Using German Magazines to Learn German
Germany's illustrated weekly STERN ("Star") has always had one of the best Web sites of any German periodical, but it has changed a lot since I first reviewed it in 1999. Below we'll take a new, detailed, in-depth look at the STERN site, with the language learner in mind — beginner or advanced. STERN and other German-language online publications offer a valuable commodity to anyone trying to learn the language: German as it is used now. Not Goethe's German. Not German from a textbook. Not yesterday's German.
Any living language is constantly changing. Today's English, French, German, Russian, or any other modern language is not the same today as it was a few years ago — or just a year ago. The only way for someone who is not living in a German-speaking country to stay current is to use the media — whether in print, online, or via satellite or cable.
But a US or other foreign subscription to most German weeklies can cost hundreds of dollars. A single issue of DER SPIEGEL, FOCUS, PROFIL, or STERN purchased in the US costs about $8.00, versus about 3 euros ($3.50) in Germany. (Web links for these four and more can be found on our Zeitschriften - Magazines links page.) The online edition of these publications, on the other hand, is virtually free. Of course, this "free" version may have certain drawbacks. Most online versions of any magazine, German or otherwise, only put a small portion of their articles online. Some charge a fee for certain articles or full archival searches. Although STERN is among those publications that offer only part of their content online, there is still a vast amount of material available to the online reader each week.
NOTE: If any of the links below fail to work properly, you can always use: www.stern.de for Stern's home page.
One more thing before we visit STERN — a cultural caveat. Although STERN is a respected, mainstream magazine, like most German (European) publications, it has a somewhat liberal policy about nudity and sex. It's just a fact of German life. If such attitudes bother you, then skip the links to some of the photos and obviously anything labeled "Erotik"! It's only a minor element in all that STERN has to offer. — OK, let's take a look.
The Current Issue
To go to STERN's current issue each week, just use the link: www.stern.de/magazin/alle_magazine.html. Here you'll find the current issue of the latest print edition of STERN, plus previous issues. The non-print STERN Online site is at www.stern.de, and this link will work if others fail. In the top banner on the "Alle Hefte" page, you'll see links to various magazine departments, including: Politik, Ausland (Abroad), Sport&Motor, and Wirtschaft (Business).
Unterhaltung: Film, Musik, Comics
To find out what Germans consider funny, look at the cartoons and jokes under Unterhaltung (Entertainment). You'll also find out what's playing at the movies in Germany, plus the Musik that Germans are listening to.
Computers and the Internet
Many Germans are into computers and the Internet. STERN has a computers and technology section that let's you look at some of the latest gadgets, software, and other tech topics of interest to Germans right now. There's even a special section just for Handys & Telefone! You may be surprised at how advanced European telephony is today.
Dating
Did you know that Dating is now a German word? STERN Online can teach you more about "Singles" and "Dating," but I found the Tageshoroskop more interesting.
We have really only scratched the surface of the STERN site. There's much more for you to discover on your own. (Try out STERN's Search feature, found on most pages.) If you haven't been using the Web to read German, you've been missing a vital part of learning the language. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced learner, reading German publications online is one of the best ways to build up your vocabulary. If you enjoy exploring STERN, also remember you can find links to many other publications in German in our Zeitschriften - Magazines links. After a few weeks of regular reading, you'll have the satisfaction of discovering you've learned a lot of German. And it's REAL German!