Wed, 22 May 2013
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American Emily Rasch offers some tips on how and where to learn the German language, and enjoy it.Learning German is easier said than done. There are plenty of books, programmes, and methods on how to do it successfully, however the most important thing to realize is that it takes both time and persistence.
In a busy world, time isn't always easy to come by--particularly if you are moving to Germany for work. Some companies will include language courses with expat packages, so that is definitely worth inquiring about during negotiations. Even having a brief knowledge of German will exponentially increase the quality of life here, whether it for understanding a changed train schedule, visiting the doctor, asking directions, or reading a menu.
Being forced to learn the language can lead to some interesting situations, so it certainly helps to have patience and a nice dose of humour. The process can be exciting, frustrating, and sometimes downright scary.
Shortly after I arrived in Munich, a linguistically savvy friend visited. She had not studied German, but was eager to learn simple and useful words. We were at a café and she asked me how to order a coffee to go. I could not recall how to tell them she wanted to take it away. Rather than saying anything in English or motioning I told her to say 'Los!' While it does in some sense mean 'to go', it translates better to 'move it'. One simple word and the barista thought we were rude and impatient. Of course, her coffee arrived in a mug rather than the paper cup she was hoping for. We kept quiet.
Language schools and integration courses
If you're already living in Germany, it's essential to find a good language school. Ask other expats about their experiences. Surprisingly it's not always the most expensive schools that have great teachers. Depending on the type of visa you have, it's also possible that you qualify for discounted integration courses or you may be required to take courses from certified schools. These courses often comprise a large mix of people from various cultures and all walks of life. Attending classes is actually a lot of fun, because everyone unites over facing similar situations and navigating a new culture. Some of my closest friends are from other cultures and we've learned to speak German as a common language. From my experience, finding a school with a small class size was ideal, because it enabled plenty of speaking time.
Meeting native speakers
Hearing locals pronounce the words also helps, though meeting native speakers can be difficult in the beginning. Many foreigners complain that Germans are 'cold' and the social network is more formal. A fantastic resource for those that would like to do a language exchange is SprachDuo.
Emily Rasch is an American expat from Ohio who loves to travel. Visit her blog at http://munichbavaria.blogspot.com/
"Many foreigners complain that Germans are 'cold' and the social network is more formal"
Funny, I´ve known quite a few Americans and Brits who seemed `cold´ to me. Appeared to me, they want to stay with their own kind and their own kind alone, which poses an interesting question: What are they doing here? Just earning money? I´d like to offer a language exchange,
being bilingual and a German nativespeaker, but so far no luck.
Hi Denise,
I think that loads of expats in Germany would be interested in your language exchange. Why not join the Expatica Community and post your offer.
http://community.expatica.com/
Good luck!
EditorDE
Hi Denise,
Just found your comment, i'm interested in a language exchange, i'm trying to find you on Expatica but so far no luck :( Ah well, I'll keep checking back!! :) Hope to speak with you soon!!!!
Tom
Good article, after a long journey with the German language, I'd like to share what pushed me forward - Audio tutors (Michel, Pimsleur, whatever..). Having most of my time dedicated to work, my wife, my kids and my cat, time becomes a valuable asset. Audio tutors can be used while I'm jogging (once a month), on my way to work..
I found a good practical approach on a remote page on http://doctortamus.net.
Of course, this is no alternative for communicating with locals or other methods, but, as I said, it pushed my forward.
Dan
[Edited by moderator. Please post (elaborate) questions on Ask the Expert or on our Forums. If you have questions for the Expatica staff, please contact us directly.]
Very interesting info out here. Much agreed with many points shared here.
Also wanted to add that "thinking in German" enables students to learn the language faster and at a fundamental level. Just sharing our experience. Cheers!
http://courses.bindas-bol.com/learn-german-in-mumbai.php
I've tried a few years ago to learn German but I was easily discouraged by the amount of words to learn and especially their length. Since I spoke French and English already, I didn't that the grammar was too much of a challenge. In the end I moved on and quit. But then I discovered that the iPhone and the iPad can help. I discovered tons of cools apps on the App Store to help me learn and I started again. I've downloaded dictionaries and I'm playing games to improve my skills. My favourite one is called: LEXI. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/lexi-german/id464062602?mt=8 It's a simple game to learn vocabulary but it's a lot of fun. Can anyone here recommend me some cool apps?
"Many foreigners complain that Germans are 'cold' and the social network is more formal"
Funny, I´ve known quite a few Americans and Brits who seemed `cold´ to me. Appeared to me, they want to stay with their own kind and their own kind alone, which poses an interesting question: What are they doing here? Just earning money? I´d like to offer a language exchange,
being bilingual and a German nativespeaker, but so far no luck.
Hi Denise,
I think that loads of expats in Germany would be interested in your language exchange. Why not join the Expatica Community and post your offer.
http://community.expatica.com/
Good luck!
EditorDE
Hi Denise,
Just found your comment, i'm interested in a language exchange, i'm trying to find you on Expatica but so far no luck :( Ah well, I'll keep checking back!! :) Hope to speak with you soon!!!!
Tom
Good article, after a long journey with the German language, I'd like to share what pushed me forward - Audio tutors (Michel, Pimsleur, whatever..). Having most of my time dedicated to work, my wife, my kids and my cat, time becomes a valuable asset. Audio tutors can be used while I'm jogging (once a month), on my way to work..
I found a good practical approach on a remote page on http://doctortamus.net.
Of course, this is no alternative for communicating with locals or other methods, but, as I said, it pushed my forward.
Dan
[Edited by moderator. Please post (elaborate) questions on Ask the Expert or on our Forums. If you have questions for the Expatica staff, please contact us directly.]
Very interesting info out here. Much agreed with many points shared here.
Also wanted to add that "thinking in German" enables students to learn the language faster and at a fundamental level. Just sharing our experience. Cheers!
http://courses.bindas-bol.com/learn-german-in-mumbai.php
I've tried a few years ago to learn German but I was easily discouraged by the amount of words to learn and especially their length. Since I spoke French and English already, I didn't that the grammar was too much of a challenge. In the end I moved on and quit. But then I discovered that the iPhone and the iPad can help. I discovered tons of cools apps on the App Store to help me learn and I started again. I've downloaded dictionaries and I'm playing games to improve my skills. My favourite one is called: LEXI. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/lexi-german/id464062602?mt=8 It's a simple game to learn vocabulary but it's a lot of fun. Can anyone here recommend me some cool apps?
Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German permit system.
In part one of our two part series, we cover the driving culture in Berlin, where to park and buy gas and, most importantly, the laws.
Our comprehensive guide includes information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.
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