I am continuing my quest to learn German, although I have found that things are much slower now that I am not in an intensive 6-hour-every-day class. Instead, I am in a 1.5-hour-every-week class. While I am learning things in class, it is not enough, so I have been supplementing class by adding tools and practice times into my German-learning life.
Practice Time #1: My Tandem Partner
I have a language tandem partner, with whom I meet once or twice a week. Each time, we spend 45 minutes speaking in German, and 45 minutes speaking in English. My tandem partner is a graduate student in steep mountain stream hydrology, so I feel like I get to learn German and hydrology twice a week!
Practice Time #2: Deutsche Donnerstag
At work we attempt to have German Thursdays, during which we only speak German. Of course, some Thursdays are more successful than others, but it is good to spend a day attempting to think and speak in German. The more quasi-immersion, the better.
Practice Time #3: My Roommates
All of my roommates speak German, and so sometimes when we are together they switch into German. Mostly I can listen and attempt to understand, and very occasionally contribute.
Tool#1: Vocabulary Cards
Although not as fun as a barrel of monkeys (but then, what is?), vocabulary cards are really important for me to just get words into my head.
Tool #2: My Pictionary
This book is my new favorite thing! It has pictures, organized into essential themes, with the English translation and the German. I am a visual learner, and so this is really helpful for me. I like to choose a theme and read it on the tram. (This morning was Die Umwelt.) Aside from the whole learning thing, the pictures are clearly from the early 90's (hello, fluorescent track suits!), and the book is in British English, meaning I am learning new words in two languages!
Tool #3: German-English and English-German Dictionary
When Google Translate is not enough, this dictionary does the trick!
Tool #4: My Notebook of German Knowledge
My dear friend Anne recommended that I keep a notebook with all of the words that I'm learning, which was a super great idea. I've found that writing and re-writing my notes is one of the best ways for me to learn, and now I have my own mini German study guide!
Tool #5: German Grammar Book with Activities
I also have a German Grammar book with activities. While I have not used it yet, since I am learning all of the grammar I can handle in class, I think it will be useful this summer when I am not in class.
Tool #6: German Learning with Crossword Puzzles!
One of my other favorite options is my German learning through crossword puzzles book. There are pictures arranged by themes, and then several pages of crosswords to test you on the words. I have decided that, basically, I like anything with a picture.
Tool #7: Verb Tables
Since verbs in German have about eleventy-billion different conjugations, I think this book of verbs is pretty helpful.
Tool #8: Heidi
No Swiss experience is complete without Heidi, so I am working on listening to Heidi in German on my iPod, while reading Heidi in German on my Nook. (Thanks to my friend Sarah for the suggestion.) Hopefully this will help my pronunciation, which is occasionally horrific and usually bad.
I never would have guessed that I would have this many ways of studying German, but it definitely helps prevent boredom.
Thanks to all of my learning and practicing, I have even done some small transactions (the Post Office, the Grocery Store) all in German! Yay for progress! And pretty picture books in German!
Practice Time #1: My Tandem Partner
I have a language tandem partner, with whom I meet once or twice a week. Each time, we spend 45 minutes speaking in German, and 45 minutes speaking in English. My tandem partner is a graduate student in steep mountain stream hydrology, so I feel like I get to learn German and hydrology twice a week!
Practice Time #2: Deutsche Donnerstag
At work we attempt to have German Thursdays, during which we only speak German. Of course, some Thursdays are more successful than others, but it is good to spend a day attempting to think and speak in German. The more quasi-immersion, the better.
Practice Time #3: My Roommates
All of my roommates speak German, and so sometimes when we are together they switch into German. Mostly I can listen and attempt to understand, and very occasionally contribute.
Tool#1: Vocabulary Cards
Although not as fun as a barrel of monkeys (but then, what is?), vocabulary cards are really important for me to just get words into my head.
Tool #2: My Pictionary
This book is my new favorite thing! It has pictures, organized into essential themes, with the English translation and the German. I am a visual learner, and so this is really helpful for me. I like to choose a theme and read it on the tram. (This morning was Die Umwelt.) Aside from the whole learning thing, the pictures are clearly from the early 90's (hello, fluorescent track suits!), and the book is in British English, meaning I am learning new words in two languages!
Tool #3: German-English and English-German Dictionary
When Google Translate is not enough, this dictionary does the trick!
Tool #4: My Notebook of German Knowledge
My dear friend Anne recommended that I keep a notebook with all of the words that I'm learning, which was a super great idea. I've found that writing and re-writing my notes is one of the best ways for me to learn, and now I have my own mini German study guide!
Tool #5: German Grammar Book with Activities
I also have a German Grammar book with activities. While I have not used it yet, since I am learning all of the grammar I can handle in class, I think it will be useful this summer when I am not in class.
Tool #6: German Learning with Crossword Puzzles!
One of my other favorite options is my German learning through crossword puzzles book. There are pictures arranged by themes, and then several pages of crosswords to test you on the words. I have decided that, basically, I like anything with a picture.
Tool #7: Verb Tables
Since verbs in German have about eleventy-billion different conjugations, I think this book of verbs is pretty helpful.
Tool #8: Heidi
Thanks to all of my learning and practicing, I have even done some small transactions (the Post Office, the Grocery Store) all in German! Yay for progress! And pretty picture books in German!
