Learning to speak German

hinault

I am based in Ireland but I am interested in learning to speak German.

In your experience, which is the best way to learn to speak German, short of moving to Germany?

How difficult is it to learn the language?

And where are the best courses?

Could one learn German without having to attend courses?

And insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tall Saint

Hi Hinault,
I'm not learning German that long myself and I'm finding it ok, not easy by any stretch but but there are plenty of sites out there to get you started, like http://www.dw-world.de

http://www.busuu.com

etc. Im sure there are loads more other people will chime in with. For sit-in courses the Goethe Institute in Dublin comes recommended by most people, but if you're not in Dublin thats a problem. Most of this is just info I've picked up from here myself.

Best of luck.

UltimateMale

hinault wrote: »

I am based in Ireland but I am interested in learning to speak German.

In your experience, which is the best way to learn to speak German, short of moving to Germany?

How difficult is it to learn the language?

And where are the best courses?

Could one learn German without having to attend courses?

And insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

It's years since I done German. Many of the words are similair to English, but the grammar is quite difficult. There are so many ways of saying "the". eg Der, Die, Das, Dem depending on the tense. 12 in all if I rememeber rightly :rolleyes:

hinault

Tall Saint wrote: »

Hi Hinault,
I'm not learning German that long myself and I'm finding it ok, not easy by any stretch but but there are plenty of sites out there to get you started, like http://www.dw-world.de

http://www.busuu.com

etc. Im sure there are loads more other people will chime in with. For sit-in courses the Goethe Institute in Dublin comes recommended by most people, but if you're not in Dublin thats a problem. Most of this is just info I've picked up from here myself.

Best of luck.

Thanks TS.
I will check out those sites that you have referenced.

Although I am from Dublin, I now live in Thurles : so the Goethe Inst is not really an option (although my aunt used to work there!).

I am just listening to German radio on line (B5 Plus in Bayern), to try to familiarise myself with German phrases and phrasing.
Double dutch!
http://www.listenlive.eu/germany.html

hinault

UltimateMale wrote: »

It's years since I done German. Many of the words are similair to English, but the grammar is quite difficult. There are so many ways of saying "the". eg Der, Die, Das, Dem depending on the tense. 12 in all if I rememeber rightly :rolleyes:

Yes, german grammar and when/what article to use is complex.
Almost as complex as English, I am sure.

Amtmann

hinault wrote: »

Almost as complex as English, I am sure.

Hardly! English nouns have no gender. Plus, English verbs are much simpler than German ones in terms of paradigm. English pronounciation must be difficult to learn, however.

density

The Deutsche Welle link is brilliant! That one will keep me busy for a while. Thanks!