You understand your textbook. Now understand real Germans.
A weekly German podcast for learners stuck at the intermediate plateau, with interactive transcripts, vocabulary, and exercises that turn every episode into a real lesson.
€1 for your first month, then from €12.40 a month · Cancel anytime · 30-day guarantee
Can you follow this?
This is the opening of a real episode. Tap any underlined word if you need it. That is exactly how the membership works.
Press play. The transcript follows along, line by line.
Every episode has these three parts. Open each one.
Es ist eine kleine Stadt mit, man könnte fast sagen, unverhältnismäßig interessanter Geschichte. Und dann, 1986, wurden die römischen Denkmäler von Trier, der Dom, die Liebfrauenkirche, von der UNESCO zum Weltkulturerbe erklärt. Über drei Millionen Menschen kommen jährlich nach Trier. Und das ist für eine Stadt mit 110 Einwohnern... 110 Einwohner, Tom... 110.000 Einwohnern natürlich außerordentlich viel. Ihr könnt da die Porta Nigra besuchen, das Amphitheater, die Kaiserthermen und noch viele weitere. Das Moseltal von Trier ist unglaublich bekannt für den besten Rieslingwein überhaupt.
Yes, he stumbles over the number and corrects himself out loud. Nothing here is scripted or re-recorded, which is the whole point. Textbook audio never does this, and real Germans do it constantly.
Got most of it? You are at the right level. Needed every word? Come back at B1. The podcast stays free until then.
- unverhältnismäßig C1 disproportionatelytap to reveal
- das Denkmal, die Denkmäler B2 monument, monumentstap to reveal
- das Weltkulturerbe B2 World Heritage Sitetap to reveal
- jährlich B1 annually, every yeartap to reveal
- außerordentlich C1 extraordinarily, exceptionallytap to reveal
- bekannt für B1 known for, famous fortap to reveal
The first two are shown. Try the other four from memory before you tap them. This is under a minute of a half-hour episode, and the full one carries around sixty words like these, sorted by level.
Question 1 of 2
Wie viele Menschen kommen jährlich nach Trier?
Question 2 of 2
Was bedeutet unverhältnismäßig?
So is it for you? Be honest, because the wrong level is the main reason people quit.
This is for you if
- You can follow a German conversation but real Germans still lose you
- You have done the textbooks and hit the plateau at B1 or B2
- You want native, unscripted German rather than classroom German
- You have 20 minutes a week and want them to actually count
This is not for you yet if
- You are starting from zero, because every episode is entirely in German
- You want lessons explained in English
- You are preparing for an exam next month and need a tutor, not a habit
- You want live speaking practice as your main thing, which is what the Conversation Club below is for
How it works
Three steps, and the first one is free.
Listen to the podcast
A new episode every Monday on real German: daily life, work, culture. Free on Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere else.
Join the membership
The same episode, but with an interactive transcript, vocabulary, and exercises. The whole archive opens on day one.
Build the weekly habit
Twenty minutes a week, following the roadmap from B1 towards C1. You will notice it first in conversations you used to avoid.
What is inside the membership
Everything that turns a podcast episode into a lesson.
Latest episodes
A new one every Monday. These load straight from the site, so they are always current.
What members say
From people paying for the membership right now.
I do not have many people to speak German to regularly, and this has kept my foot in the door. The transcripts, the interface, the exercises, and above all the variety of subjects make the subscription worth it.
I needed to brush up my German and found ExpertlyGerman while browsing. Tom is very clear at explaining things and has a friendly, informal approach. The monthly meetup with him and the other learners is a real bonus.
Ich bin sehr froh mit meiner ExpertlyGerman Mitgliedschaft. Sie ist eine effektive Methode für das Deutschlernen. Die Kombination von Themen mit Videos, Wortschätzen und Übungen finde ich sehr hilfreich.
Simple, honest pricing
Both plans start at €1 for the first month. No contract, cancel in one click.
Basic
For self-study at your own pace
Billed as €148.80 once a year. You save 17%.
- All 265+ episodes, plus one new each Monday
- Interactive transcripts and vocabulary
- Quizzes, exercises, and the learning roadmap
- Ad-free audio and weekly bonus episodes
Premium
For self-study plus speaking with Tom
Billed as €298.80 once a year. You save 17%.
- Everything in Basic
- Monthly live Zoom meetup with Tom
- Ask your questions directly on the call
- Open group format, last Thursday of the month
What actually happens: you pay €1 today and get full access immediately. One month later your plan renews at €148.80 for Basic or €298.80 for Premium, charged once for the year. Every annual plan carries a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Hi, I am Tom
I grew up in Berlin and I have been making ExpertlyGerman since 2020. Before that I worked in finance in New York, London, and Germany. Then I took six months to travel around the world and never quite went back.
I believe you learn a language by finding people you enjoy spending time with, and improving because you want to say something to them. That is the whole principle behind everything here: real topics, real speed, real German.
Whether you join the membership, a conversation group, or just listen to the podcast, I am glad you are here.
More about meWhere you are, and what comes next
These are not alternatives. They are the order most people go in.
The podcast
Free, forever
Listen weekly and get your ear used to how Germans actually speak. No account, no card, nothing to unlock.
Listen on SpotifyAlso on YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
The membership
€1 first month, then from €12.40
Turn listening into learning. Transcripts, vocabulary, and exercises for every episode.
- Study on your own schedule
- Full archive from day one
- Monthly live meetup on Premium
The Conversation Club
10 weeks, max 5 students
Weekly live speaking practice with Tom in a small group, built on podcast topics. Members often add this once understanding is no longer the problem.
Tom is a wonderful and patient teacher. His conversation topics are challenging and got me thinking in German across a wide range of subjects.Lisa, conversation group
See the next groupNot ready to join? Start with the free newsletter.
One email a week with vocabulary, expressions, and what is in the new episode, plus the free ebook when you sign up. No pressure, unsubscribe whenever.
Get the free ebook and newsletterFree. No card needed. Unsubscribe in one click.
Before you join
The questions people actually ask me.
What level of German do I need?
The membership is built for intermediate learners, roughly B1 to C1. If you can follow a German podcast and catch the main ideas even while missing words, you are in the right place. If you are below that, listen to the free podcast for a few months first and come back. Not sure? Take the free level test.
What happens after the €1 first month?
Your plan renews at the normal price: €14.99 a month for Basic or €29.99 a month for Premium, or the annual rate if you chose that. You have full access from day one and can cancel any time before the month ends if it is not for you.
How is this different from just listening to the free podcast?
The free podcast is listening practice. The membership turns each episode into a complete lesson: an interactive transcript where you tap any word for a translation, vocabulary sorted by level, quizzes, exercises, and ad-free audio. It is the difference between hearing German and studying it.
Can I cancel any time?
Yes, with one click in your account. On a monthly plan you keep access until the end of that billing month. Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and after that you keep access until the year is up.
How much time does this take each week?
About twenty minutes for one episode with its transcript and exercises. New content comes out every Monday, but nothing expires. The whole archive stays open, so a missed week costs you nothing.
Do I need an app?
No. Everything runs in your phone, tablet, or computer browser, including transcripts, audio, and exercises. Nothing to install.
More questions? Read the full FAQ or email tom@expertlygerman.com.
Your German is closer than you think
Start with one episode this week. €1 gets you all 265+ of them.
€1 first month, then from €12.40 a month · Cancel anytime · 30-day guarantee on annual plans