What was something that helped you the most to learn a foreign language?

Question

I am trying to learn German and am enrolled in a class, but was wondering if anyone here had any advice or insight into what worked best for them when learning a foreign language.

Answer 1

Make sure you get your hands on as much foreign-language material as you can get your hands on! In your case, go to the German Amazon site and order up your favorite books. Try to follow German blogs with an online dictionary to help you out. (Is there a German translation extension for Firefox? There's one for Japanese.)

Also, try to set up German chats with native speakers on Skype. I text-chat with a Japanese girl, and it's thrilling to be understood with my awkward Japanese. I hope to get up the nerve to voice-chat soon!

Basically, immersion is key--even if that means to listen to German music, watch German movies, and talk to German people every day.

Oh! Also fun: try looking up "german disney" on YouTube. Watch the Disney dubs and try seeing the words you recognize. There are plenty of German cartoon dubs available if you look hard enough. YouTube is the best resource for instantaneous foreign video footage. :)

Good luck!

Answer 2

I am fluent in 9 languages. 8 of them I learned when my country was not a democracy and was isolated from the world. So I have 2 different answers for you:
a) Generally, "exposure" is the best of all keys. In your case, once you've attained a decent level with your classroom German, try to find an exchange programme or at least a holiday arrangement in a German speaking country.
b) For me, it was different:for the above reasons. I had shortwave radio. It helped me to see what the "living" language is really like. Now I would say: there's the internet, satellite TV, podcasts and what not. It's a good practice. Also try pen-palling. It's the first step toward immersion.

Viel Spass!

Answer 3

When you learn a new language try not to be shy about what you say and start thinking in the new language. If you can live in Germany you will learn the language in a few short months but if you can not do that try to find some German friends and participate in their conversations. it is so easy to turn your ears off so try to listen to what they say. Watch German movies with English subtitles. Listen to German music and try to pick up words. If nothing works find a German boyfriend/ girl friend and you will learn it in no time!

Answer 4

Well, I'm in thatboat now. I took German in high school and it was really easy for me to learn. Which a lot of people think is strange because I had a hard time learning spanish (barely passed it). Deutsch has this way about it that people think it's hard to learn.

Now that I am out og high school, I want to re-teach myself. I bought books and cd's and even a computer program. A girl at work married a german guy and since they visit his family alot, she wanted to learn the language (they live in berlin). Her husband hasn't been a good instructor so she took up a private tutor that she sees once every two weeks for $40 a pop. So, there are lots of options out there.

Good luck or rather Viel Glück!

Answer 5

1) Speak the language with whoever you see.
2) Don't wait till you get a lot of vovabulary, to start conversations.
3) Don't be hindered by grammar or lack of vocabulary.
4) Read German Kids magazines.
5) Listen to german language news and advertisment.
6) Make learning the language personaly matter.

Answer 6

Well I never learned a foreign language...

But my sister speaks German fluently and she took four years of it. In her last year her teacher (taught 3 diff. languages) quit teaching her and had my sis teach the younger class.

I always thought it would be easy to go to another country and live with another family for awhile. You don't have much of a choice, but to learn their language...right?

Also, she practices speaking German all the time... even to me. On Christmas she came over and I was cooking dinner and she was talking to me in German. She was telling me everything I was doing in German. And she was actually having a conversation with my Dad and because he has been around her so long, he pretty much knew what she was saying. It was pretty amazing, for me anyway.

Answer 7

After I reached a proficiency in my second language (Esperanto) where I could hold minor conversations, I put myself into a situation where I was immersed in the language. This "kick started" my thinking in the language. For Esperanto it was simple, my local Esperanto club had a "Ne Krokadilu Semajnfino" or an Esperanto-only Weekend.

For other languages you almost have to travel to a country or community where the language is spoken, so I've not done this with either Spanish or German. But I want to someday.

Answer 8

if you're living in your own country, the best thing to do is listen to German music and watch German films in their original language. You could try and make German friends and spend as long as possible with them, learn their culture and language from them.
Ideally, 100% exposure is the best way, move to Germany!

Answer 9

1. A girlfriend who speaks that language & expects you to...

2. Friends that are learning the language 'on your level'...

3. One of those friends (see 2.) that is a real a s s hole about learning the language (often caused by 1.)

Answer 10

I learned sign language and I found that being with the deaf helped way more than anything else. See if you can find any German speaking people that would be able to help you.