I'm doing a French and German degree, so naturally, I'm going to think that taking both is a great idea. In reality, though, it's best to take subjects that you enjoy and are prepared to work hard for. German is a great language, especially in the business world, and learning any language will mean that it'll be easier to take up another language in the future if you want or need to. I know people say that German grammar is harder than French grammar, but I don't think that's necessarily true... of course there are cases and so on, but it's also (as far as I'm concerned, anyway!) more predictable than French.
General languages tips and tricks:
listening
- regularly listen to music/ podcasts in the language, both at your level and at native level. Even when you don't understand much or anything of what's being said, practicing picking out the words you do know and getting used to the pace of the language will really help in listening exams and in learning to actually speak the language!
- if possible, listen to voice recordings of words you're learning.
- watch TV in the language - a very random German program I watch to destress is called Wer Kann Der Kann. I've never watched anything that has confused me so much, but the language is relatively easy to follow! Kids shows like pepper pig can also help - I watch quite a lot of Peppa pig in Russian because they repeat all the important words so often!
- actively listen to stuff by scribbling down words/ phrases as you go, and by relistening to phrases and trying to work out what they may mean.
- Lyricstraining
Reading
- read the news. I use Aktuelle news for German. Even if you just look at the headlines every day, getting that little bit of reading in regularly can help so much!
- put subtitles on whenever you watch tv in English, and practice reading the German as you go along.
- Put your phone into German
- learn the official vocab list (there are memrise and quizlet sets, but you could also convert them to anki) - there will be about 1300 words, probably, so definitely doable!
Writing
- keep a diary in German
- write to do lists in German
- practice writing 50 word paragraphs and really focusing on getting the grammar right
- use a workbook (I liked the CGP French higher workbook when I did my GCSEs) to practice translation and writing tasks in particular. Translations will show you both your weaknesses in terms of vocab and in terms of grammar!
Speaking
- talk to yourself
- try only to talk to your teacher in German
- keep a diary in German and practice writing spontaneously/ without planning. THis mirrors some of the skills in speaking, but without actually having to speak, so useful for evening study sessions if you have younger siblings!
Generally, just keep practicing and remember that it's a long process, but that every grammar exercise you do and every time you immerse yourself in the language, you're improving. Also, though, don't work too hard at the beginning and then burn out! You have to learn about how you learn best and well as how to balance your time.