Can't read your German records—even when you've finally found them?
"Enrolling in and completing Katherine's course "Reading the Old German Handwriting" opened up a whole new world for my research. The course is informative and engaging. Since completing it, I have followed one of my husband's German lines to a small town near Kaiserslautern and, thanks to the skills I acquired, was easily able to transcribe baptismal, marriage, and death records. I am looking forward to using these skills to dig deeper into my husband's German heritage."
Georgeann E.
How many German records have you discovered—
that are now collecting dust because it feels impossible to understand the old German handwriting?
You've found the record. You can see your ancestor's name written there. But the rest of the page?
It looks like scribbles.
You’ve tried comparing letters to an alphabet key.
Maybe you’ve printed one out and held it up next to the record.
You’ve traced a few words carefully— letter by letter —hoping it starts to make sense.
Sometimes you can decipher a name. Maybe even a date.
But reading the entire document with confidence?
That still feels impossible.
And the most frustrating part?
The letters don’t always look the same from record to record.
Letter combinations blur together into shapes that don’t resemble any key you’ve seen online.
Spelling was not standardized - so you aren't even sure if you're reading the word correctly.
It's just hard!
So you second-guess yourself. Is that an “e”? Or an “n”?
Did you read that correctly — or are you making assumptions?
The problem isn’t finding your ancestors’ records —it’s being able to read them once you do.
If you’ve ever discovered a German record and felt excited — only to feel completely discouraged when you couldn’t read it — you are not alone.
Old German handwriting isn’t simply “messy.” It’s an entirely different script. And most native German speakers today can’t even read it. After all...
This script stopped being taught in schools in the 1950s.
It's hard to tell where one word begins and one word ends.
Abbreviations are everywhere.
Spellings shift from page to page.
So you are likely looking directly at the answers — names, dates, relationships — and still feel stuck because you can’t confidently read what you’re seeing.
You don’t want to guess.
You want to know.
But when you can’t read the handwriting...
You spend hours comparing letters.
You second-guess every name, every date, every detail.
You may even skip entire lines, or entire documents, because they feel too difficult to decipher.
You feel that rush of excitement when you find a record — only to hit a wall moments later.
And that can be discouraging — because that excitement disappears fast. And so do your chances of filling in your family tree.
But what if you didn’t have to guess your way through old German records?
If there were a clear, structured way to learn this — one that builds your skills step by step and even makes the process exciting and fun?
That’s exactly why I created Reading the Old German Handwriting — to help you confidently decipher the old German script found in your family records and bring back the excitement of uncovering your family’s story.
If you’ve ever found a German record and thought:
“I can see the name… but I can’t read the rest,” this course was created for you.
You don’t need to become fluent in German or “have an eye” for old handwriting.
You simply need the right structure — and the right guidance.
And that’s exactly what Reading the Old German Handwriting course provides.
"Signing up for “Reading the Old German Handwriting” was the best decision I’ve made for my genealogical efforts! I’m able to see words out of the scribble! The course is well written and paced, with a variety of learning tools that are fun...I am looking forward to seriously tackling my records with a new-found confidence and being able to share those efforts with my genealogy cousins."
Anne G.
"I was able to go back to old church records that were previously just a lot of gibberish, and I was able to read and understand what was written. This course is well worth the investment of time and money. I look forward to extending my family history research further into Germany!"
Mary Lou I.
What You'll Learn:
Foundations of Old German Script
• The history and purpose of old German handwriting
• How to easily recognize lowercase and uppercase letters
• How to sight-read common letter combinations in German
• How to decipher short words with confidence
• Guided writing practice to reinforce what you learn
Essential German Genealogy Vocabulary
• Months, numbers, and common abbreviations
• Milestone words found in birth, marriage, and death records
• Occupations and causes of death in historical documents
• Key terms you will see again and again in German records
Reading Real Records
• How to read church baptismal, marriage, and death records
• How to read vital baptismal, marriage, and death records
• How to transcribe full historical letters
• Practice records so you can test yourself - and check your work - so you're ready to work on your own ancestors' records with confidence
Deciphering Strategies That Actually Work
• How to approach a document when you feel stuck
• Common spelling variations and letter swaps
• How to move from recognizing letters to reading entire records
• Proven techniques for deciphering the most difficult handwriting
Guided Video Instruction
20 Structured Video Lessons
Clear, step-by-step instruction that walks you from understanding individual letters to confidently reading full German records. Each lesson builds on the last so you always feel supported and motivated.
Interactive Reinforcement
25+ Flashcards & Matching Games
Practice recognizing letters, vocabulary, and record phrases in a way that strengthens your memory and is just plain fun.
10+ Quizzes & Game Show Challenges
Test your knowledge in a supportive, low-pressure way so you can see how much you’re learning as you go.
Real Record Practice
10 Practice Exercises with Actual German Records
Work directly with actual church records and vital records — plus historical letters — so you apply what you learn to real documents. This prepares you to work on your own ancestors' records with newfound confidence and skill.
Writing for Muscle Memory
6 Writing Worksheet Sets
To reinforce recognition, you’ll complete structured writing practice with printable handwriting drills that help train your eye and hand to recognize old German script more naturally.
Printable Worksheets & Reference Guides
20+ Downloadable Handouts
Download alphabet keys, vocabulary lists, record reference sheets, spelling variation guides, transcription tips, and more — resources you can return to anytime during your research.
These printable resources become your long-term reference library, so you can return to them anytime you encounter a challenging record in your research.
Support & Community
Private Course Community
Connect with fellow genealogy researchers, ask questions, share discoveries, and learn alongside fellow students working with German records.
Genealogy is more enjoyable when shared with others who understand your journey!
Lifetime Access
Self-Paced Online Course
This is a completely self-paced course with lifetime access. Move through the lessons on your own schedule, and come back whenever you discover a new record or want to review what you’ve learned. We're always here for you!
Certificate of Achievement
Once you’ve finished, you’ll receive a certificate to show the world all your hard work — not to mention the ability to read the old German handwriting all by yourself!
It’s a meaningful way to celebrate your progress — and to remind yourself that yes, you truly can read these records.
Get Started Today:
$359.00 or just $90/mo for 4 months
About
Katherine Schober
Katherine Schober, founder and CEO of Germanology Unlocked, is a German-English genealogy translator, author, and educator. With over a decade of professional experience, she is dedicated to helping others uncover their German ancestry and preserve their family stories for future generations.
Katherine offers genealogy services such as online courses, webinars, and workshops focused on deciphering the old German handwriting and mastering German genealogy research. She is the author of "The Magic of German Church Records" and "Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting," and the creator of the popular online courses "The Complete Guide to German Genealogy", "Reading the Old German Handwriting", and "German for Genealogists."
Katherine has been a featured speaker at major genealogy conferences such as RootsTech, NGS, and IGGP, where she shares her expertise on German records and handwriting. Her work has also been highlighted on both the History Channel and PBS' "Finding Your Roots."
Combining her deep knowledge of the German language with a passion for genealogy, Katherine's goal is to make genealogy both fun and doable for all!
A Structured Learning Path —
From Letters of the Alphabet to Full Records
Reading the Old German Handwriting is the roadmap you need to finally read the records of your German ancestors—let us make your journey easier.
Here’s Everything You Get:
20 Structured Video Lessons ($1000 Value)
25+ Interactive Flashcard & Matching Games ($200 Value)
10+ Quizzes & Game Show Challenges ($200 Value)
10 Real Record Practice Exercises ($400 Value)
6 Writing Worksheet Sets ($200 Value)
20+ Handouts & Reference Guides ($150 Value)
Private Course Community ($100 Value)
Certificate of Achievement ($30 Value)
Lifetime Access to the Course!
Total Combined Value: $2,000+
Today's Price: $359 or 4 monthly payments of $90/month
The Germanology Unlocked Guarantee
We stand by the Reading the Old German Handwriting course because we know it works. Our students have used these exact methods to finally decipher old German script, read church and vital records, and understand documents they once thought were impossible.
But we also know that investing in a course can feel like a big decision.
If you go through the lessons, practice the exercises, and don’t feel more confident in reading old German handwriting within 14 days, we’ll refund you. We stand behind this course 100%.
You have nothing to lose — and so many records waiting to for you! We're excited to welcome you into our special community of German genealogy enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can continue piecing together free alphabet keys, blog posts, and scattered YouTube tutorials—hoping each one gives you just enough to decipher the next line.
But more often than not, you’ll spend hours comparing letters, second-guessing words, and wondering if you’re interpreting your ancestor’s record correctly.
Or… you can follow a carefully structured, step-by-step approach designed by German-English genealogy translator and educator Katherine Schober, known worldwide for her exceptional teaching skills.
Reading the Old German Handwriting isn’t a generic language course; it's the only interactive program designed specifically to help German genealogy researchers read the old German script found in their ancestors’ records.
No more staring at records you can’t read.
No more guessing whether you’re close enough.
The information you’re looking for is already there—you just need to know how to read it.
Reading the Old German Handwriting turns confusion into clarity—and the best part? It's so much fun!
Today's Price:
$359.00 or just $90/mo for 4 months
Start making real progress in uncovering your ancestors' stories.
With a clear, expert-led approach, you’ll finally feel confident opening records you once avoided.