (like picture descriptions or question lists) that you can use for practice too.

• Talk to Yourself (Yes, really!): It might feel silly, but one of the best ways to get comfortable speaking is to practise German by yourself. Narrate what you’re doing at home: “Jetzt koche ich Abendessen… Das Wasser kocht schon… Ich schneide Gemüse” (“Now I’m cooking dinner… The water is already boiling… I’m chopping vegetables”). Or pick a random topic – e.g. “my ideal holiday” – and speak for 2 minutes about it in German. No one is listening, so you won’t feel embarrassed, and you’ll discover where you get stuck. If you don’t know a word, try to explain around it (“circumlocute”). For example, “Mir fehlt das Wort für fork, also sage ich ‘das Ding womit man isst’” (“I’m missing the word for fork, so I say ‘the thing with which one eats’”). This skill of rephrasing is extremely useful at B1 when your vocabulary is still growing. Speaking to yourself gets you in the habit of thinking in German. To add a feedback loop, you could even record yourself on your phone and listen back – you might notice pronunciation issues or grammar slips that you can correct next time. The point is to make speaking familiar, not something you only do in high-stakes situations.

• Use Technology for Speaking: These days, you can even simulate conversations with apps and tools. For example, use your phone’s voice assistant (set to German) or Google Translate’s voice input and see if it understands your spoken German. If it consistently mishears a word, that’s a clue you need to adjust your pronunciation. Some language apps have speech recognition exercises – while they’re not perfect, they’re better than nothing for drilling phrases. Additionally, emerging AI language partners or chatbots can let you practice speaking in a low-pressure environment. They might not be as nuanced as a human, but they can still ask and answer basic questions with you. This tech can’t replace human interaction, but it’s a handy supplement on days you can’t talk to a real person.

• Join Group Classes or Speaking Clubs: Look around for German conversation groups or classes in your area or online. Group practice adds an extra dimension: you get to hear others speak (often with different accents or levels, which prepares you for understanding various speakers), and you get to respond to different people, not just one conversation partner. For instance, in a group class, you might participate in a group discussion, which trains you to follow along as others speak and jump in appropriately – a skill closer to real-life group conversations. It can also be motivating to have classmates sharing the journey; you can swap tips and encourage each other. Many find that a small group class (like Olesen Tuition’s small-group German courses, with only 4-7 students) offers the best of both worlds: professional guidance plus peer practice in a friendly setting. Whether it’s an informal “Stammtisch” at a local pub where people meet to speak German, or a weekly Zoom class, engaging with multiple speakers will push your speaking skills to the next level.

Remember, fluency is a muscle – you build it by frequent exercise. Don’t fear mistakes; every time you say a muddled sentence that a listener doesn’t understand, you learn something (perhaps a grammar fix or a new word) that will improve the next conversation. The more you speak, the more natural it will become. At B1, no one expects perfection – just the ability to communicate basic ideas. You absolutely can achieve that if you keep at it.

Read More to Expand Your Vocabulary

Why it matters: Reading is a fantastic way to grow your vocabulary and reinforce grammar at your own pace. By B1, you’ll need to handle texts beyond textbook dialogues – think short articles, emails, or stories. Many learners plateau at A2 because they stick to familiar, simple texts and don’t push their reading skills. Incorporating regular reading practice (at the right level) will expose you to new words, idioms, and sentence structures, which in turn makes speaking and listening easier. Plus, reading can be really enjoyable if you find materials that interest you.

Strategies:

• Use Graded Readers (Levelled Books): Don’t jump straight from A2 to reading Der Spiegel or a Harry Potter novel – that’s a recipe for frustration. Instead, start with graded readers or books specifically written for learners at A2-B1 level. Graded readers are simplified books that use limited vocabulary and controlled grammar appropriate for each level. For example, “Café in Berlin” is a very popular A1/A2 reader, featuring short stories about an expat in Berlin written using basic vocabulary and short chapters. These kinds of books let you practice reading without feeling totally lost, because you’ll recognise many words and grammar structures from A1/A2, with just a few new items introduced gradually. They often include a glossary for each chapter, so you don’t need to constantly grab a dictionary. As you approach B1, you can move to slightly more challenging readers (sometimes labelled “B1” or “B1/B2” in series from publishers like Hueber or Klett). The idea is to progressively bridge the gap to authentic texts. By reading a lot at your current level, you build up the confidence and word base to handle real-world material later.

• Read Topics You Enjoy (with Support): To stay motivated, read about subjects that genuinely interest you – just do it in German. If you love football, try reading brief match reports on a German sports website; if you enjoy travel, read a simple blog about someone’s trip to Bavaria. Use “support” tools to make authentic materials accessible at B1: for example, use a browser extension or e-reader that translates words on hover, or get dual-language books where German is on one page and English on the facing page. A great resource for intermediates is Deutsche Welle’s “Nachrichten Leicht” – news in easy German. Also, the magazine Deutsch Perfekt is written for learners, covering interesting cultural topics with glossaries for difficult words. At first, you will encounter many words you don’t know – and that’s okay. Even without knowing every word, try to grasp the main idea of what you read (skimming for gist is a skill to practice). Over time, you’ll notice the percentage of words you understand creeping up. Don’t forget things like comics or children’s books – they can be surprisingly enjoyable and are written in simpler language, but still tell a story. As you get to upper B1 and beyond, you can challenge yourself with short stories or novels (tip: bilingual editions of classic fairy tales or short stories can be fun and have the English translation available if you get stuck).

• Expand Vocabulary Actively: Reading is one of the best ways to encounter new vocabulary in context. But you won’t remember new words by osmosis alone – take a few steps to actively expand your vocabulary as you read. Keep a notebook or use a vocab app (like Anki or Quizlet) to note down words or phrases that seem useful or that you see repeatedly. For instance, if you keep seeing the verb “beantworten” in different texts, note the phrase “eine Frage beantworten” (“to answer a question”). Seeing it in context helps cement its usage in your mind. After finishing a chapter or article, review the handful of new words you jotted down. Can you recall what they mean? Maybe try to use them in a sentence yourself. You don’t need to memorise every unknown word – focus on those that seem common or important to you. And remember, many German words are made of roots and prefixes; as you read more, you’ll start recognising bits of words (like auf- vs aus- prefixes), which makes guessing meaning easier. Building vocabulary is a gradual process, but reading gives you a rich pipeline of new words to learn in a natural way. You may also find our posts on high-frequency German words at A2 and B1 levels helpful.

• Practice Reading Comprehension: To ensure you’re not just passively scanning text without full comprehension, do some active reading exercises. For example, after reading a short text, try to summarise it in German (orally or in writing) – this mirrors what B1 exam tasks might ask you to do. You could also answer a few basic questions about it: “Worum geht es in diesem Text?” (What is this text about?), “Was ist mit der Hauptfigur passiert?” (What happened to the main character?), etc. If you have a tutor or language exchange partner, you can discuss a text you both read. This not only tests your understanding but also turns reading into a springboard for practising speaking or writing about new topics. Some learners like to maintain a reading journal where they write a few sentences (in German) about each thing they read – it’s a nice way to track progress and remember earlier materials. Also, consider timing yourself occasionally: can you read a one-page text a bit faster than you could a month ago? Increased reading speed is a sign of growing fluency.

• Leverage Online Resources: The internet is your friend for finding reading material at your level. Besides news sites and blogs, there are forums (even the German subreddits or comment sections on simple YouTube videos) where you can read informal German. You might also try free e-books of fairy tales (Grimms’ Märchen are available online, and many are A2-B1 friendly with a bit of help) or interactive reader apps that adapt to your level. And of course, check out our Olesen Tuition blog’s Beginner and Intermediate sections – we often post reading exercises and texts suitable for A2-B1 learners (like our B1 reading comprehension text about the Eurovision Song Contest, for instance). These come with glossaries or questions to help you practice. By immersing yourself in the written word regularly, you’ll find that your vocabulary breadth and comprehension skills grow steadily – which makes everything else (listening, speaking, writing) easier too.

Write Often to Reinforce Your Learning

Why it matters: Writing might be the most under-utilised skill by adult learners, but it’s incredibly powerful for solidifying your German knowledge. When you write, you have time to recall vocabulary, consider grammar, and structure your thoughts – it’s like a form of slow, careful speaking. At B1, you should be able to write simple connected texts (e.g. an email about your holiday, a short essay giving your opinion on a familiar topic). Practising writing at the A2 stage will greatly boost your accuracy and confidence, which carries over into speaking as well. Plus, it forces you to confront gaps (if you don’t know how to say something, you’ll look it up), thereby expanding your skills.

Strategies:

• Start a German Journal or Daily Sentence Routine: Make writing a habit by doing small writing tasks regularly. For instance, keep a daily journal in German. You can start very simply at A2: write 3-5 sentences each day about what you did or how you feel. It could be as straightforward as “Heute war ein langer Tag. Ich habe viel gearbeitet. Am Abend bin ich spazieren gegangen. Jetzt koche ich Abendessen.” (Today was a long day. I worked a lot. In the evening I went for a walk. Now I’m cooking dinner.) The content isn’t important – the act of forming German sentences is. If daily journaling is too much, try a sentence-of-the-day challenge: every day, write one interesting sentence using a new word or a particular grammar structure. For example, “Ich freue mich darauf, nächstes Jahr nach Deutschland zu reisen.” (I’m looking forward to travelling to Germany next year) – here you practice the phrase “sich freuen auf”. Writing forces you to produce German actively, helping transfer things from passive knowledge to active skill. And don’t worry if it’s basic or if you’re not sure it’s 100% correct – this writing is primarily for you.

• Use Prompts to Spark Ideas: Sometimes the hard part of writing is not grammar or vocab, but deciding what to write. Using prompts can help. You can find lists of German writing prompts online, or use creative ideas. For instance: “Schreibe über deinen letzten Urlaub” (Write about your last holiday) – great for practising past-tense usage. Or “Beschreibe dein Traumhaus” (Describe your dream house) – practices adjectives and rooms vocabulary. Fun ones like “Was würdest du machen, wenn du im Lotto gewinnen würdest?” (What would you do if you won the lottery?) Practice conditional (würde + infinitive). Even at A2, you can attempt these; just keep it simple. The goal is to try expressing thoughts in German. If fiction is your thing, write a short story or a dialogue. For example, start a story with “Plötzlich hörte ich ein lautes Geräusch…” (Suddenly, I heard a loud noise…) and see where your imagination takes you in 5-6 sentences. The content can be light-hearted or personal – whatever keeps you engaged. Tip: It can be motivating to write about topics you love (your favourite show, a hobby, an interesting article you read in your native language but now summarise in German, etc.). When you care about the topic, you’ll put in more effort to find the right words.

• Practice the Formats You Need: If you have a specific goal like an exam (e.g. Goethe-Zertifikat B1, or a school exam), get familiar with the writing formats required. B1 exams often ask for things like informal emails, short formal letters, or short essays giving an opinion. It’s worth practising those: for example, writing an email to a friend inviting them to visit, or a letter of complaint to a hotel (using polite forms), or a little essay on “advantages and disadvantages of X”. Use model texts from textbooks or exam prep materials as a guide. Even if you’re not exam-focused, these formats are practical – an email to a friend or a simple opinion piece are real-world tasks. By practising them, you ensure you can communicate in writing for everyday purposes (like emailing a German Airbnb host, or writing a Facebook post in German about a topic you care about). Writing practice will highlight gaps – maybe you realise you didn’t know how to say “since” in a sentence like “since last year…”, prompting you to learn “seit” or “seitdem”. These little revelations during writing practice immensely enrich your skills.

• Get Feedback on Your Writing: Writing is most useful when you can learn from your mistakes. If possible, ask a tutor or an advanced speaker to look over a short piece of your writing now and then. They can mark errors and, importantly, suggest more natural phrasing. For instance, you might write “Ich mag sehr Pizza.” and they could correct it to “Ich mag Pizza sehr gerne.” – tiny tweaks that make your German sound more natural. If formal feedback isn’t an option, consider online communities. There are subreddits (like r/German) or language exchange forums where people will correct short texts if you ask politely. You can also use tools like LanguageTool or Grammarly (set to German) to catch common mistakes. They’re not perfect, but they might highlight, say, a wrong gender or a verb conjugation that looks off. Whenever you get corrections, take the time to understand why it’s a mistake and how the correction works – this is where the learning happens. Over time, you’ll internalise many of these “rules” and start writing more accurately by default.

• Write for Fun and Creativity: Lastly, remember that writing doesn’t have to be a chore – it can be a creative outlet in German. Try texting in German with a fellow learner (even if just using simple phrases and emojis), or comment in German on a YouTube video or an Instagram post about something you like. If you’re into storytelling, write fan-fiction or short blog entries in German. Some learners enjoy translating song lyrics or poems into German as a way to play with the language (just for yourself). The more you make German part of your written life, the more natural it will become. And one day, you’ll look back at earlier journal entries or emails you wrote and realise “Wow, I’ve really improved!” – nothing is more motivating than seeing that progress in writing.

By practicing all four skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – in parallel, you ensure you’re developing a well-rounded ability in German. Each skill reinforces the others. For instance, new words you pick up from reading will pop up in listening; phrases you practiced speaking will roll off the tongue when writing, etc. This balanced approach will steadily carry you from A2 into the B1 level.

Staying Motivated on the Path to B1

Finally, let’s address the mental side of overcoming the A2 plateau. It’s easy to feel demotivated when progress slows down or when you hit a wall with German grammar. But don’t give up – you have come further than you think! Here are some tips to stay motivated and positive as you work towards B1:

• Recognise Your Achievements: Take a moment to appreciate how much you’ve learned since you started German. At A2, you can hold basic conversations, handle everyday situations, and you’ve learned hundreds of words – that’s a big accomplishment! Write down things you can do now that you couldn’t a few months ago (maybe “I can introduce myself and chat for 5 minutes in German” or “I can understand simple news headlines”). Celebrating these “small wins” is important. Every time you understand a whole German song lyric or successfully have a short chat without using English, that’s a victory – acknowledge it. B1 will bring even more of these moments.

• Set Clear, Realistic Goals: Motivation is stronger when you have specific targets. Instead of “I want to get better at German,” define what success looks like for you. For example, “I want to pass a B1 exam by next June,” or “I want to be able to watch a German film without subtitles,” or “I want to have a 10-minute conversation with my German colleague entirely in German.” Once you have a goal, break it into smaller milestones (perhaps reach B1 vocab size, finish a particular textbook, etc.). Each milestone you hit will boost your confidence. Also set process goals like “study 3 times a week for 30 minutes” so you focus on the journey, not just the destination. Remember to keep goals achievable – reaching B1 fluency in one month is unrealistic, but improving one CEFR sub-level (like A2.1 to A2.2) in a couple of months with regular study is doable.

• Make Learning Fun and Personal: One reason learners plateau is that learning starts feeling like a slog. Inject some joy into your German routine. Love music? Dedicate one evening a week to translating a German song or singing karaoke in German. Film buff? Watch your favourite movie dubbed in German – you already know the plot, so you can enjoy the acting and pick up phrases. Foodie? Follow a German recipe in German. When you connect German to your hobbies and interests, it stops being “study” and becomes just another way to enjoy your passions. Also, don’t be afraid to be a bit silly: talk to your pet in German, label objects in your house with sticky notes in German, change your phone’s language to German for a day. These little things keep the language fresh in your life.

• Don’t Fear Mistakes – Learn from Them: At this stage, it’s crucial to develop a healthy attitude towards mistakes. Everyone who has ever learned German has made errors (yes, even that friend of yours who’s now C1!). Mistakes are proof that you’re trying. Instead of feeling embarrassed, see them as teachers. If you conjugate a verb wrong or mess up the gender, note it, correct it, and move on. Over time, you’ll make fewer errors. The only “bad” mistake is the one you don’t learn from. So embrace them – each mistake fixed is one step closer to fluency. And trust us, even Germans find their grammar tricky at times – so cut yourself some slack.

• Find a Community: Motivation doubles when you share the journey. If possible, join a class, an online forum, or even a social media group for German learners. Seeing others go through the same challenges (and successes) is reassuring. You can swap resources, celebrate each other’s progress, and commiserate on those days when der, die, das is driving you crazy. Consider attending local German language meetups or conversation tables (often called “Stammtisch” for German). Having friends or peers in the language gives you accountability – you’re more likely to stick with it if you’ve got others cheering you on and vice versa. If you’re more introverted, even reading blogs or watching YouTubers who talk about language learning can make you feel part of a larger learning community. You’re not alone in this – far from it.

• Keep Your “Why” in Mind: Whenever motivation wanes, remind yourself why you started German in the first place. Is it for a job opportunity? To connect with family heritage? To enjoy literature or music? Visualise yourself achieving that – imagine confidently using German in that scenario. That end vision can be a powerful motivator. Also, know that B1 is a meaningful milestone: at B1, you’ll really be an “independent user” of German, able to navigate daily life in German without panicking. That level opens doors – you could travel with ease, make German friends, even consider applying for opportunities in German-speaking countries (many internships or programs list B1 as a minimum). In other words, the effort you invest now will pay off in very tangible ways.

• Accept Plateaus as Part of Learning: Lastly, understand that plateaus are normal in any long-term learning process. Progress is not linear – it often comes in spurts. You might feel for weeks that you’re getting nowhere, then suddenly a bunch of things click into place. When you feel stuck, sometimes changing up your routine or adding a new challenge can trigger improvement. For example, commit to an intensive study week or sign up for an exam as a deadline to work towards. And remember, even when it feels slow, if you are consistently practising, you are improving. Sometimes the evidence of progress lags behind the effort, but it will show up. The intermediate plateau is infamous, but every challenge in B1 is surmountable with practice, and you will get past it. Keep calm and carry on, as the saying goes. 😉

Leverage Professional Support

As you implement the strategies above, you might find you’d benefit from some professional guidance to accelerate your progress. This is where Olesen Tuition can help you break through the A2 ceiling and confidently reach B1.

Olesen Tuition is a top-rated German language school (based in London but serving learners globally online) that specialises in all levels from beginner to advanced. If you’re feeling stuck at A2, sometimes a structured course or expert tutor can provide the breakthrough you need. We offer a range of services to suit different learning styles and schedules:

• Private German Lessons (1:1 tutoring): One-on-one lessons with a qualified native German tutor are tailored exactly to your needs. We can focus on your weak points – be it grammar drills, conversation practice, or exam prep – and ensure you make efficient progress. Private tuition is flexible (schedule lessons when it suits you) and personalised. It’s perfect if you want to target specific issues holding you back at A2. Many students find that even a short series of private lessons helps clarify confusing grammar and boosts their confidence dramatically. (Learn more about our private German tuition on our website.)

• Small Group German Classes: If you enjoy a classroom environment and the camaraderie of learning with others, our small-group courses are ideal. We keep class sizes very small (often 4–7 students), which means you get plenty of speaking practice and personal attention. These can be in-person (for those in London) or online, covering everything from A1 up to B2 and beyond. Joining an A2-B1 transition course can give you a structured curriculum to follow, ensuring you systematically cover all the grammar and vocabulary needed for B1. It’s also motivating to have classmates to practice with and a teacher to guide you week by week. (Check out our German classes in London and online for upcoming group courses.)

• Intensive German Courses: For learners who want to make rapid progress, we offer intensive courses as well. These are shorter-duration, high-frequency classes – for example, a few hours every day over several weeks – designed to jump-start you to the next level. An intensive course is a great way to break a plateau because you immerse yourself in German consistently. Some of our students have successfully gone from A2 to B1 in just a couple of months through focused intensive programs. If you have a deadline (perhaps you need B1 for a visa, job, or study program), an intensive German course can help you reach your goal faster. (See our intensive German course options for details.)

• Online German Lessons: All our offerings can be done online, so you can benefit from Olesen Tuition’s expertise from anywhere in the world. Whether via Zoom classes or Skype tutoring, we bring the classroom to your living room. Online lessons are interactive and live – not pre-recorded – so you can ask questions, get instant feedback, and feel engaged. If you’re an adult learner with a busy schedule, online lessons might be the convenient solution to fit German into your week. Our online students receive the same quality instruction (and often the same tutors) as in-person. (Learn more about our live online German lessons.)

• Exam Preparation Support: If your aim is to certify your B1 level (for instance, passing the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 or TELC B1 exam), we also offer targeted exam prep. Exams have their own strategies and can be intimidating, but our tutors are experienced in preparing students for success. We can familiarise you with the exam format, practice specific parts (speaking interview, writing tasks, etc.), and give you mock tests to build confidence. Even if you’re not taking an official exam, working with exam-style tasks can ensure you meet all B1 competencies. (Contact us for German exam preparation tutoring or classes.)

Why choose Olesen Tuition? We pride ourselves on professional, student-centred teaching. Our tutors are not only native speakers but also qualified teachers who understand common learner pitfalls (like that A2 plateau!). We tailor lessons to adult learners, making them practical, engaging, and effective. Whether you prefer a relaxed pace or an accelerated course, we have options. And with dozens of 5-star reviews, you can trust that you’ll be in good hands – many students have commented on how we helped them gain confidence and actually enjoy learning German again.

Pro Tip: If you’ve “self-studied” up to A2, combining that independent learning with some structured lessons can be a game changer. Even just a weekly class or bi-weekly tutor session can keep you accountable, correct bad habits, and provide clear direction on what to tackle next. As we like to say, self-study plus expert guidance = the best of both worlds. 

Remember, seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s often the smartest way to progress. Sometimes the difference between being stuck and having a breakthrough is just a few targeted lessons. We at Olesen Tuition are here to support you with whatever format works best for you (private, group, intensive, online, exam prep… or a mix!). Feel free to reach out to us to discuss a learning plan tailored to you. Your B1 success is our goal too.

(No external links here, but you can navigate our site’s menu for all the services mentioned above, or find links in the blog sidebar.)

Conclusion

Moving from A2 to B1 in German is a significant step, but one you are fully capable of taking. Yes, the intermediate plateau is real – many learners feel stuck at A2 German and unsure how to level up. But as we’ve explored, there are concrete ways to break that plateau: targeted practice in grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, combined with a healthy dose of motivation and perhaps some professional guidance.

To recap briefly, why do learners plateau at A2? Often due to being overwhelmed by grammar, not speaking enough, lacking new input or structure, and sometimes just feeling discouraged by slower progress. We’ve tackled each of these: by focusing on core grammar and learning it in context, by immersing your ears in German daily, by speaking as much as possible (even if only with yourself at first!), by reading level-appropriate materials to grow your vocabulary, and by writing regularly to reinforce it all. These efforts, bit by bit, will push you over that threshold into B1. Remember that consistency beats cramming – a little German every day is more effective than a lot only once in a while.

Stay patient and keep the faith in yourself. Progress may feel slow at times, but you are advancing. There will come a day, perhaps sooner than you think, when you realise you’ve been chatting in German for 10 minutes without stopping, or you have finished reading a German article and understood almost everything. That’s the payoff for all this work, and it’s a fantastic feeling of accomplishment and freedom.

Lastly, don’t go it alone if you don’t want to. Use the resources around you: this could mean leaning on the Olesen Tuition blog for free tips and inspiration (we have articles on everything from German songs to grammar tricks to learning strategies), engaging with fellow learners for support, or enrolling in lessons to give yourself that extra boost. We’re here to cheer you on in your journey to B1 and beyond.

Viel Erfolg und bleib dran! (Good luck and stick with it!) B1 level German is within your reach – and once you get there, you’ll truly be an “independent user” of the language, ready to explore even more of the German-speaking world with confidence.

You’ve got this. 🎉 Auf geht’s – bis bald auf B1! (Off you go – see you soon at B1 level!)