Our learning method – based on the practical experience of an emigrant family

Introduction

We emigrated twice – and quickly realised that speaking is what counts in everyday life, not learning tables. Inspired by Vera F. Birkenbihl's ideas, we developed our own approach that is suitable for everyday use: listening and understanding → repeating → speaking freely. With audio in slow & normal speed, short dialogues, Anki decks and AI support.

Important: We do not offer an official Birkenbihl course and are not affiliated with Ms Birkenbihl or her institutions. Our method is inspired by hers, but has been independently expanded and adapted.

Our story

How we mastered languages for everyday life
On paper, we had vocabulary lists. In reality, we were at the government office, on the bus, at the supermarket – and needed useful sentences, not rules. As a fan of Vera F. Birkenbihl, Kelly took her basic ideas – understanding meaning, absorbing through listening, anchoring through speaking – and developed them further for our family:

We created slow audio versions to practise pronunciation without stress.
Then we listened at normal speed to build fluency.
With Anki and mini-dialogues, what we learned became part of everyday life.

That's how we built up our English and Italian (and some other languages in the family) – briefly, regularly, everywhere.

The principles

What we have adopted – and expanded – from practical experience

Audio-based input first
Comprehensible, short units. Slow at first, then normal.
1:1 meaning in context
Instead of grammar overload: sentence building blocks & dialogues that you can use right away.
Repeating with pause windows
Guided call-and-response: you speak actively – guided at first, then more freely.
Smart repetition, not dull
Anki decks & mini-checks make repetition short and effective.
Two speeds = two goals
Slow for pronunciation & confidence, normal for speed & spontaneity.
AI assist
Cleanly edited audio, consistent voices, quick adjustments – so you get a constant supply.

This is how a lesson works

From "listening" to "speaking" in 15–20 minutes

1. Warm-in (1–2 Min) – Listen briefly, clarify focus.

2. Slow-Audio (4–6 Min) – clearly articulated, Pauses for repetition.

3. Normal-Audio (3–5 Min) – Fluid, with targeted pauses for active responses.

4. Mini-Dialog (2–3 Min) – small everyday scene (e.g. "Buy ticket").

5. Anki & notes (3–4 Min) – Review the cards, formulate 1–2 sentences yourself.

Materials per lesson: MP3 (slow/normal), short MP4 clips, PDF cheat sheets, Anki deck.

Read more: Courses & Formats

Who is this method suitable for?

Beginners and those returning to the language who want to speak rather than cram.

Work & everyday life: Office, doctor, shopping, work, travel.

Learners with limited time: 15–20 minutes a day will do the trick – provided you stick with it..

What you get

Audio in two tempos – slow for shaping, normal for flow.

Dialogues & sentence building blocks – applicable from day 1.

Anki decks & PDF cheat sheets – for on the go & quick revision.

Option: Themed courses & speaking sprints – targeted practice (5-minute drills).

Check out some examples:
30-Day-Challenge
Integration & Everyday Life
ABC Courses

Why AI helps us

More quality, more consistency, more everyday life
AI helps us produce clean audio and videos, quickly refine scripts, and consistently maintain Anki decks. This saves production time, and you get regular new, small learning units instead of having to wait for big releases.

Transparency & demarcation

We are fans of Vera F. Birkenbihl's work and have learned a lot from it – however, our method is independent.

No cooperation, no official certificate, no licence.

Designation on our website: "inspired by" or "based on" the ideas – not "according to Birkenbihl®" or similar.

Our focus: auditory-based understanding, active repetition, application in everyday life with AI support.

("Birkenbihl" may be a protected designation/trademark. We have no connection to Ms Vera F. Birkenbihl or her institutions. Our offerings are independent productions.)

Mini-FAQ

Is this the original Birkenbihl method?

No. We were inspired, but we expanded and adapted the approach ourselves. No official licence, no official course.

Do I need grammar?
Only where it directly improves speaking. Our focus is on listening, repeating and applying.

How much time per day?
15–20 minutes is sufficient. Regularity is important..

Can I study offline?
Yes – with MP3 and PDF files as well as Anki decks (after download).

Is there a demo?
Yes: Audio samples & sample downloads

Next steps

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