NPF Protip Thread

[Solid Snake]

I've wanted to learn Deutsch for ages, but my general inability to learn all things foreign languages has been a hefty barrier to my progress. Seriously, if there's a worse foreign languages student than I, that person should fade into oblivion because he or she should not exist.

[Corel]

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

I've wanted to learn Deutsch for ages, but my general inability to learn all things foreign languages has been a hefty barrier to my progress. Seriously, if there's a worse foreign languages student than I, that person should fade into oblivion because he or she should not exist.

I think 90% of people when they first start learning foreign languages have the same mentality. I started learning languages really late and didn't learn my first foreign language about until 2-3 years ago; I can now speak an additional two (and counting!).

German thankfully is quite nice on the vocabulary side if you're a native English speaker, not so much on the grammar side.

Some tips!

• It's better to learn a language 10 minutes every day rather than 30 minutes once every three days.
  
• Buy a pocket dictionary (And I do mean a pocket one). Be actively curious about words and phrases. If you're in coffee shop and you see a bird outside the window think "Hmm, what's bird in German?" and look it up. Basically pretend you are a child again when asking questions about words. Ask them often and don't feel embarrased to ask the same question over and over again.
  
• Try experimenting with words and phrases in your head, talk to yourself if you have to.
  
• Don't stress yourself out over it. If you've hit a learning plateau (which in my experience happens about month 3-5 in) don't force yourself to accept new words/grammar/structure etc. Do it because you enjoy doing it!
  
• You will feel like you are getting no progress for quite a while and then suddenly it will just click; this is what happened to me in every language learnt, and it usually happens after the six month mark.
  
• Very important one; find somebody who you can speak German with (And not necessarily a native speaker either, just someone to speak to.) I learnt the majority of my German from a Colombian and a Canadian, which was good in that they could explain grammar rules much clearer than native speakers (which is true in any language).
  
• Don't be embarrased if you're German is terrible; noone ever starts off perfect. It's akin to feeling like a 5 year old again unable to express themselves perfectely.

Methods of acquiring langugage; I forget the technical names, however two schools of thoughts of speaking a foreign language are a) Translate the word from your mother tongue language or b) Attach the words to a feeling/image/abstract thought etc.

First method works something akin to thinking of the word "tree" and then translate this to "balm". This of course has some set backs in that not all languages are able to freely translate (Even English to German in some cases, typially sentence order, use of native language sayings or cultural meaning)

The second method is that you attatch the words to an image. If we take English words, what could be another name for a tree? Well we have different types of trees; Oaks, Chestnut, Beech etc. We don't have to say "Oak Tree" to understand saying "Oak" we mean tree. This method is when you just attach another name to the image. If this is built upon you can start forming complex ideas and expressing them. Of course this one also has disadvantages as it can be seen as harder to express yourself, and perhaps more prone to errors, also from personal experience you might perhaps start to confuse languages together which in my experience is a good sign that you are intergrating the language into your thought patterns which is excellent.

You could try using a combination of both if need be. You don't truly need classes to learn a language (however for some people this is seen as useful). I tend to go on a big tirade that for me language is art and for this you don't truly need classes to become efficient at it (however some people find it more efficient than others, allows them to acquire a higher level of understanding, enjoy the environment). I think feeling, self motivation and expressing yourself are much more important motivators.

Remember, we learn 10% of what we read, 50% of what we read and write and 90% of what we do; ergo, we learn language most by speaking it!

Edit: Saying this however I did live in Germany before for the majority of my beginning learning and this does make it easier what with acquiring the language on an every day basis, taking yourself out of the environment I understand would make acqusition of knowledge quite a bit more difficult. I compare it to learning how to swim by taking careful steps or being thrown into the deep end. I also have some what of a Schwabish accent, which isn't proper German at all!

I've been through the desert on an edit with no name: I will give some tips on interviews some time in the future as I have given quite a few before and GOOD GOD HAVE I SEEN SOME FUNDAMENTAL MISTAKES