What is the best & fastest way to learn German?

Language Corner
41
I think this is really useful too. Whatever your level, you'll start to pick out different words. I tend to try to pick a couple of words each program I watch, which I hear a lot and don't understand. I then look the words up in the dictionary/google translate and try and remember it for next time.

I also watch the kind of trashy series that I used to watch when I was younger (Friends/Scrubs/Star Trek/etc) as knowing roughly what is going on anyway means I'm more likely to guess the meaning of words and learn that way.

I tried just having the TV on in the background when I was doing other things, but that didn't seem to work for me.

42
Have you considered joining the library? I just got my library card last week. I checked out a couple children's books and a movie, all in German. I think the library also had language learning books/CDs.

43
Thanks to everybody for a brilliant discussion.

My top tips are:

1) find friends who speak the language you want to learn.

2) talk, talk, talk (and don't worry about mistakes).

3) talk about topics that interest you . If you are into cars, for example, find a friend you can discuss cars with.

4) expose yourself to as much of the language you want to learn: talk to people, watch TV, radio, pick up the newspaper and so on.

5) think about why you want to learn the language and remind yourself of your primary motivation when you are going through a tough time

6) think about learning a language as a long term project (you wouldn't seriously think that you could master the piano or any other complex skill in a year?)

If you are interested in learning German with me (I teach in Basel), then please send me a private message.

44
You spend 3 hours travelling on the train each day? You could start a conversation twice each day with your neighbour. You drive 3 hours each day - buy a CD course in German.

I improved my German by finding a nice girl from Munich. Private lessons all day (and much of the night) but I found the grammar a bit boring, so I insisted on a break every 45 minutes.

45
Michel Thomas method tracks on your MP3 or iphone during your journey should help

46
Getting a German speaking boyfriend/girlfriend always helps!!

It worked for me..

Seriously now check out babbel.de. I am using it for French and it's fun!

47

Find friend???? German talkers??? I think just impossible here!!!

Im in the same situation, i join a group every wednesday to practice german, but no one is swiss or german!!!

Sure the best way is having a boy/girlfriend, is the fastest way, but what about who already have a boy/girlfriend??

German is difficult!!!!! And swiss people aswell!!!

We have to keep on trying it and work hard!!!

48
I am experiencing the same thing with French. As I already have a German bf finding a French speaking one is not an option , but I found myself a really nice Swiss French girl that knows some Greek and we are doing a tandem together! That certainly helps!

49
Yep! watch Swiss television and make friends with some older Swiss peolpe who you know will only speak German with you!

Aussie Rose

50
Thank you for this link! This is a great site. It's really helping me, and I love free! I recommend anyone trying to grasp basic German to check this site out.

51
Married to a swiss it doesnt help. He speaks to me in English all the time

52
I was speaking German within 6 months. Badly I admit but speaking nonetheless.

Trick is to learn a word a day and practice! Embrace the language and immerse yourself in it. Watch German TV listen to conversations all around you etc....

Same with every language even after 2 years in the Maldives my Dhivehi is pretty hot.

I was lucky, I just started with a few golf terms but it spread and spread and one day I woke up and gave my first golf lesson in German. Like being reborn it was!

IMHO German is an easy language for us to learn as it's so closely related to English, yes grammar is hard at first but it gets easier the more you learn it (as opposed to English grammar that get's harder the more you learn it) and anyway no one cares if you have bad grammar because we be foreigners innit!

53
By the way some cool comedies to learn German in You tube (intermediate level):

There are a few of them:

54
I hope it is the winter crisis but I seem to be stuck forever on the threshold of B2 in German. I have regular lessons, I do my homework but it all feels like banging my head against a concrete wall.

I fail to see the humour in this comedy btw.

55
I'd have to agree. It's how I learned Spanish in less than a year. But I do have difficulty explaining this to people when it doesn't show up on my transcripts.

56

Excellent advice. Number 2 being Number 1!!!

There is only one good method 'get on with it, do it'- it is more about attitude and mindset than formal lessons, etc. Wean yourself as far as poss of expats and expat forums for social contact/leisure.

Grammar accuracy and finesse will come eventually, when you are ready.

57
Yes, we went to the Deutsch Akademie in Vienna for 4 weeks last year. I did B2, my wife did A2. The course was fab, we did mornings only (3 hours), always did 3 hours extra per day and spent the rest of the time sight seeing. Vienna is one of my favorite cities in the world. For both of us it was a great thing to do, we both found our german improved alot. I wish I had the time to go back and do another course.

They also have a school im Hamburg, where I am told the Geman accent is very pure

58
Ask him to speak in German!

59

It doesnt always work that easily...

with my other half, I want to learn german - he wants to improve his english....

Try ignoring him if he speaks to you in english, and only responding when he speaks german!

60
Come on, I can think of a way to encourage him to speak to you in German...only say Ja when he speaks German with you, easy.