View Full Version : Learning another language?
Jorddyn
10-07-2009, 07:49 PM
For the first time in my life, I'll be visiting a country (Germany) where I speak absolutely none of the native language. I have about 5 months before I go.
Has anyone used any online source or software to help with a language (any language?!)? Any success?
I know I won't be fluent, I'm just looking to be able to ask for a beer, the bathroom, etc.
Androidpk
10-07-2009, 07:52 PM
Ich habe ein groBe wurst in mein hosen.
Jorddyn
10-07-2009, 07:53 PM
Ich habe ein groBe wurst in mein hosen.
Uh, even I can sorta translate that.
kookiegod
10-07-2009, 07:58 PM
Ein bier bitte!
All you need to know. :)
Oh, go to Berlin for sure, they got this hotel there see...
~Paul
Stretch
10-07-2009, 08:04 PM
Wait, didn't we win?
They're supposed to speak English.
Jorddyn
10-07-2009, 08:15 PM
You guys are, as always, super helpful!
BriarFox
10-07-2009, 08:16 PM
A friend of mine actually liked the Rosetta Stone software for learning French.
Androidpk
10-07-2009, 08:20 PM
Rosetta Stone works really good for some people. One of my french friends tried to learn german with it but he gave up. Twice.
joehollywood
10-07-2009, 08:32 PM
first off...
you all are not giving him appropriate advice for ordering a beer!
you need to hold up your thumb when ordering...
if you hold up your index finger you're getting two
Kuyuk
10-07-2009, 09:10 PM
if you hold up your index finger you're getting two
Whats the problem with that?
joehollywood
10-07-2009, 09:25 PM
you're also PAYING for two
I spent the spring in Germany doing a super-intensive 8 week course with these folks:
http://www.goethe.de/knt/enindex.htm
They have a form where you can ask them a question. I'd recommend filling it out to ask them for advice on wear to go/what to do for some entry German study.
They make the exams for the newly standardized EU language certifications and they deal with Americans all the time, so I'm sure they could point you to something online/local on which you wouldn't just be throwing money away.
Drevihyin
10-07-2009, 10:53 PM
I lived in Germany on two separate occasions for over 6 years, I never remember one time when I needed to speak anything but English. However it wouldn't hurt to become more culturally aware.
I lived in Germany on two separate occasions for over 6 years, I never remember one time when I need to speak anything but English. However it wouldn't hurt to become more culturally aware.
This.
Rhangath
10-08-2009, 09:48 AM
I would recommend going to www.byki.com and downloading the free version there (in 70+ languages).
The full version comes with 2000 words, 500 phrases, and a bunch of activities. It’s really great for someone looking to pick and choose what content you are going to learn before your trip.
These is also a ton of user created content you can access for free in the list central section.
Monsoon
10-08-2009, 09:53 AM
Wo ist die Toilette?
A five-month crash course won't help you much. I'd focus on phrases you may need to know, but you shouldn't need to speak German anyway. German is an inflected language, thus quite difficult to learn. Each word has a gender (some are even neutral), and different cases and tenses require different endings. Regular vs. irregular verbs. It's a bear.
Most US schools require or recommend some extent of a foreign language. Schools outside the US actually require English.
Androidpk
10-08-2009, 10:02 AM
I beg to differ. German is a very easy language to learn.
Fallen
10-08-2009, 11:04 AM
http://www.deutsch-lernen.com/
Looks like it could be helpful.
Liagala
10-08-2009, 01:35 PM
I beg to differ. German is a very easy language to learn.
This. I took it in school, and thought it was very easy. Sentence structure is very similar to English, and comprehension is a LOT easier when words are where you expect them to be. I get all mixed up with Spanish when I forget that you say "hair brown" instead of "brown hair" or "car of the Joe" instead of "Joe's car"
Yes, masculine/feminine/neuter articles and endings get confusing for those of us who never deal with that, but I'm willing to bet that the average German will understand what you're saying even if you use the wrong one.
As to Jorddyn's actual question... you can take a course at a local community college within 5 months, or see if there is any other location teaching German nearby. I've never spoken to anyone who used Rosetta Stone, so I can't say anything one way or the other about it.
StrayRogue
10-08-2009, 01:46 PM
For the first time in my life, I'll be visiting a country (Germany) where I speak absolutely none of the native language. I have about 5 months before I go.
Has anyone used any online source or software to help with a language (any language?!)? Any success?
I know I won't be fluent, I'm just looking to be able to ask for a beer, the bathroom, etc.
I spent a week in Berlin last year. All I'll say is don't worry. EVERYONE we spoke to could understand English. Even the trashy, down-and-out beggars spoke perfect English.
More often than not I got an odd look when trying to speak German.
Just learn Sprechen zie English? and you're golden.
AnticorRifling
10-08-2009, 02:26 PM
You have boobs, just flash them and point to stuff you want.
Tisket
10-08-2009, 02:29 PM
Wo ist die Toilette?
The potty dance works quite well. It's universally understood.
4a6c1
10-09-2009, 10:44 PM
Oooh, German. I think it's best learned phonetically (sp?). Then when you get there learn how the crap you are saying is spelled by looking at street signs and reading news papers. Easier that way IMHO. Doesnt work for every language, just the easy ones.
I think most people are so surprised/confused when an American tries to speak there language that they just respond in English if they can.
I'm in Egypt right now and I speak Arabic decently, but every time I say something in Arabic they just chuckle at my lame accent and respond in English.
Actually the housekeeping dude kept responding to me in shitty Egyptian dialect today, and I couldn't figure out what he was saying.. something about Boosh and Uboma.. Took me a second to realize those weren't Arabic words.
Belnia
10-10-2009, 08:14 PM
English is one of the stupidest languages in the history of ever. When I learned Greek I was amazed at how well it followed grammatical rules in comparison to English where there seem to be more exceptions to every rule than actual structures that follow the rule.
AnticorRifling
10-10-2009, 08:16 PM
Which is why English is so hard to master (not learn). My wife is a teacher and she agrees with you Belnia, the rules of the English language are stupid.
Daniel
10-10-2009, 11:39 PM
I think most people are so surprised/confused when an American tries to speak there language that they just respond in English if they can.
I'm in Egypt right now and I speak Arabic decently, but every time I say something in Arabic they just chuckle at my lame accent and respond in English.
Actually the housekeeping dude kept responding to me in shitty Egyptian dialect today, and I couldn't figure out what he was saying.. something about Boosh and Uboma.. Took me a second to realize those weren't Arabic words.
At least you don't look Arab then. When I lived in Cairo, people who berate me and my father who apparently did not teach me good Arabic like he should have. Funny thing is, they don't know much Arabic on the West side of Chicago. So, that woulda been kinda hard to do. Unfortunately, they didn't believe I wasn't arab.
fml
Atlanteax
10-12-2009, 09:22 AM
Germany speaks English as a second language. You'll be fine.
StrayRogue
10-12-2009, 09:25 AM
English is one of the stupidest languages in the history of ever. When I learned Greek I was amazed at how well it followed grammatical rules in comparison to English where there seem to be more exceptions to every rule than actual structures that follow the rule.
Doesn't English have a bazillion more words than Greek (or any other language for that matter)?
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