Language of Deutsch

Here is a basic list for now, since I don't have a complete list with me.

Sorry to all those trying to learn it now.

First there is an excellent audio collection that I highly recommend. The German that you will hear from this collection is very authentic. If you are able to immitate that German, it will be as if you were from middle Germany, perhaps a little Eastern from Aachen. But no one would really know the difference. That is to say, after you learn the grammar. :) The collection in mind is Learning all the Way. The version I purchased was a collection of 8 CD's. 4 for the road, 4 to study along with the book included. I ended up using only the 4 for the road, and reading through the book on my own time, without the other 4 CD's. So if you can find just a version with just the book, and the 4 CD's for learning on the Go, then I HIGHLY suggest investing in them, and listening to them daily.

Along with that I suggest good pronunciation literature. Again audio cassette or some other media, such as CD. This way you can begin to speak, written German. Comes in handy once you get here and are forced to read a lot of things and actually know what they mean.

There are a set of flash-cards that I found that have nothing BUT German on them. They give a picture, plus either a statement or question under the picture. Then you must answer the question or find another way to rephrase the statement, and the answer is on back. This is an excellent way to put words with ideas. However I found some of the pictures lacking in detail and explanation. But out of some 900 cards, a stack of 10 or 20 really don't mean that much. As well there is a set of vocabulary cards you may purchase from the same company. I haven't used the latter set of cards as much, but I'm beginning to use them more.

Then there is a book that I began reading, that I wouldn't say is great but is a good start. It's a book on reading and writing in German. It gives the basics of verb conjugation, and some usage, but unless you are provilent in English grammar it may get hairy fast. However I thought it was a great book to start on.

Once you get here. Well there are a few books I suggest purchasing. First, Duden Band 10. Bedeutungswörterbuch. Basically the German version of a dictionary. Everything is explained only in German, and allows you to develop a self defining vocabulary. Though there are plenty more words in there that you may never use, it provides you the chance to understand German from German.

On the same note, depending on your present level of German, I might suggest a Bildwörterbuch. That means a book that has pictures, of which almost everything that can be labeled on the object, is. It's rather nice to have so that you can discuss the objects around you. Buttons, TVs, radios, etc.

More on the grammar side. There is an excellent book published here in Germany that uses German to provide the structure for German. I find that the best way. You can also purchase a book in the US, that teaches you German from English, but I advocate learning the language within itself. Seeing as that is how a youth learns.

Then basically I encourage a self commitance to learning German. Attempt to use German for everything that you would do in the states. That means, when you shower, try to think and speak in German. When you play badmitton, try to think and speak in German. If you play an instrument, check it out, I bet the first thing that pops out of your mouth after playing, is English. Don't forget to try to count in German. It's a tough trick, but it IS possible.

For now I must say good luck in learning German. It's an ongoing experience and you can never NOT learn. So be prepared to go braindead every once in a while. It's very natural for that to happen. But be prepared to push yourself too when you know you need to learn and just not sure what to do. Start somewhere. The end will follow. :) Trust me, you can learn German fast enough to survive and study here. You might sacrifice a little of your English skills to do it, but I've been told they will come back fast enough. We will see. I'll keep you updated on when I return to the US, as to how recovery is. I'm sure you will be concerned, I don't think there is much need to be.