Are you planning a trip to Germany or Switzerland? Interested in
learning more about your German ancestry? Is your company sending you on
that very important business trip? Wouldn't it help to be able to say
more than "Ja"? It's a good bet that if you're still reading this, you
need to learn to speak German fluently - and fast!
Cheer up - learning German isn't as hard as all that! Developing an ear for the language is your first step. Listen carefully to a German speaker. Can you hear the sounds in German that do not resemble the same vowel or consonant in English? In English, the letter combination "Th" is soft, pronounced with the speaker's tongue between his teeth; in German, it's pronounced just like "T." German speakers always pronounce "G" as a hard sound, whereas in English, it's sometimes pronounced like a soft "J." This is why German often sounds so harsh to English speakers. But the more you listen and identify these distinctively German sounds, the easier it will be to learn to speak German fluently, because you're internalizing the sound of the language.
To continue your "sound education," rent a movie starring a German-speaking actor such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Repeat the actor's lines, trying to make your accent sound as much like his as you can. You're still speaking English but you're using your newly-trained ear to teach yourself what German feels like on the tongue. As you learn to speak German fluently, you'll use these sounds to perfect your accent.
Of course, neither of those steps really teaches you German. Learning a language requires a systematic program of study. You may find you enjoy online learning, which allows you to learn at your own rate. Others prefer learning from CDs or through taking a class. Just remember to choose a method that emphasizes conversation rather than reading! Speaking German and reading German aren't the same activity, and it's a lot easier to learn to read the language after you've learned to speak it well. You will learn to speak German fluently only if you speak it and hear it spoken.
Remember, German has three genders - masculine, feminine, and neuter. English nouns have no gender, so this may be the first time you've encountered them. Masculine nouns include dog (der Hund) and coat (der Mantel). Blanket (die Decke) and vacation (die Ferien) are considered feminine. House (das Haus) and pig (das Schwein) are considered neuter. All three words - "der," "die," or "das" - mean "the," but they show the gender of the noun they accompany. You'll need to learn the appropriate article together with the noun; learning them in tandem will help you learn to speak German fluently.
If you want to learn German fast, though, practice your conversational skills on a new German friend. You'll never learn a language thoroughly until you begin to speak it like your own. For that you need a partner. Human interaction will help you learn to speak German fluently, and you'll make a fast friend, too!
Cheer up - learning German isn't as hard as all that! Developing an ear for the language is your first step. Listen carefully to a German speaker. Can you hear the sounds in German that do not resemble the same vowel or consonant in English? In English, the letter combination "Th" is soft, pronounced with the speaker's tongue between his teeth; in German, it's pronounced just like "T." German speakers always pronounce "G" as a hard sound, whereas in English, it's sometimes pronounced like a soft "J." This is why German often sounds so harsh to English speakers. But the more you listen and identify these distinctively German sounds, the easier it will be to learn to speak German fluently, because you're internalizing the sound of the language.
To continue your "sound education," rent a movie starring a German-speaking actor such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Repeat the actor's lines, trying to make your accent sound as much like his as you can. You're still speaking English but you're using your newly-trained ear to teach yourself what German feels like on the tongue. As you learn to speak German fluently, you'll use these sounds to perfect your accent.
Of course, neither of those steps really teaches you German. Learning a language requires a systematic program of study. You may find you enjoy online learning, which allows you to learn at your own rate. Others prefer learning from CDs or through taking a class. Just remember to choose a method that emphasizes conversation rather than reading! Speaking German and reading German aren't the same activity, and it's a lot easier to learn to read the language after you've learned to speak it well. You will learn to speak German fluently only if you speak it and hear it spoken.
Remember, German has three genders - masculine, feminine, and neuter. English nouns have no gender, so this may be the first time you've encountered them. Masculine nouns include dog (der Hund) and coat (der Mantel). Blanket (die Decke) and vacation (die Ferien) are considered feminine. House (das Haus) and pig (das Schwein) are considered neuter. All three words - "der," "die," or "das" - mean "the," but they show the gender of the noun they accompany. You'll need to learn the appropriate article together with the noun; learning them in tandem will help you learn to speak German fluently.
If you want to learn German fast, though, practice your conversational skills on a new German friend. You'll never learn a language thoroughly until you begin to speak it like your own. For that you need a partner. Human interaction will help you learn to speak German fluently, and you'll make a fast friend, too!
Are you frustrated learning German? Gerrit reveals the #1 secret
to learning German fast and easy. Click here to learn the secret how to learn German online by reading his Fluenz German review.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerrit_Du_PlessisArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4783213
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