Nassel News

In learning the German language, mistakes can be made unavoidably. It isn’t something which any student can freely disregard since learning isn’t complete without mistakes being made.

What many students fail to understand is that mistake is inevitable and there’s no point in learning something without getting a good grip on mistakes. It’s a good way of earning additional progress on the German language. But let’s take this to the main topic. The German language has many pitfalls and the fear of committing one is already a pitfall.

Definitely, the word order in the German language is one area where students and new learners have a hard time dealing with since it’s less cooperative compared to the English language. The word order is also called syntax and the German language has many adjustments when it comes to this. Unlike the English language, the German sentence doesn’t necessarily have the subject at the beginning at all times or the first part of the sentence. Better watch out for this one.

Nouns in German have one gender each out of three. This is quite a tricky part because there are nouns you’d never thought as male when it is, or even female in gender. This part of the German grammar is crucial. You need to memorize each noun with its proper gender because if you don’t, either you blame your lesson at the very moment you made the mistake or just take the blame for it. Either way, you made a mistake, though it doesn’t sound so intelligent for you to have done it, look at it positively, a mistake made is a progress earned.

The last important part you need to look into is the German ‘you’. There is the word ‘you’ or Sie for formal German and du for the informal version. Since English speaking people only has one word use for ‘you’, this could become an area of confusion. It’s best to learn properly when and which part of the German vocabulary the formal and informal ‘you’ are used to avoid further error on command forms and verb conjugation of the language.

In learning a foreign language like the German language, there certainly wouldn’t be any point if you think negatively towards it. The German language, compared to other foreign languages, is easier to comprehend even when one didn’t know what a single word means. This is because the English and German languages have similarities. A beginner can from start from this point to make the learning experience easier to understand and eventually memorize.

There can be many reasons why learning another language suddenly interests you. This is a good sign already because an interested student can learn anything and fast. Also, it’s an advantage to learn another language these days because there are many ways how to learn another language and this reason alone is already an advantage. Think how difficult it has been to those individuals who passionately wanted to learn another foreign language but were just limited in resources.

Now is your time and you can do it just from the comfort of your own home. But you don’t have to rely on the internet and don’t just because you have a dial-up connection at home doesn’t mean you can’t learn German. There are other sources for learning this language.

Language books, audio and video cassettes, DVDs and even the television with cable connection will do just fine to help you in meeting your goals. Turn to German speaking channels, even the news channel done in German will help. But since what you want to learn are going to be purely basics such as greetings, asking questions and directions both formal and informal, it isn’t advisable to take words from German newspapers just yet. The reason is newspapers use technical terms which aren’t commonly used among German speakers and which what you wont most likely hear from ordinary German speakers.

Also, in learning, there shouldn’t be any room for forced information. This is plainly because learning won’t be effective when information is forcedly squeezed in to the mind. Effective learning will not take place when this is the case and it would be better to take a rest and get back to the lesson to learn better. Or, spare 20 to an hour a day to learn the German language to prepare your mind for the activity.

Learn to speak German easily and quickly before you head over to Germany this summer. With all the different programs on the market today, you can learn to speak German in a way that suits your personal preference of learning methods.

When you learn to speak German in order to get around the country better on holiday, you don’t have to be a polished speaker. As you learn to speak German with many of today’s programs that help you learn to speak German quickly, you will find that many, if not most, are geared towards getting you to a fluency that allows for dealing with people about everyday situations, especially for traveling in Germany.

When you set out to learn to speak German–or any language for that matter–you start out learning basic vocabulary that deals with everyday life. You can even learn to speak German before you can read German. After all, isn’t that how every native of Germany learns the language initially? As a young German child, first you learn to speak German before you learn to read it.

If you learn to speak German from a book with no audio hearing, you will probably not learn to speak German with correct pronunciations. This why whatever method you chose to learn to speak German should include some type of audio examples that will allow you to learn to speak German with the proper intonations and pronunciations and emphasis. All these things are an important element of any quality program that helps you learn to speak German.

Traveling to Germany can pique your interest and desire to learn to speak German before you go. Use this to fuel your enthusiasm to learn to speak German quickly because you know that you will have an immediate use for all that you are learning.

If you learn to speak German before you arrive in Germany on vacation, it will add a new dimension of excitement to your vacation to Germany. You will find most people will be patient with your efforts to learn to speak German and will help you put together the proper words as you learn to speak with people in German. I find natives are appreciative of Americans who make the effort to learn to speak German.

The rewards you will derive from your efforts to learn to speak German will go far beyond your vacation, too. Long after you have returned home, the time and effort you put into your project to learn to speak German will have payoffs as you find yourself understanding German when you hear it randomly spoken perhaps by a passer-by or in a movie clip or wherever. It is times like this that you will find yourself thinking that you are glad you decided to learn to speak German.

Then, too, if you learn to speak German for your trip to Germany, you may find that it opens up a new world of people and learning you never dreamed of in the moment you decided to learn to speak German.

I had my first experience in learning German in middle school. For two years, I sat in class and listened intently, did my homework, studied and got pretty good grades. But, guess what, a few years later I had forgotten everything I had learned. Why, because there is much more to learning German then just sitting in a classroom and taking notes. So when people ask me “Where can I learn how to speak German” I always tell them the best place is in your own home.

You see, learning German is an ongoing process. Sure you can sit in class, take your notes and learn the language, but once the class ends and you have no one to speak German with anymore, all that knowledge simply fades away. You need to utilize a system that will allow you to keep speaking German – a class that ends at the end of the school year can only do so much. To truly learn the language you need to constantly experience the give and take of a conversation. That’s how the language becomes imbedded within your brain, it becomes second nature.

That’s what is great about today’s computer based, German Language systems. You can use them for as long as you want to. They don’t end like a typical German Class would. You can complete the course as quickly as your comprehension allows and then continually go back over it to reinforce the words and phrases you’ve learned.

Further, the better courses include a member’s only forum where you can converse with other students or German language experts for as long as you want. These courses can come quite close to the immersion techniques that most German language teachers recommend.

Another great benefit to using a computer based system to learn to how to speak German is that there is no set time that you have to be in class. Really, in today’s world, who needs that added pressure of having to be at class at a specific time? With today’s systems, you download them to your computer and start working at your own pace. It doesn’t matter how quickly you’re moving along or how long a particular lesson is taking, you’re working from home, at your own pace.

Today’s learning systems also encompass a multi-pronged approach. Instead of just sitting in a classroom somewhere, listening to a teacher and taking notes. These systems use, audio, written, flash cards even games to blast the language into your brain. All of these tools work together to create a language learning firestorm that will have you fluent in no time.

So if you’re really serious about learn German, you owe it to yourself to check out the world of computer based language learning. The better systems, can rival that of a personal German language coach, by your side, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

German language teachers call it immersion; it’s the process of completely surrounding yourself with the German language. Unfortunately, the only way to really do this is to move to Germany and speak only German to anyone you meet. It will be difficult at first, but very quickly you’ll start to pick up the language and within a few weeks, you’ll probably find yourself very comfortably speaking the language.

Let’s face it though, are you really going to pick up and move to Germany, simply to learn the language? Of course not, for the rest of us learning German can be a difficult and sometimes expensive process.

One way to learn the language is to take courses at a local school or community college. The cost of these can be pretty reasonable however, there are a few drawbacks. First, your class will probably only meet once or twice per week and only for an hour or so, this means that you’ll probably only have a real German conversation, those few times per week. Next, you’ll be learning with other students some of whom will be learning faster or slower then you are. This means the teacher will often be spending time going over things that you already know, or worse, may be going too fast for you to keep up.

Today however, thanks to the Internet and our blazing fast computers, there is a wonderful alternative to the classroom and immersion methods. Computer based German language learning systems are extremely affordable and allow you to work at your own pace. Most of these systems utilize a multi-pronged approach to learning that includes audio recordings, written manuals and games. So, Instead of just listening to a teacher and taking notes, you’re actually involved in the learning process through several different interactive angles. It’s almost like immersion as you’re getting your lessons through many different approaches.

Most of these systems are also available online. In other words, you don’t have to order the product and wait weeks for it to be delivered. You can literally order your system tonight and be learning within minutes. This means you can do you lessons when it’s convenient for you, you won’t have to rearrange your schedule to get to your class at a certain time. Also, some of the better systems have online support forums, where students can log in and have their questions answered –it’s just like having your own personal teacher, available to help you along the way.

In conclusion, today, learning the German language can be as simple as downloading a few files to your computer. With the better systems, you’ll get the benefits of a live German language teacher and the convenience of a “learn when you want to” system.

When I was in middle school, I took the German Language. For two years, I sat in Mr. Anketell’s “Intro to German” and “Intermediate German” classes. I studied hard, I did my homework and (most of the time) I even managed to stay awake in class.

Guess what, a few years later, when I graduated High School, I had pretty much forgotten everything I had learned. Why, well while Mr. Anketell was a good teacher, once I stopped taking the class, I had no one to converse with in German. My German language skills very quickly disappeared. Back then we simply didn’t have the option to learn to speak German on the computer. PC’s were in their infancy and simply weren’t powerful enough to allow for the kind of interactivity required for effective language teaching.

Today however, the story is very different. Today, our broadband internet connections and high powered personal computers allow us to do things that Mr. Anketell could never have imagined.

Today, you can purchase a full German language course and be completing your first lesson within hours. There’s no waiting for delivery, you’re downloading the course. There’s no worry about falling behind, you’re learning at your own pace. Got a question? No problem, the better systems actually include member’s only forums where you can (virtually) speak with German Language experts and get the answers you’re looking for, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Today’s computers also open up a whole new world of learning possibilities. You’re no longer stuck with a listen to the teacher and take notes system. Today, you can learn the German language through interactive computer based games. What better way to learn then while you’re playing a game? You can also learn using the flash cards system, but today the flash cards aren’t getting lost under a pile of bills somewhere, they’re stored on you’re computers hard drive, ready to be fired up, when you’re ready to learn.

Today, you can also learn when you want to and from the convenience of your own home. Being able to do your lessons at your own preferred time schedule is one of the best ways to learn. Who needs the pressure of having to be at class at a certain time? Today, you just fire up your computer, when you’re ready and start learning and spend as much or as little time as you need to complete the course work.

Yep, old Mr. Anketel could never have imagined the possibilities of learning to speak German on the Computer. He was way too busy taking attendance and writing his German lessons on the chalkboard.

When people ask me “How to learn the German language”, I tell them the absolute best way to learn the language is to pack up and move to Germany, speak only German, watch only German language television shows to basically immerse themselves in the German Language. This is called the immersion technique and it is by far the quickest and easiest way to become fluent in conversational German. 

Why is this technique so effective? Because we are social creatures, we want to communicate with other human beings. This need to communicate is instilled so deeply within us that when our primary way of communicating is taken away, our brains will adapt to a new system at an astonishing rate.

So now you know the absolute most efficient way to learn the German language are you ready to learn the most practical way?

Well today the most practical and powerful tool for learning the German language is probably right on your desktop. Yep, it’s your computer. Today, you can purchase a German language system and start learning the language, literally within minutes. The better systems utilize a multi-pronged approach to learning the language, with each separate element reinforcing the others.

First you’ll get audio lessons; you’ll listen to the perfect pronunciation of German words and phrases. You’ll listen as the German teacher speaks in German. You’ll learn common words and phrases that will get you up to speed quickly.

Next, the better systems will offer games that you’ll play right on your computer. It’s a proven fact that we learn better when we’re relaxed and what better way to relax than by playing a game. The games will of course, reinforce the audio sections.

Next, most of the better systems incorporate some form of flash card learning. Flash cards are an old stand-by that have proven time and again to be effective at helping us learn. Today, on the computer based learning systems, we’re no longer using clumsy old index cards though, today’s flashcards all live within your computer, available for call up at any time.

Another major development that is only possible with today’s modern systems is interactivity. The better systems actually grow with you. As you learn new words and phrases the tools adapt. For example, a typical system may come preloaded with 1,000 different flash card words. Over time, you can add hundreds even thousands more words to this vocabulary, all available for call-up anytime day or night.

Finally, and this is a big benefit, the better systems incorporate some form of member’s only chat board. In other words, you can communicate with other German students or ask questions from a German language expert, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is like having your own private German teacher available whenever you need one. In conclusion for those of you want to know “How to Learn the German Language”, the most practical way is through the use of a Computer based learning system.

Human beings instinctively need to communicate with other human beings. This need starts, probably before we’re born and continues throughout our lives. The human voice is one of the most powerful sounds we can hear. Even infants can distinguish voices from other sounds and can recognize their mother’s voice from other voices. The point is communication with other human beings is a part of our makeup. For this reason, one of the most effective ways to learn German is through a technique called immersion. 

While not practical for most people, the immersion technique means that you pack up and move to Germany, communicate only in German, watch only German language television etc… Essentially what you’re doing is taking away your method of communication (the English language) and replacing it with a language that you haven’t learned yet. Using this technique, an average adult can become fluent in conversational German in an astonishingly short amount of time. You see, our instincts kick in and tell our brain to figure out this new language so that we can start communicating once again.

While effective, the immersion technique is obviously a pretty extreme way to learn the German language. So when someone asks me how to learn German I always recommend what I consider to be the next best thing to the immersion technique. That is of course the new breed of German language software tools.

These computer based language learning tools can rival that of the immersion technique and are superior to old fashioned classroom learning for several important reasons.

First, in the classroom setting, the instructor has to divide his or her time among all the students in the class. Some students will learn quickly while other will struggle with even the most basic concepts. Your time is important, it’s frustrating to have to wait while someone else struggles to grasp a concept that you figured out fifteen minutes earlier.

Next, your German class will probably only meet once or twice per week and only for a few hours in total, meaning you probably won’t get to hear that much of the German language. Learning from a book and flashcards is important, but the most effective strategy for learning the German language is to hear and speak it as much as possible (immersion). That class that meets once a week really won’t cut it. Also, what will happen once the class ends? You need to keep using the language or you’ll simply forget what you learned.

Finally, a factor that many people fail to consider is that fact that your class will be held at a certain facility at a certain time every week. That means that you’ll have to rearrange your schedule, plus you’ll have to fight traffic to get there (don’t even get me started about the cost of gas today!). Then, what happens if you’re sick, or have to work late? You’ll miss your class, or you’ll be stressed out when you get there, meaning you simply won’t be in a learning frame of mind.

No, the computer based learning systems that are available today have proven to be effective for thousands of students. The better systems offer extensive audio recordings, learning games, flashcard exercises plus ongoing support in the form of member’s only chat rooms.

What is great about these systems is that they’re available to you when you’re ready to learn and for as often as you feel like using them. Plus, you’re learning in the comfort of your own home —not some classroom that’s forty-five minutes from your house. So if you want to know how to learn German, then look no further then your computer.

One of the most exciting developments in the world of German language learning systems is the evolution of the new breed of Learn German software tools. Today’s better software packages combine audio, interactive games, flashcard exercises along with member’s only online chat rooms, to create a system that in many ways surpasses the traditional classroom experience. 

Let’s take a step back however. I took two years of German in middle school. I worked hard, paid attention in class and got fairly good grades. When I completed my second year of the language, I could hold a conversation with my instructor and could understand quite a bit of what my instructor would say. However, a few years later when I graduated high school, I had pretty much forgotten everything but the most basic parts of what I had learned. Why, because once the class ended, I had no one to speak German with anymore and in the world of learning to speak German, you either use it or lose it.

That’s what is so great about these new language systems. You can continue to use the software for as long as you like. You can listen to the audio portion and hear perfect pronunciation of the German words and phrases over and over again. Better yet, these systems are designed to grow with you – the better systems actually expand as you learn more of the language. Plus, if the system you purchase offers a member’s only chat room (and the better systems do), you’ll be able to converse with other German language students and get advice from German language experts, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Let’s face it; taking a German language class can be a hassle. You have to rearrange your schedule to get their on time. Then you have to fight traffic (and pay for gas). All this adds stress to your life, stress that is not only unhealthy but also gets in the way of comprehension. Learning German is tough, you need to be in the right frame of mind for the concepts to “sink in”. Being stressed out before the class even starts is not conducive to effective learning.

The beauty of the Learn German Software systems is that you can use them when it’s convenient for you. There is no set time, no particular place you have to be. You can learn German at four AM or three PM – whatever time is right for you and your lifestyle. These systems are all about putting you in the right frame of mind for learning, when that happens you’ll see dramatic results right away.

The answer used to be at a local school or community college, however today when someone asks me “Where Can I Learn How To Speak German?” I simply answer “On your desktop”. 

You see, today, with our high speed internet connections and our high powered computers, we have all the horsepower we need, right on our desktop (or laptop) to run even the high-end computer based German learning software.

System requirements vary, but typically as long as you have working speakers and your computer was built within the last seven to ten years, you can run any of the better software packages.

So what do you get in these packages? Well, all of the better packages use a multi-pronged approach to learning the language. You’ll be immersed in German in several ways.

First there’s the audio portion. You’ll hear the perfect pronunciation of German words and phrases in a conversational setting. You’ll start by learning how to introduce yourself and quickly progress to more difficult concepts. Soon, you’ll have learned enough to carry on a typical conversation or order lunch from a German restaurant.

Next, there is usually a selection of interactive games. These games are specifically designed to reinforce the concepts you’re already learning in a fun, relaxed setting. You’ll practice and learn the words and phrases you’ve heard in the audio to attain a deeper understanding.

These systems also usually have some form of flashcard exercises. Flashcards have traditionally been an important tool in the language learning process. With these systems the flashcards are virtual; they live in your computers hard drive and can be called up whenever you’re ready to use them. Further, in the better systems you’ll be able to add additional words and phrases to them. In effect, the system will grow as you learn more of the language.

Next you should also expect to see some sort of user support. The high-end systems actually give you access to a member’s only forum or chat room. Here you’ll be able to converse with other German language students and, more importantly you’ll be able to ask questions from German language experts. This is a great benefit; it’s like having your own personal German teacher available twenty four hours a day.

Finally, most of these systems are available via download. In other words, you don’t have to wait weeks for the system to be delivered; you can purchase it, download it and start using it within minutes. And the cost, well they range in cost from about $40 to several hundred dollars (US) (my personal favorite system sells for under $100 and includes all the bells and whistles of the really expensive products).

So, the next time you’re wondering “Where Can I Learn How To Speak German?”, remember what I said and look no further then your desktop.