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When it comes to speaking, I feel like I look silly or mess up.” 

Have you ever felt like Freya, "looking silly" due to the fear of messing up when it comes to speaking:

"My biggest challenge right now with learning German is not having the confidence to speak it to a German speaking person, even if I know enough to have a small conversation.

I feel like I'll look silly or mess up!"

- Freya

Or have you ever felt like Lyn, feeling stressed around German speakers:

"The Germans around me often switch to English when I struggle with forming sentences, and in group situations
I'm clearly way too slow, so I just end up being quiet." 

- Lyn

Hi, I’m Manuel. 

I’m an engineer by trade and a native German and Spanish speaker. 

Years ago, some colleagues who had to move to Germany for work asked me:
“Is German really that hard to learn?”

I joked: “Of course not, it’s actually easier than English!” :-)

To back that up, I made it my mission as an engineer to design efficient learning programs for busy professionals.

Programs that prove your German can be as good as your German colleagues’ English
in just a fraction of the time and effort they spent.

Let’s be blunt.  

Your ultimate goal is to speak German.

Fluently, confidently, and accurately.  

To understand your conversation partner and be able to express yourself.  

And all of this in your day-to-day life.  

In your town, when you go shopping in a supermarket:

Haben Sie frisches Fleisch? (Do you have any fresh meat?)

With your neighbours when they ask you:  

Wie war Ihr Wochenende in den Bergen? (How was your weekend in the mountains?)

At work with your colleagues when you are at a coffee break:  

Kennst du den neuen Chef der Personalabteilung? (Have you met the new head of HR?)  

In a meeting when a client is asking you: 

Können Sie uns ein neues Angebot erstellen? (Can you send us a new quote?) 

You want to speak German in your REAL life, in your everyday life.  

But what is holding you back?  

Why speaking and understanding German seem so hard in your day-to-day life  

Have you noticed that all of the scenarios I described before, like 

  • talking to a supermarket employee;
  • talking to your neighbours;
  • talking to your colleagues;
  • talking to a client; 

have one thing in common?  

Yes, you name it: you’re talking to a native speaker in most cases.  

Of course, I mean you’re living in a German-speaking country.  

So, you’re actually constantly trying to have a conversation with someone who is at least at a C2 level when you’re maybe still at a beginner (A1/A2) or an intermediate (B1/B2) level.  

Of course, this is hard.

Of course, this creates tension.

And of course, this can easily lead to frustrating situations.  

In many cases, you might often feel hesitant to even start a conversation in German... 

"My biggest challenge at the moment is speaking, I understand a little bit when others speak, but I can't process the words to formulate a sentence, they are always out of reach when needed.

I also struggle with the structure, which word should come before which one, but most importantly, I get a weird look when I speak, and so I assume I don't make sense when I talk, therefore, I quickly switch to English." 

- Beatrice

But it can even be frustrating for the person you’re talking to because they don’t know how to deal with it.  

Many of my students even have a significant other who is a native German speaker.  

But they tell me how difficult they find it to have a fluent conversation in German even with their spouse...

"My challenge is speaking the language and writing.

My wife is German, but we don’t speak German, we speak English all the time.

Please help me learn how to speak." 

- Bassam

And there’s actually no one to blame for it.  

The native speaker is not a teacher and doesn’t always know how to “downgrade” their German to a level where you can understand them...

"I can read and write fairly well  (B2), but when I try to speak German with my colleagues, they speak German back at me, and then I understand nothing at all, so they switch back to English.

This also makes my confidence really low, so I prefer to speak English when I'm at work, but also at the supermarket, bus, etc'

- Nir

And you’re still not at a level where you can talk like they do.  

Your language skills and conversation flows are just on two very different levels.  

So what do you resort to?  

You usually end up switching to English where you find a more common ground, don’t you? 

"I have lived in Cologne for 10 years but travel and work much of the time in non German speaking countries.

In Cologne I have many German friends but in the whole they speak English as well as I do so it seems awkward to force them to listen to my poor German.

- Ross

The two hidden dynamics behind speaking anxiety

When you are in a conversation in German, there are usually two things happening at the same time.

And both of them make speaking feel uncomfortable.

The first is psychological.

The second is skill-related.

And the difficult part is that they reinforce each other.

1. The psychological side, feeling judged

In that moment when it’s your turn to speak, something shifts.

  • You become aware of yourself.
  • You become aware of how you sound.
  • You become aware that you might make a mistake.

And even if the other person says nothing, you still feel it.

  • Maybe you imagine what they are thinking.
  • Maybe you feel like every mistake is visible.
  • Maybe you feel like your German is being evaluated.

And instead of just speaking, you start observing yourself while speaking.

  • You listen to your own sentences.
  • You check your grammar while talking.
  • You try to control how you sound.

And that creates pressure.

And that pressure slows everything down.

2. The skill side, not feeling confident in what you say

At the same time, there is another layer.

You are not fully confident in your ability to express what you want to say.

You have an idea.

You know exactly what you would say in your native language.

But when you try to say it in German, something is missing.

  • Maybe the right word doesn’t come.
  • Maybe the sentence structure feels unclear.
  • Maybe you start the sentence… and then stop halfway.

And this creates a very specific feeling.

A kind of friction.

Because your intention is clear, but your ability to express it is not fully there yet.

And this is where confidence is often misunderstood.

Confidence is not just a mindset.

It is also a reflection of skill.

If you trust that you can say what you want to say, you feel relaxed.

If you’re not sure you can say it, you hesitate.

Think about your native language for a moment.

When someone asks you something, you don’t think about how to say it.

  • You don’t search for words.
  • You don’t build the sentence consciously.
  • The words simply come.

And there is a certain ease in that.

Almost a relief.

Now compare that to speaking German.

You have the idea.

  • But now you are searching.
  • You are building.
  • You are checking.

And that gap between intention and expression is exactly what creates tension.

How psychology and skill are interconnected

And this is where both sides come together.

Because the less confident you feel in your skills, the more you hesitate.

And the more you hesitate, the more you feel exposed.

And the more exposed you feel, the stronger the psychological pressure becomes.

So it’s not just one problem.

It’s both happening at the same time.

  • The psychological pressure.
  • And the skill gap.

How to build confidence in speaking

If you look at it this way, you would need to work on both sides.

Not just one.

1. The psychological side

On the psychological side, the goal is simple.

  • To reduce the pressure.
  • To feel less judged.
  • To stop expecting perfection from yourself.
  • To see that making mistakes is normal.

And one of the most effective ways this happens is surprisingly simple.

By learning from other people who are going through the exact same challenges.

When you see other learners hesitate…

when you see them search for words…

when you see them make mistakes…

something shifts.

You realize you’re not the only one.

And that alone already takes away a lot of pressure.

2. The skill side

On the skill side, the goal is different.

Here, it’s about building the ability to actually say what you want to say.

  • Not in theory.
  • Not through abstract grammar rules.
  • But through real speaking.

Real sentences.

Real patterns.

Think about how a child learns.

A child doesn’t start with grammar explanations.

A child tries to say something.

And then hears the correct version.

Again and again.

And over time, those patterns become natural.

Now imagine you could do the same.

Not by memorizing rules.

But by becoming familiar with the kinds of sentences learners actually try to say.

  • By recognizing the patterns behind common mistakes.
  • By seeing how those sentences are corrected.
  • And by slowly, step by step, building the ability to express what you mean.

Because the more you can actually say what you want to say…

the more confident you naturally feel.

What if you had a system designed to work on BOTH sides of speaking confidence?

What if you had a learning environment where you could gradually reduce the pressure of speaking German…

while at the same time building the actual ability to express yourself more naturally and confidently?

What if, instead of constantly feeling overwhelmed by native speakers far above your level…

you could first become familiar with real conversations adapted to your level?

What if you could listen to other learners…

hear the kinds of sentences learners actually try to say…

recognize common mistakes…

and gradually internalize more natural speaking patterns through real conversations?

And what if you could then actively practice speaking yourself

step by step…

through guided live speaking practice with step-by-step support, and real-time corrections?

Not random conversation practice.

Not pressure-filled conversations where you constantly feel judged or overwhelmed.

But structured speaking practice designed to help you gradually become more comfortable expressing yourself in German.

Because confidence in speaking is built in two ways:

First:
by reducing the pressure and becoming more comfortable with real conversations.

And second:
by gradually building the ability to actually say what you want to say.

What if you could go from speaking like this …

to speaking like this …

Introducing “Double Your Confidence in Speaking LIVE”  

Learn Through Real Conversations.

Practice Speaking Live.

A complete speaking system designed to help you speak more fluently, confidently, and accurately in real-life situations.

Here's how the program will work:

The program is built around two complementary parts:

  • first by learning interactively through podcast lessons based on real conversations, and 
  • second by actively practicing speaking yourself through guided live speaking practice.

Let’s start with the live speaking practice.

The Live Speaking Practice

At Herr Professor, we believe strongly in guided speaking practice at the beginner and intermediate stages.

Not just "practicing speaking" with a language partner, but structured, guided, contextual speaking practice.

Here’s the issue with “practicing speaking”: when you speak too early or without structure, it often turns into practicing incorrect speaking.

You repeat the same mistakes over and over, and those mistakes become habits.

Over time, it’s like developing your own incorrect version of German that can leave you stuck for years in the intermediate plateau, because those bad habits are very difficult to break once they’re ingrained.

Instead, at Herr Professor, we focus on practicing correct speaking.

That’s exactly what we do in our Live Fluency Test Calls.

I give you a clear prompt — “How would you say this in German?”

You get a few seconds to respond, then I provide the correct version, like in our Verb-Juggling lessons.

This way, you’re practicing speaking with structure, support, context and repetition, so the correct patterns are more likely to stick.

It’s like learning a sport: first, you train with a coach to master the moves, and only then do you start sparring. Not the other way around.

Speaking works the same way.

Our weekly Live Fluency Test Calls

These are structured live speaking sessions where we practice real-life situations step by step through guided prompts, gradual progression, and real-time corrections.

Here’s how it works:

I give a prompt in English:

“How would you say this in German…”

One student answers, I guide and correct if needed, and then we move on to the next student.

We go through the prompts in rounds to keep the session dynamic and focused.

Each week, we focus on specific real-life situations that matter to you.

"Sitting in dentists chair trying to explain which tooth hurt when he could not see the issue.

Actual problem was a piece of tooth had broken off but the break was between teeth and not visible.

I didn't know this because all I felt was pain all over.

Tried to tell him the tooth was broken but he couldn't see it and made sarcastic comment that patients did
know where their pain was.

In the end he took an X-ray and could see the issue but was extremely
frustrating."

The sessions are shaped around the kinds of challenges and topics students want to practice.

Not textbook dialogues.

Not abstract grammar exercises.

But real situations like:

  • Talking to your neighbors
  • Talking to colleagues at work
  • Parent-teacher meetings
  • Talking on the phone (e.g. with a native speaker or service agent)
  • Everyday situations

Let me show you an example from a Live Fluency Test Call where we practiced speaking at the supermarket:

How'd you say: "What would you recommend?"

How'd you say: "Could you cut it in half?"

How'd you say: "When will you have liver sausage in stock again?"

How'd you say: "Which meat is best for grilling?"

How'd you say: "How long can I keep this in the fridge?"

And the best part:

All live sessions are recorded (audio only).

So even if you can’t attend live, you’ll still have full access to the recordings.

This allows you to:

  • see how the sessions work before joining live
  • review key phrases and structures at your own pace
  • repeat the exercises and build confidence

The interactive podcast lessons

You’ll go through a simple 5-step process in every lesson that will take into account whatever level you’re in right now and which will help you to take it to the next level.

We'll be focusing on interactive guided speaking practice based on real conversations.

Here’s how your weekly “5-step plan” will look like:

You’ll listen to a series of podcasts based on real, authentic conversations with beginner, intermediate, advanced students and native speakers.


Step 1: Warmup with basics

In Step 1 you’ll “warm-up” by listening to our “Speak Confidently Beginner” podcast and this way train your basics because, as Kobe Bryant put it: "Never get bored with the basics"

Think about it, even pro athletes train the basics on a daily basis because they account for 80% of their performance. 

Same with German, if you don’t get the basics right, how will you earn the right to get to an advanced level?! 

Once you get the basics right you can work everything else from that.

Step 2: Identify your hidden mistakes

In Step 2 you’ll listen to our “Speak Confidently Intermediate” podcast so you uncover common hidden mistakes that you're probably making.

Think about it, what are the most common mistakes you still make when speaking?

And be honest with yourself.

Still simple structures from A1 like accusative and dative endings, pronouns, two-way prepositions and past tense or A2 structures like sub-clauses, relative clauses, passive voice, phrasal verbs and subjunctive?

Most intermediate students don't need to learn more or new structures, they have to become fluent and confident with what they’ve already learned.

Step 3: Get inspired by what's possible

In Step 3 you’ll listen to our “Speak Confidently Advanced” podcast so you get inspired by advanced students and learn new details of the language.

It’s always good to see examples you can aspire to so you have a clear vision of what your German can sound like in the future.

Step 4: Close the gap with deep correction

Over the course of Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3 you’ll listen to conversations where students will try to express their thoughts and ideas and, of course, also stumble upon difficulties and make mistakes.

We’ll correct those mistakes in the conversations and keep track of all those challenging sentences by writing them down in a document.

Ich musste mich um das Haus kümmern.

  • To express "to take care of" we say "sich kümmern um".
  • It’s a tricky verb because it’s reflexive and goes with a preposition:
  • Ich kümmere mich heute um die Kinder. (I take care of the children today.)
  • Hast du dich gestern um den Hund gekümmert? (Did you take care of the dog yesterday?)
  • Nein, Peter hat sich um ihn gekümmert. (No, Peter took care of him.)

Those sentences oftentimes contain key elements that act like an unmovable barrier on your way to fluency and accuracy, they hinder you from making progress and keep you stuck at a certain level, which leads to that feeling of being in a plateau.


We’ll take those sentences and review all those challenging sentences in detail so you get a feel for how to express all those sentences correctly.

So in Step 4 you’ll listen to our "Weekly Round-Up" podcast of that lesson and the previous Steps so you get a feel of how things are expressed correctly and in which real contexts they are used.

Step 5: Practice correct speaking

And to finish up your cycle, you’ll do some guided speaking practice with our “Fluency Test” podcast.

It’s a podcast very similar to the Verb-Juggling episodes you might be familiar with from my daily emails but this time you’ll be going through real sentences and comparing yourself to other students so you can test yourself and check your progress.

(BTW, listen to the audio and check if you can outperform the students.)

You’ll always try to listen INTERACTIVELY to the podcasts

IMPORTANT: While listening to all these podcasts, you’ll become part of the conversations and you'll always try to listen INTERACTIVELY and ask yourself 3 key questions while listening:

  • Can I spot the mistake of the student?
  • Am I able to correct the student before the teacher does?
  • Am I saying it right?

Let's make a quick test.

See if you can spot the mistake in this example and correct the student:

If you spotted the mistake and tried to correct the student, check now if your take was right:

Then you’ll also take action by speaking OUT LOUD:

  • whenever we correct a student and you hear us saying the correct sentence or writing it down word by word
  • whenever we ask in the Fluency Test: "How'd you say..."

So to summarize, in this 5-step process you’ll basically listen to 3 types of podcasts:

In our Speak Confidently podcasts:

  • You'll listen to real-life talk and real-life conversations as if you were talking to a colleague or friend, this way you'll learn the real 80% of words and structures you'll use in everyday conversations
  • You'll overcome little by little the fear of speaking by listening to students who are going through the same challenges as you are
  • You'll learn things you still struggle with from students at your level and new details of the language from more advanced students

In our Weekly Round-Up podcasts:

  • You'll learn the "gaps" between what you want to say and what you are able to say, so you notice what you do not know or only know partially when trying to express something
  • We'll dig deeper into this "gap" and the EXACT grammar and vocabulary that keeps you still stuck at a certain level and hinders you from making progress
  • We'll help you get unstuck by showing you the hidden difficulties in the sentences students made mistakes with
  • We'll help you get a feel for how things are expressed correctly by showing you examples and scenarios in which those difficult words and structures are used in context

In our Fluency Test podcasts:

  • You’ll do some quick translations similar to the Verb-Juggling episodes, so you can do some guided speaking practice
  • You’ll see how other students are doing in these tests so you can overcome little by little the fear of speaking by listening to how they are going through the same challenges as you are
  • You’ll be able to test yourself, check what you’ve already acquired and check your progress  

Repeating this 5-step cycle consistently, lesson after lesson, you’ll go from speaking like this

To speaking like this:

How can you check if this is true?


Very simple, by measuring it regularly.

How to make sure you’re making REAL progress

Oftentimes it's hard to see or notice your progress on a day-to-day basis.

I always tell the story that when my parents come to visit us, the first thing they say when they see our children is:

"Wow, look at how tall they've gotten!"

Of course, they are surprised because they see their grandchildren every few months and the change is obvious.

But not so much for me, since I see my children every day.

So what's the best way for YOU to check YOUR progress?

Very simple, we'll check how you spoke a few months ago and compare it to how you're speaking right now.

So, every few months, I'll send you an email to check your progress in terms of becoming more fluent and more confident at speaking.

In the program I call this Growth Progress Review (GPR).

This way you'll be able to keep track of your progress.

We'll record a short audio, 1-2 minutes:

You'll find your personal "Growth Progress Review" podcasts with your recordings in your podcast app:

FAQ

Questions about the Live Calls

How do I register for the Live Calls?

After joining the program, you’ll receive access to both the Herr Professor app and the private course platform.

Inside the platform, you’ll find the registration links for all upcoming Live Fluency Test Calls.

In addition, every Sunday evening at 18:00, you’ll receive an email introducing the topic we’ll practice in the upcoming week’s calls, together with:

  • the registration links
  • preparation tips
  • and a short questionnaire where you can suggest real-life situations or speaking challenges you’d like us to practice in future sessions.

How many Live Calls are there each week?

We currently offer multiple Beginner and Intermediate Live Fluency Test Calls each week.

As the program grows, we will continue adapting the number and scheduling of calls based on student demand and participation.

When do the Live Calls take place?

Most Live Calls currently take place at:

  • 12:00 (midday)
  • 20:00 (evening)

German time / Berlin time.

On some days, sessions may start slightly earlier, for example at:

  • 11:00
  • 19:00

This allows many students living in German-speaking countries to either join during a lunch break or after work in the evening.

At the same time, having two different time slots also gives students from other parts of the world more flexibility depending on their time zone.

How long do the Live Calls last?

The Live Calls usually last around 60 minutes.

Typically:

  • around 45–50 minutes are dedicated to guided speaking practice
  • followed by 10–15 minutes for questions and answers at the end

This gives students the opportunity not only to practice speaking live, but also to ask additional questions about vocabulary, sentence structure, pronunciation, or real-life situations they struggle with.

How many Live Calls can I join each week?

You’re welcome to join as many live calls as you’d like.

However, it’s important to understand that each week focuses on one specific topic, and the prompts and exercises across the sessions are often very similar.

This is intentional.

Repetition and gradual familiarity are an important part of building speaking confidence and helping the correct speaking patterns become more natural over time.

Some students prefer joining multiple live calls to repeat the exercises and reinforce the patterns through live participation.

Others prefer reviewing the recordings afterward inside the Herr Professor app and practicing again at their own pace.

Both approaches work well.

What will we practice during the live speaking sessions?

The live speaking sessions focus on real-life situations students actually struggle with in their everyday lives.

Not textbook dialogues.

Not abstract grammar exercises.

But practical situations like:

  • talking to your neighbors
  • speaking with colleagues at work
  • parent-teacher meetings
  • talking on the phone
  • appointments and everyday situations in German

Each week, we focus on one specific real-life topic and gradually practice the kinds of sentences, speaking patterns, and situations students are likely to encounter in real life.

In addition, students regularly receive short questionnaires where they can share:

  • situations they struggle with
  • conversations they found difficult
  • or specific speaking challenges they would like to practice

We then use this input to help shape upcoming live sessions week by week so the practice remains closely connected to students’ real-life needs and experiences.

What is the difference between the Beginner (A1/A2) and Intermediate calls (B1/B2)?

The overall structure and many of the real-life situations we practice are very similar across both levels.

The main difference is the level of support, pacing, and language complexity.

In the Beginner calls (A1/A2):

  • the pace is generally slower
  • prompts may be simplified more
  • and students usually receive more guidance and support while building their answers.

In the Intermediate calls (B1/B2):

  • students are generally able to respond more quickly and independently
  • prompts may become slightly longer or more detailed
  • and we can move more naturally through the exercises at a faster pace.

The goal in both levels is the same:
to gradually help you become more comfortable expressing yourself in real-life situations through guided speaking practice.

Which level should I join?

As a general recommendation:

  • If you still struggle with basic sentence building or understanding slower spoken German, the Beginner calls are usually the best starting point.
  • If you can already express yourself reasonably well in everyday situations and follow slower conversations, the Intermediate calls will likely feel more appropriate.

But don’t overthink it too much.

The best way is simply to try a few sessions and see what feels like the right fit for you.

And as you progress over time, you can always ask me for guidance about which sessions might currently help you most.

What if I can’t attend live?

No problem.

All Live Fluency Test Calls are recorded and uploaded to the Herr Professor app afterward.

This allows you to:

  • review the sessions at your own pace
  • repeat the exercises yourself
  • revisit important phrases and corrections
  • and continue practicing even if you miss a live session.

Many students even use the recordings to repeat the Fluency Tests multiple times to reinforce the speaking patterns more deeply.

Do I need to participate actively during the live calls?

The goal of the Live Fluency Test Calls is active speaking practice.

However, many students first prefer listening to some of the previous recordings inside the Herr Professor app before joining live themselves.

This allows them to become familiar with:

  • the structure of the sessions
  • the kinds of prompts we practice
  • and the overall rhythm of the Fluency Tests.

Once students feel more comfortable with the format, they usually find it much easier to actively participate during the live calls themselves.

How does participation work during the Live Fluency Test Calls?

The Live Fluency Test Calls are structured group speaking sessions.

During the calls, I guide students step by step through prompts and real-life speaking situations.

One student answers at a time while the others continue actively practicing the same prompt themselves.

So even when another student is answering, you are still mentally and verbally participating throughout the session by thinking through and practicing your own answers in real time.

This is one of the reasons the group format works so well.

You not only practice yourself, but also learn from:

  • other students’ answers
  • common mistakes
  • corrections
  • and alternative ways of expressing the same idea.

Many students find this significantly less stressful and more motivating than traditional one-on-one conversation practice.

Questions about the interactive podcast lessons

How will we access the podcasts?

You'll access all podcasts through our Herr Professor podcast app:

In the program, you'll get step-by-step instructions on how to download our app and get started.

Do I need to listen EVERY week to ALL podcasts of the 5-step process?


No. 

Always adapt the pace and volume to your personal situation.

First: the 5-step process represents a learning cycle, one lesson.

Some students might be able to go through the cycle in one week, some might need more and some might need less.

Adapt the time you need to complete a cycle and a lesson to your situation.

Second: The 2 most important podcasts are the “Weekly Round-Up” podcast that is like a summary where we review all challenging sentences of the previous Step 1, 2 and 3 and the “Fluency Test” podcast where you can do some guided speaking practice.

So see the "Weekly Round-Up" and "Fluency Test" podcasts as your "minimum core 2-step plan”:


Then, depending on whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, add those podcasts as you see fit and as described below.

I’m still a beginner, do I also need to listen to the intermediate or advanced podcasts?


Not necessarily, but you can try in  the beginning.

As long as you can understand 80% or more, it would make sense. But if, for example, the “Advanced” podcasts are incomprehensible, just skip them for now. 


The 5-step process is not written in stone. Adapt it to your needs and remember, you can always switch to the “minimum core 2-step plan” and just add to it the "Beginner" podcasts in the beginning.


I’m an intermediate, do I also need to listen to the beginner podcasts?


I would suggest, yes, at least try. 

As mentioned before, see it as a warm-up and check if you really can outperform the beginner students by spotting their mistakes and being able to correct them most of the time.


If that's the case, then yes, most likely you’ll find them too easy. In that case, just skip them and add the "intermediate" podcast and/or the "advanced" podcast to the “minimum core 2-step plan”.


I’m advanced, do I also need to listen to the beginner and intermediate podcasts?


Same as before.

At least, give it a try and check if you really can outperform the beginner or intermediate students by spotting their mistakes and being able to correct them most of the times.


If that's the case, then yes, most likely you’ll find them too easy. In that case just skip them and add the "advanced" podcast to the “minimum core 2-step plan”.


I’m quite advanced but still struggle to understand real German TV. 


In addition to the podcasts of the 5-step process you’ll also have access to our “Speak like a native” podcast series with native speakers for the most advanced of you.

The problem with real German content is that it’s still oftentimes too fast spoken and unclearly pronounced which makes it incomprehensible.


In the “Speak like a native” podcast series you’ll listen to native speakers who still speak clearly, not too fast and still go into some details of the language.


These podcasts represent your last step before you can listen to real German content.


Do we just listen passively to the podcasts?


Not at all. 

While listening to all these podcasts you’ll become part of the conversations and you'll always try to listen INTERACTIVELY and ask yourself 3 key questions while listening:

  • Can I spot the mistake of the student?
  • Am I able to correct the student before the teacher does?
  • Am I saying it right?

Then you’ll also always take action by speaking OUT LOUD:

  • Whenever we prompt a student to correct himself
  • Whenever we correct a student and you hear us saying the correct sentence or writing it down word by word

How do I know if I’m at a beginner, intermediate or an advanced level?


Simple.

Check if you really can outperform the beginner, intermediate or advanced students when listening to the podcasts of Step 1, 2 and 3 by spotting their mistakes and being able to correct them.

Of course, not all the time, but most of the time.

And be brutally honest with yourself: Can you spot the mistake and correct it before the student gets corrected or do you just think you knew the answer after hearing the correction.


What if I miss a lesson?


No worries, every week a new lesson will be released, but you can refer to it whenever you're ready.

For every lesson a new 5-step plan will be released and you’ll keep access to all released lessons.

Every lesson represents a new opportunity to learn and grow.

In addition, you can review, and repeat the lessons any time whenever you feel like it.



How long will I have access to the podcasts?


You’ll have access to all released podcasts as long as you’re subscribed to the program.


How can we get support and accountability on a daily basis?

You'll get access to my private Student Community.  

You'll meet other students at all levels, like beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners, and be part of an engaging community, all on the same journey to help each other.

In this group, I'll answer any questions you have about this weird German language.

I even go one step further and will make sure to keep you motivated, inspired, and challenged EVERY DAY so you are on the right track with your German. 

What is the cost of the program?  

It’s a monthly or annual subscription model.

The investment is only 97€/month for the monthly subscription (billed monthly) or 597€/year for the annual subscription (billed annually).

You’ll get access to:

  • weekly Live Fluency Test Calls
  • 20+ hours of interactive podcast lessons each month
  • recordings of all live sessions inside the Herr Professor app
  • new real-life speaking topics and situations every week

All designed to help you speak more fluently, confidently, and accurately in real-life situations.

The investment is the same as just a couple of sessions with a professional teacher.

And I promise you, in my program you’ll learn 10x more than with any professional teacher.

Do I bet on this? YES!

Try one complete month, and if you're not seeing results or you don't like my program, send me an email and I’ll refund 100% of your money. 

No questions asked!
   

My program comes with no strings attached.

You have a 30-day money-back guarantee and you can cancel your subscription at any time.

Just email me and let me know.

JOIN NOW FOR JUST 97€/MONTH

BUY NOW

If you have any questions or concerns about the course, email me at [email protected].

I'm happy to help.

An UNBEATABLE Guarantee. Try my course for a full 30 days, 100% Risk-Free

My goal is to help you achieve YOUR German learning goals and I am completely confident I can do that.

I’ve actually done it with hundreds of students over the years and based this course on best academic research on language learning and rigorously tested all my methods.  

But I also know that my approach and my materials might not fit YOUR unique situation or learning style.  

So I think that it’s my obligation to make you a fair offer:  

In your first 30 days, I want you to try the program out and if you’re not satisfied with the quality and your progress I insist that you get 100% of your money back.

No questions asked.

Just send me an email at any time during the 30 days.  

So first, try one complete month and then decide if this program is right for you and worth continuing.

And as I said before, after 30 days, you can cancel your subscription at any time.

No strings, no fees, no penalties, no hidden surprises. Just send me an email. No questions asked.

Here’s what other Students say about my program:

"I just wanted to share a win I had today.

I had some new insurance documents come through and I thought something didn't look right with them, so I had to call the insurance company.

While the first time I managed speak to someone in English, the second time he was unfortunately busy so I had to manage the conversation in German.

While it didn't go perfectly I think we both understood where we were in the end (waiting for new documents to come through in few days so we'll see).

A few months ago I definitely wouldn't have had the confidence to push on with the conversation and would have just called back later, so it was great to see some signs of progress in both my ability to communicate and also my confidence.

Thanks Manuel and Dan and Johannes."

Chloe, PhD student in Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Zurich (Switzerland)

“It always felt especially difficult to manage the conversation with native speakers. In our job-meetings, I usually started the presentations in German but as soon as I faced some difficulties I switched to English.

Sometimes you get to this point where you think they don’t understand you or even for yourself it’s hard to understand and follow the conversation.  

In just a few months I could improve my business communication .

I’ve noticed an important change in our last meeting when I got again this feeling of insecurity and I wanted to switch the conversation to English but it was the first time that my German colleague looked at me and said: “Please continue in German, we understand you perfectly.”

This feeling was really satisfying and gave me a lot of confidence.”  

Francisco, Civil Engineer living in Stuttgart (Germany)

"The first time I saw a clear result was when I went to the foreign office to apply for my permanent residence(PR).

To get a PR, proof of B1 is required but I did not have this.

I ended up speaking German with my case-worker, and he decided to give me my PR based on the German I spoke with him.

Also, my colleagues that I could not speak with for years complimented how my German had improved within months."  

Tayo, AML/Compliance Analyst at Fidor Bank AG living in Berlin (Germany)

"Before when I call any customer care center (telephone provider, Insurance, Car dealer, Electricity provider etc..), I ask them if they speak English.

If they say no I directly hang up the call. 

But nowadays I start directly to speak in German ( as I have learned many words and sentence structures through the program) and try to understand what they say.

When they are so fast and if I couldn´t understand anything, then I ask them to be slow in a way that I could understand.

Some are so humble to oblige and some not.

But atleast I could make them understand what I need and get solutions.

Before it was not possible. "  

Amal, Project Engineer at FEV Europe GmbH living in Rüsselsheim (Germany)

"Now, I can attend calls in German and clearly communicate and understand what is being spoken in the call.

I have conversations with my colleagues in German.

My work meetings are now in German. I manage to explain almost everything in German.

When it gets really complicated, I switch to English for a short while and then I switch back to Deutsch."

Riyas, Technical Consultant at SEG Automotive Germany GmbH living in Stuttgart (Germany)

“My greatest difficulty with the German language has always been to speak.

Manuel has guided me through this process of putting ideas into words.

With his help, I have been able to gain fluency and also quickly improve my grammar.

Two weeks ago I had to go the Foreign Agency Office in Germany to run some errands.

An employee there asked me if could help her with a customer who couldn’t speak German, so she needed a translator.

To my surprise, I was able to help them both."  

Mauricio, Engineer living in Berlin (Germany) 

"I have less „fear“ to use German in my daily life, e.g. make a phone call, write letters/emails, even go shopping.

I sold my car and bought a new one and I spoke only in German."

Gianluca, Data System Manager at ESA/ESOC in Darmstadt (Germany)

"My German improved quickly, I noticed people stopped switching to English when speaking with me.

I could understand them and they could understand me.

The conversation was finally flowing."

Marco, Supply Chain Planner at 3M in Bern (Switzerland)

What would it feel like to finally speak German with real confidence?  

One month from now…

  • You might find yourself ordering your coffee in German, without second-guessing every word.
  • You greet your neighbor with more than just “Hallo.”
  • You ask a question in the supermarket, and understand the full answer.

Six months from now…

  • You’re no longer translating in your head.
  • You hear a sentence structure in a podcast and think, “Yes, that sounds right, I’ve used that before.”
  • You’re able to answer questions at work in German, even when you weren’t expecting them.

One year from now…

  • You’re joining conversations instead of avoiding them.
  • You’re speaking more fluidly because the correct patterns now come naturally.
  • You don’t just “survive” small talk. You enjoy it.
  • And when someone compliments your German, you smile, because you know you earned it.

Now imagine all of this without:

  • Memorizing endless word lists
  • Cramming grammar rules you forget mid-sentence
  • Feeling awkward or frozen every time someone speaks to you

Instead, you practiced the right way, with structure, support, context, and repetition.

You followed a system that made speaking feel safedoable, and even enjoyable.

Because let’s be honest:

If living in a German-speaking country is part of your life — for work, for family, or for love — then learning to speak with confidence isn’t just a nice-to-have.

It’s the skill that unlocks your ability to participate fully in your life here.

More connection.
More clarity.
More opportunities.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to start, here’s the truth:

The best time to start was probably six months ago.

But the second-best time is TODAY!

And now you have a program that’s actually built to help you speak.

Double Your Confidence in Speaking LIVE is more than a course.

  • It’s your weekly training plan.
  • It’s your private coach.
  • It’s your guide from hesitation… to confidence.

You don’t have to figure it out on your own. But you do have to take the first step.

Give it a try TODAY and finally become confident in speaking German!

Remember, you have a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee to try out a few lessons and calls and see if it's the right fit for you.

And if you don't like the program, I'll refund 100% of your money.

JOIN NOW FOR JUST 97€/MONTH

If you have any questions or concerns about the course, email me at [email protected].

I'm happy to help.

Take action NOW and double your confidence in speaking as these students have done:

“I am not afraid anymore to speak with people and more importantly all of my friends told me that my German is “really good” (of course they lie but this is helpful for my self-esteem!).

Seriously, when I started I felt stuck and hesitant to speak with Germans.

Now I am self-confident, despite the mistakes, and at least we can understand each other.

This is a very good result considering my starting point.

I still remember the first day I stepped with some friends into a sauna.

Everything was in German and I was not even able to find the way out! “Ausgang” didn't mean anything to me! :) "  

Simone, Engineer working as Project Manager support at EUMETSAT in Darmstadt (Germany)

“I feel much more confident in my daily life in Switzerland.

I understand so much more and feel comfortable that I can communicate in everyday situations.

There have been several situations where I had to have entire conversations in German and was able to understand almost everything."

Stephanie, Corporate Communications Manager living in Luzern (Switzerland)

“I have improved my speaking skills a lot. It’s amazing how I became confident to speak German in work meetings”  

Migle, PMO Quality & Global Business Process Manager​ at Roche

“I am able to communicate in day to day situations (get a car repaired, buy/sell something, basic conversations at work).

I am at the stage where I have basic command of language and now can dive into vocabulary and phrases to enrich the way I speak."  

Lukasz, Delivery Manager at UBS in Zürich (Switzerland)

“The immediate benefit was that I was able to speak fluently and confidently.

Of course, I made mistakes but that did not stop me from speaking German."  

Anup, Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting GmbH in Stuttgart (Germany)

“I went from very basic conversations in German to a level where I discuss all my work topics in German, attend meetings in German.”  

Edwin, Computer Programmer at Sulzer GmbH in München (Germany)

“I can now have a normal conversation with a local about normal everyday topics.

Like purchasing something, what I did on the weekend or discussing my travel adventures.”  

Leigh, Cultural Developer in the Corporate HR department in München (Germany)

“I‘m now able to converse with my colleagues and also able to communicate with my landlord and in shops etc.”  

Ranjiv, IT Specialist working at Accenture in Zürich (Switzerland)

“So far I have achieved self confidence in speaking.

Now I am participating in German discussions, trying to talk to clients and teammates in German, of course not fluently, but I am sure in few months I can achieve that too."  

Prabha, Sr. Software Developer working at Accenture in Frankfurt (Germany)

“I feel that I can use German in my day to day life outside of work (including for example, at the doctor or dentist).

I may not speak like a native speaker, but I can understand and be understood.”  

Anna, Statistician working in the Pharma Industry in Basel (Switzerland)

“I can now have everyday conversations and understand the context of different types of communication."  

Jordi, IT Professional working as Director Domain Architecture at ADIDAS in Nürnberg (Germany)

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