learning german - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

echohaze · 10-24-2006, 09:41 PM

i would like to learn german, but i have NO idea where to start.

so um...

where should i start?

i have about 6 months to learn enough of the language to get around.

and, does anyone think that rosetta stone software is a good way to learn german?

davidd · 10-25-2006, 12:58 AM

Alot of people here recommend pimsleur. I havent tried it yet but I picked it up after reading about it here and im going to start with that as soon as my uni exams finish.

Ive tried rosetta stone and it wasnt really for me although it is supposed to be really good just didnt fit with the way I like to learn, it could be great for you though.

**tumblezweedz** · 10-25-2006, 05:40 AM

My husband and kids liked Rosetta Stone for German, learning that way doesn't appeal to me. Any chance of taking a course somewhere in your neighbourhood? The advantage there is that you'll meet other people with similar interests, maybe planning trips also, may have relatives with whom you could stay, etc etc.

**DC_Jessica** · 10-25-2006, 07:06 AM

I would honestly find a community college or local organization and take at least a month or two intro course to basic German. English is a Germanic language, so if you have somebody to teach you the basics (conjugation and blah) you'll be able to do a TON with self-study...with any program. And German is a very "rules" language. It takes a ridiculously long time to get to the point where you forget grammar and speak because you know what "sounds" right, but in the beginning, it's pretty easy to just follow the rules. Even if you come across the one exception, people will know what you're saying. Try your best to get an actual German teacher - it's murder on the accent learning curve if you start out with an American.

I would say first take that short/cheap course. Then rent German-language movies and do some phrasebook reading, CNN auf Deutsch, whatever (was auch immer!). I love my Langenscheidt pocket dictionary - I have had it for over a decade (holy crap, it's been that long) and some of the words I know best, I learned in the very beginning, just fooling around with it, trying to translate things from English to German.

You'll learn *most* of your language skills once you arrive, from restaurants. This, I promise you!! Good luck!

**noke_travel** · 10-25-2006, 08:43 AM

are they're any night school's or university extension programs offering german? thats usually a good way to get a solid foundation in the language.

echohaze · 10-25-2006, 04:05 PM

i'm not quite in a position for taking classes; not until summer, at least. but i'm a quick learner, so i'll try pimsleur or whatever that is.

jaboba46 · 10-26-2006, 09:52 PM

in school i took german and i really got a lot from watching that fuzzy thing... i dont remember his name but it began with a "M" i learned more from that then the dumb teacher. between that and dictionary dipping... i learned a lot.

**DC_Jessica** · 10-27-2006, 02:24 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jaboba46 @ Oct 27 2006, 12:52 AM) [snapback]143523[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

in school i took german and i really got a lot from watching that fuzzy thing... i dont remember his name but it began with a "M" i learned more from that then the dumb teacher. between that and dictionary dipping... i learned a lot.
[/b]

Muzzy!!! We used him with Spanish. Unless I'm totally baked or something and making him up. He's green? I just remember "Muzzy es grande!" and the little mouse, whatever his name was little. CLEARLY I benefitted from it.

jaboba46 · 10-27-2006, 09:31 AM

yeah i think that's his name i remember the mouse skating about when we were learning numbers..

Elixir · 06-03-2007, 04:10 PM

*bump bump*

My friend's mom teaches German at a school, she moved to America when she was 16 and spends at least two months a year in Germany. She is giving me a lot of help and pointers with Germany in general and is so excited for me that she's going to teach me for free. On the side, though, are there any suggestions for good books or dictionaries to use?

**expatben** · 06-03-2007, 07:44 PM

If I were you I would hit up a local book store and ask someone there. I always found lonely planet do a good language book.

**joe7f** · 06-03-2007, 09:02 PM

If you are just trying to navigate in Germany a phrasebook like Ben mentioned would be fine. If you are trying to learn German then you may want to consider a language school. I am looking at one in Heidelberg for next March where you stay with a family... looks to be about 300 euros week for everything (school, room and half board.)

--Joey

carel05 · 06-14-2007, 01:20 AM

Learning German is interesting.

**Esterina** · 06-14-2007, 10:41 AM

The best value for an intensive german course in Germany is at Casa Bremen. I searched the net for months and ended up going there. I would recommend the place to everyone for the quality of teaching, and the very low cost! The only downside is the lack of organized activities outside class time. With the classmates, we've organized everything on our own, which in the end is a plus, because we had to deal with "real Germans".

I began as intermediate level, but after my immersion there, I was fluent.

The cost per week for tuition + accomodation in a german home starts at about 250 euros per week. However, the longer you stay, the lower the price : it gets as low as 145 Euros per week for someone staying over 8 weeks.

Highly recommended, highly, highly.