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Why is Learning German Important?

Learning German can be a very useful skill. Germany stands as the fourth largest economy in the world and the economic powerhouse of Europe. Germany is known for its manufacturing prowess and its exports continue to buttress the importance of German. German is spoken by more than a 100 million native speakers and by up to an additional 80 million non-native speakers.

German can open doors to employment in a variety of occupations such as in manufacturing, teaching, translation, interpreting, and the growing travel industry. In the United States it can also lead to an increase rapport with German contacts in companies abroad. Learning German greatly improves your chances of success in job market. Learning German can be a fun task, as well as an important one.

Most Germans speak English, but even if you’re just a casual traveler, learning it can also be beneficial since a little German can go a long way on making a good impression on your hosts or German friends. Studying German to order food, communicate with locals and talk with taxi drivers will enhance the experience of your travels significantly, if travel is your primary goal.

Studying German is one step to joining the ranks of the business elite oriented toward the growing German market. German is one of the great languages of the world. Outside of Europe and the republics of the former Soviet Union, large German-speaking communities are found in the United States, Canada, and Brazil and in Argentina. German-speaking communities are also found in Namibia an in lesser numbers in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, South Africa, and Australia.

German can however be a difficult language to learn for many people and there is no single method can insure that a reasonable proficiency will be achieved without an adequate investment of time. So it’s important to vary your learning materials to insure that you maximize your language learning experience. Learning German can be a more complicated language to learn for most English speakers in contrast to say Spanish.

Choosing the right course is of course critical and that can make learning the language a relative cake walk or much more difficult. Much importance should be given to the accent and pronunciations while learning German.

Studying German doesn’t require expensive personal tutors. So you want to be careful not to end up paying more money than is necessary. It is an ongoing process. While you can’t learn the language overnight, you can find resources that may give you an edge time wise and simply the amount of effort you exert.

A critical challenge to remember is that of vocabulary. Having used various books and courses to learn to read various foreign languages I found several to be of benefit. The most valuable ones were those who made sure to present new vocabulary first. Then a short story utilizing this new vocabulary in conjunction with previously learned vocabulary was presented. In terms of audio or conversational only programs, a variety of excellent courses are available.

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Jacob Lumbroso is a world traveler. He writes articles on history and languages for recommends Pimsleur German courses to learn various languages.


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Learning German as a Second Language

If you have thought about picking up a second language, you are on the right track. There are many reasons to do this. Because of the many people that come into the United States there is a big call for translators. There are areas of the U. S. where there are large German communities.

The health field often needs people who can speak other languages. Learning German is easier than ever with all of the different options that you have to learn. There are online courses, tapes, courses that you can buy, or even books that you can read.

You need to choose what the best is way for you to learn to speak German. Learning German can be made easier if you know what type of a learner you are. Do you do better with visual learning, vocal learning, or would you be better in a classroom? Look at what classes you did best at in school, and think about how you learned in them.

Some people need hands on learning. Some people comprehend better by reading and reciting information. Others do better by listening and repeating. German can be an easy language to learn for many people. Learning German is a good idea if you plan to visit Germany. It is a beautiful language when spoken properly.

If you want to work for the government in a homeland security position, it is often required to know certain languages. Police departments like to have translators available in case they have to deal with someone that speaks a foreign language. If you are in the military, and will be stationed in Germany, that would be a good reason to learn to speak German. You will want to know the language to communicate in everyday life.

It’s surprising to know that German is a much more wider spoken language than you may think as several countries and regions in the world have German as their primary language.

Switzerland is one are of Europe that has a large German-speaking population, as many residents of the major cities such as Geneva and Berne for example are host to substantial native Swiss German-speaking populations.

Whatever your reasons, you can learn German. Check out the different programs available and choose the one that best suits you, learning a foreign language can be both rewarding and fun, giving you a very useful addition to your armoury.

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Robert McEwan is a lifestyle & entertainment journalist who specialises in writing articles, features, reports and reviews in the United States and Europe. To access one of the best German Language Learning Software products available and learn to speak fluent German in under 8 weeks please click here.


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Are We There Yet? 3 Easy Tips to Keep You Motivated to Learn German Fluently

Move me momma! Just to jump right in and say it like it is. We all know that there are many different types of motivation, but the type that we are concerned with is intrinsic verses extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation refers to the desire to do something that pleases you and makes you pat yourself on the back. Most studies have shown it to be much more effective in long-term language learning than extrinsic motivation (for an external reward such as impressing the boss or your peers). Unfortunately, most of us are not lucky enough to hire a personal pep squad or self-improvement coach to keep us motivated. Yup, you are going to have to find the power within yourself. It seems that to become fluent in German will take time and perseverance, so how can you stay motivated?

1. Fraternal Twins Separated At Birth

Yes, the process of learning German can be very stressful but keep in mind the cool thing about German is that modern German and modern English both originated from the common Germanic ancestor language and despite their distinct differences, the two languages share many similarities in both vocabulary and grammar. Also, German is spelled phonetically. This means that once you learn the system of sounds, it is easy to predict how the spoken word is written and how the written word is pronounced. Know your German ABCs and you will be better equipped to learn to speak German quickly.

2. Oktoberfest Anyone?

If your ultimate goal is to learn to speak German fluently, then it is important to know that you will become more fluent quickly if you maximize your language exposure. You can start by simply practicing the language with a classmate outside of class. You can befriend native speakers in your community or attend a local foreign language conversation hour, if one exists. Rent a German DVD, or listen to authentic German audio or video online. Or you could attend your local Oktoberfest or plan a trip to attend the world famous Munich Oktoberfest. The first the first Oktoberfest was held on October 12, 1810 and lasted 6 days. The festivities were in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. In Munich the “die Wiesen” (as the locals call it) starts around late September and lasts for sixteen days up to the first Sunday in October. The festival is a vibrant venue where you can eat sauerkraut, drink German beer, practice your German and expose yourself to Bavarian culture.

3. The Gift Of The Gab

Whenever possible, speak German aloud rather than reciting it silently to yourself. Say vocabulary words out loud, read passages in the text aloud, and do pronunciation activities orally. Transferring language from your mind to your mouth is a skill that requires a great deal of practice. And you should practice German actively frequently.

The process of learning German can be very stressful, and the impact of your own positive or negative attitudes can be critical to your learning. Self-motivation is the key to staying on track and achieving fluency. Because German and English have similarities, you have a head start when learning German. Ultimately, to learn to speak German online or otherwise is all about you. Therefore, you must play an active role in your learning by jumping at the opportunities to speak, listen and comprehend German. You’ll meet new people, make new friends and most importantly, learn German fluently.

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Paul W. Brown has a passion for languages and life-long learning.


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    Secret Ways You Can Learn German Fast

    Are you wondering how you can learn to speak and understand German fast and easy? You might even ask yourself if it is even possible. Maybe you are planning a trip to Austria or even directly to Hamburg in Germany. It does not matter what your reason is for learning the German language, as long as you know how to learn German fast and easy so that you can converse with your new found holiday friends as fast as you can. They will respect you so much more for learning their proud language to begin with. You will be surprised how many doors it can open for you over there.

    It’s really not as difficult as you might think. An important aspect of learning any foreign language is to develop a good ear for the way the new language sounds. Listen to native German speakers as they talk. You will discover that many German sounds, sound totally different from their English rival. “Th” in German is pronounced like an English “T.” The letter “G” is never soft, either. Features like this make German sound harsh and hard to the English ear but the more you listen and identify them, the easier it will be for you to learn German fast, because you’re internalizing the sound of the language.

    Now, rent a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, or any actor or actress with a pronounced German accent. Practice speaking some of the actor’s lines, mimicking the accent as closely as possible. You’re still speaking English but you’re using your newly-trained ear to teach yourself what German feels like on the tongue. Becoming familiar with the sound and feel of the German language will help you master the German language faster than if you were to learn it from scratch as a foreign sounding language.

    Of course, neither of those steps really teaches you German. For that you need some kind of course. Many people nowadays enjoy online learning, because they can study at their own pace and repeat lessons until they’ve mastered them. Others prefer learning from CDs or through taking a class. Whichever way you choose to study, however, make sure your coursework emphasizes oral conversation. Learning German is a dynamic activity, and you can’t learn to speak the language from a book because the book can’t speak back. You will learn German fast only if you speak it and hear it spoken.

    Please take note of this very important tip as you learn to speak German: remember that all German nouns have genders they are either masculine, feminine, or neuter. This isn’t something we have to worry about in English, so gendered nouns may be new to you. Masculine nouns include dog (der Hund) and coat (der Mantel). Feminine nouns include blanket (die Decke) and vacation (die Ferien). Neuter nouns include house (das Haus) and pig (das Schwein). As you can see, the article “the” can be translated as either “der,” “die,” or “das” depending upon the gender of the noun it accompanies. There’s no way to predict whether a noun is going to be masculine, feminine, or neuter, so if you want to learn German fast, always remember to learn the proper article at the same time you learn the noun.

    Finally, here is the most important way to learn German fast: I recommend you make a German friend so that you can practice having a German conversation whenever you have the opportunity to do so! Dialogues on tapes or CDs are great, but to really get the feel of a language, you need to speak it just as you would your own. For that you need a partner. You’ll not only learn German fast that way, but you’ll improve your social life at the same time!

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    Gerrit runs the popular language learning site www.learnalanguage.me. Do YOU want more ways to learn German fast? Visit the Rocket German download site for more info and get your FREE 6 day German course.

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    Learn German | Ten Fun Ways To Get Along At Oktoberfest

    Germans love speed (Can you say BMW?) Speed is also deeply ingrained in American culture. Between commuting, emails, microwavable everything, it’s natural we want results and we want them now. How about learning German in just over a week? In the essence of these fast times, here are ten fun ways to learn to speak German uber fast. Was fällt dir denn eigentlich ein? (What’s the big idea?)

    1. Go on Vacation

    If you’ve always wanted to visit your great-grandfather’s hometown in Germany, there’s not a better time than today. The fastest way to speak German is to travel to Germany and submerge yourself in the language. Not only will you see historic architecture and beautiful countryside, but you’ll also perfect your essential German.

    2. Take a Walk

    Find German-speaking people in your neighborhood. In most large cities there are culture institutes with language exchange programs. Join a German conversation group, often sponsored by community outreach and heritage societies. . “Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club — the community of speakers of that language,” says Frank Smith, famed reporter, editor and the author of “The Book of Learning and Forgetting.”

    3. Make it a Blockbuster Night

    Watching a foreign film is another great way to learn German. Amazon suggests, “The Lives of Others”, “Run Lola Run,” and “The Pianist” as a few of the top internationally successful German flicks. You’ll hear German spoken fluently and learn to train your ear. Try to avoid subtitles or dubbing which will distract from the experience. (But you might turn them on after just to see how close you guessed at that 13-syllable word).

    4. Become a Bookworm

    Checking out German novels, travel guides and books that describe German are excellent resources to enrich the learning process. Parallel-text versions of (German and English side by side) of classics like “Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (Preface by: Karl Marx) by Frederick Engels, “The Eighteenth Brumair of Luis Bonaparte,” by Karl Marx, and “Dream Psychology: Psychoanalysis for Beginners,” By Sigmund Freud. It’s one thing to make a reference to Freud, but another thing to impress people by telling them you actually read the original text in German.

    5. Turn on your Radio and TV

    One of the key skills in learning a new language is how the mind comprehends the spoken word. Nowadays, many cable companies broadcast German programming. “When you know another language; you suddenly realize there is a multitude of worlds. You can become a member of EVERY club,” says Smith. In addition there are many German radio stations that can be accessed via the Internet such as radio (http://home.comcast.net/~dkalischer/WebRadio/GermanRadio.htm) or nab a learning cd, like this audio program (http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/learn-german.asp). An immersive audio experience can’t be beat for learning quickly.

    6. Jam Out to German

    Nab some great German tunes and take a look at the notes found on the inside cover. (Kraftwerk anyone?). These handy liner notes often have the song lyrics printed inside and are a great resource to expanding your German vocabulary. Listen to the tunes and skim the lyrics. Soon enough those catchy songs will stick to your brain and you’ll be belting out German with a native accent.

    7. Play to Win

    Studying a foreign language doesn’t have to be boring. Find your favorite games in German. You’ll quickly pick up on phrases and new vocabulary and have fun while doing it. This is a win-win situation. Playing your favorite games and learning? Who’d a thunk it? Oh and if you’re feeling especially frisky, test your German Scrabble skills. Viel Glück! (Good luck)

    8. Get Creative

    Put the mojo back into your language learning bag. One idea is to grab some sticky notes and write German words or phrases for everything all over your house. Deck out the living room, kitchen (Enjoy your meal! Guten Appetit!), garage, even the toilet paper in your bathroom (besides, that word will be very useful when you travel abroad) and it’s a fun way to boost your German vocabulary.

    9. Express Yourself

    Do you have a favorite German expression? Learn another one. Every time you learn an essential German phrase you’re expanding your word power. Soon enough, you’ll be speaking like a native. Warum ist mir das nicht eingefallen? (Why didn’t I think of that?)

    10. German Class

    When you’re ready, attend a class or get a tutor. The structure will help you develop a routine for quickly learning the language. Try the Pimsleur Approach (http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/learn-german.asp.com), which offers a fabulous program designed to make learning German actually fun. Forget about boring vocabulary lists and repeating pointless verbatim. Imagine simply listening and absorbing language in the same structure you learned as a child. Everything is broken down exactly the way kids learn. It’s simple, fully audio (so you can multitask) and is the easiest program to engage with the least amount of effort.

    Now that you have several language learning ideas planted in that brain of yours, the next step is pick a few and run with them. Start incorporating bits of the German language and culture into your routine and soon enough you’ll be speaking like a native in no time. Learning German opens up so many opportunities. Smith sums it up perfectly; “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”

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    Mark Alan Effinger is a serial entrepreneur and published author. Currently focused on how media works in the internet age, you can reach Mark at RichContent.com or email at me@richcontent.com. For those of you who would rather talk than write, 360-609-9272 is a great way to get through.

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