Best Way to Learn German?

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I'm wondering if any of you well-versed folks out there in dot net land would be able to recommend any programs (at schools or on computers) that do a good job of helping me learn a language.

I've taken two years of German at a school but they did not offer more advanced courses and I'm already forgetting alot of what I learned.

I was thinking of those Rosettastone programs but they cost $200+ sometimes, plus I don't know if they're really any good. So yeah... any suggestions?

[joethebartender]

Should this be in the "infatuated with Katja" thread?

[Aggie]

Kidnap Katja

[~Katja~]

Rosetta Stone is a good program.
Also I suggest you make German speaking friends or sign up on language forums in order to actually practice the language (even if in writing at first)
If you are able to, obtain movies in German language with GERMAN subtitles, I have to say watching Seinfeld and other TV shows helped me a lot to learn English.
( I have American Gangster and some other movies I could try and make ya a copy of if you'd like... no subtitles though)

The key is to use the language and not to be afraid to make mistakes.
I studied Russian for 6 years and know next to nothing anymore. (in relation to a 6 year education in it) The only reason for that is that I never had to utilize it in a real situation.

If you can afford it, travel. Spend some time in Germany, Switzerland or Austria (though their dialects are harder to understand). If you pick Germany, try not to get discouraged if you chose Bavaria as destination, they have the heaviest dialect out there and are very hard to understand.

[~Katja~]

Should this be in the "infatuated with Katja" thread?

Kidnap Katja

good ones

[ahhdurr]

German prison!

[El Mudo]

Plan on learnding French definitely once I can afford to...


Maybe Polish too...but definitely French

[Foster]

I work for a Japanese company and would like to learn their language,
but whenever I try and practice with my Japanese co-worker he says I "hurt
his hears and brain at the same time".:down:

[Freakshow]

German prison!

He's only interested if it's a Turkish Prison.



Best way would probably to go to the Gymnasium. Sehr gut.

[WampusCrandle]

Rosetta Stone is a good program.
Also I suggest you make German speaking friends or sign up on language forums in order to actually practice the language (even if in writing at first)
If you are able to, obtain movies in German language with GERMAN subtitles, I have to say watching Seinfeld and other TV shows helped me a lot to learn English.
( I have American Gangster and some other movies I could try and make ya a copy of if you'd like... no subtitles though)

The key is to use the language and not to be afraid to make mistakes.
I studied Russian for 6 years and know next to nothing anymore. (in relation to a 6 year education in it) The only reason for that is that I never had to utilize it in a real situation.

If you can afford it, travel. Spend some time in Germany, Switzerland or Austria (though their dialects are harder to understand). If you pick Germany, try not to get discouraged if you chose Bavaria as destination, they have the heaviest dialect out there and are very hard to understand.

im taking German now, after years of not speaking it, and it really does work. RS is the shit.

[EddieMoscone]

I work for a Japanese company and would like to learn their language,
but whenever I try and practice with my Japanese co-worker he says I "hurt
his hears and brain at the same time".:down:

My family got me Rosetta Stone Japanese for my birthday. I can't wait to get started.

[booster11373]

Kill a German then claim their soul

[Foster]

Kill a German then claim their soul

that doesn't work

[furie]

http://www.newsgroper.com/files/post_images/David-Hasselhoff.jpg

just one night....

[Fez4PrezN2008]

try "slow german" podcast on itunes

[~Katja~]

http://www.newsgroper.com/files/post_images/David-Hasselhoff.jpg

just one night....

but he is American....


this is more offending than any nazi comments I get. I hate when people associate us with him.

[sr71blackbird]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ClU8m6n7rX4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ClU8m6n7rX4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[sr71blackbird]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LNXzuZqQf_A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LNXzuZqQf_A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[booster11373]

that doesn't work

have you tried?

[PerryWinkle]

but he is American....


this is more offending than any nazi comments I get. I hate when people associate us with him.

So you would rather be associated with the Nazi's over the Hoff?

[denko]

So you would rather be associated with the Nazi's over the Hoff?

hell, i'm an american and i would rather be associated with the nazis than the hoff.

[ChrisTheCop]

Well, the BEST way is to be born there, and go through their school system.

But, if it's too late for that, or you dont really feel like starting over,

I agree, Rosetta Stone is amazing, especially since you have a basic foundation.
It's an even, dare I say, fun way to learn a language.

[CruelCircus]

How does Rosetta Stone work? They tout it as some "new way", but it's advertised on the radio and sold at mall kiosks, so I'm wary.

I was thinking of using it to pick up Italian.

[reillyluck]

http://www.newsgroper.com/files/post_images/David-Hasselhoff.jpg

just one night....

why in GODS name would the photographer put those poor puppies through that?

he disturbs me.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

My brother married a linguistics professor and last night she just railed against Rosettastone as being a stupid bad program... I wouldn't know. Seeing them sold where they're at makes me wary too... but that price is really what makes me think twice. 'Course, it's a helluavot cheaper than travelling to and staying in Germany. Or taking classes.

[torker]

All it takes is a little concentration.

[A.J.]

All it takes is a little concentration.

And a triumph of the will.

[torker]

And a triumph of the will.
Just don't putsch yourself too hard.

[A.J.]

Just don't putsch yourself too hard.

Only an Übermensch would do that.

[bubs]

If you live near a major citu you should try to go to a goethe institut. that is a place where you can actually learn and use your german. Tag

[ChrisTheCop]

My brother married a linguistics professor and last night she just railed against Rosettastone as being a stupid bad program...

My guess is perhaps she would rail against any competition, Like doctors against holistics or other forms of healing. (or cops against vigilantes).

How does Rosetta Stone work? They tout it as some "new way", but it's advertised on the radio and sold at mall kiosks, so I'm wary.

I was thinking of using it to pick up Italian.

They describe it as learning as a child learns it. From hearing whole sentences and, coupled with a photo (or 4) trying to figure out what is being said. In other words, you'll hear a sentence, and 4 photos are shown; you pick the one you believe is what theyre talking about, and if youre right, youre "rewarded" by a pleasant tone. As the lessons progress, youll learn conjugated verbs and all that using the same technique. It's better than immersion, or taking a class even, in that you work at your own pace. If you didnt do well in a particular lesson, you can go back immediately and try again.

[Thebazile78]

My guess is perhaps she would rail against any competition, Like doctors against holistics or other forms of healing. (or cops against vigilantes).

......


But a linguist analyzes languages; you're comparing apples and oranges when you're using doctors/holistic & naturopathic practitioners to compare linguists to Rosetta Stone. If a linguist picks up another language during their studies, that's just a bonus.

[One of my acquaintances in college was pursuing graduate-level work in linguistics (the guys in Glee Club nicknamed him 3P0, despite his insistence that he didn't speak a zillion languages) and we used to talk about all kinds of things related to linguistics, since I was considering it as either a minor or a second major.]

[RAAMONE]

www.germangoogirls.us

(very NSFW)

[ChrisTheCop]

But a linguist analyzes languages; you're comparing apples and oranges when you're using doctors/holistic & naturopathic practitioners to compare linguists to Rosetta Stone. If a linguist picks up another language during their studies, that's just a bonus.


Hey, she's the one spoutin off her hate, not me. So we agree that she should stfu?

And my doctor told me not to compare apples to oranges, but to just take this pill. mmmm.

[Thebazile78]

Hey, she's the one spoutin off her hate, not me. So we agree that she should stfu?

And my doctor told me not to compare apples to oranges, but to just take this pill. mmmm.

Yeah, basically.

And, just as an aside, some doctors will work with holistic/naturopathic practitioners in what's known as "integrative medicine" that combines both the mainstream and alternative therapies into a whole care program. (I have a friend/teammate out in WI who is a cancer survivor and she is using this type of integrative medicine with her doctors and doing very well.)

[ChrisTheCop]

Yeah, basically.

And, just as an aside, some doctors will work with holistic/naturopathic practitioners in what's known as "integrative medicine" that combines both the mainstream and alternative therapies into a whole care program. (I have a friend/teammate out in WI who is a cancer survivor and she is using this type of integrative medicine with her doctors and doing very well.)

Does she speak German?

[S0S]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0395925037/ref=dp_olp_1



/jk

[~Katja~]

www.germangoogirls.us

(very NSFW)

I doubt they are able to speak much...

[epo]

I doubt they are able to speak much...

They seem like nice girls from nice families.

[~Katja~]

They seem like nice girls from nice families.

ya, I think I recognized a distant cousin

[Thebazile78]

Does she speak German?

She might...she does live in Wisconsin, after all.

[epo]

Rosetta Stone is a good program.


So they do good work? The reason I ask is that next year I plan to add an additional language to help my career & help make traveling more fun!

[~Katja~]

So they do good work? The reason I ask is that next year I plan to add an additional language to help my career & help make traveling more fun!

I have not tried them for any of the languages I have learned, but I know people that used them. The thing is; as with everything you try to learn, it takes hard work, practice and the will to do it.
And like mentioned before, practicing the language with a native speaker or a native environment is the best way to do it.

[disneyspy]

na,i cant
epo you crack me up

[biozombie]

I'm doing learning Spanish better with the Pimsleur audio tapes more than Rosetta Stone...either way, it's a lot of work. The Pimsleur method recommends you do one lesson per day, each lesson is about 30 minutes so it's not too painful. Rosetta Stone lets my mind wander too much, I start getting annoyed by the stupid faces of the models in the little pictures. I've heard good things about the Michel Thomas audio tapes, but that guys voice distracts me too much.

[Team_Ramrod]

I don't know about German, but I have found the best way to learn Greek was to buy my chick a car. :wink:

[Hottub]

All I needed to give your chick was a bottle of wine and a wink.

[Team_Ramrod]

Yeah, but that's you.

I'd expect nothing less.

[furie]

my agency has recently made rosetta stone available to us for free. Now i'm considering which language to learn.
I'm thinking about spanish. i've taken spanish in the past, and i would probably use it, but i'm just kind of bored with it.

So I'm down between spanish or german.

[boosterp]

I need to relearn my German (3rd generation and still have family there) so Rosseta Stone is what I am downloading.

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

All the German I've needed to know has come from the History Channel.

[DolaMight]

my agency has recently made rosetta stone available to us for free. Now i'm considering which language to learn.
I'm thinking about spanish. i've taken spanish in the past, and i would probably use it, but i'm just kind of bored with it.

So I'm down between spanish or german.

rosetta stone is so fucking tedious but it works real fast. I haven't had the time to go past level one in any language but with one hour you can figure out how to alert a foreign pilot that a boy is under or on his airplane guaranteed. any language. Chłopiec w samolocie!!!!!!

[KingModem]

rosetta stone is so fucking tedious but it works real fast. I haven't had the time to go past level one in any language but with one hour you can figure out how to alert a foreign pilot that a boy is under or on his airplane guaranteed. any language. Chłopiec w samolocie!!!!!!

Anybody obtaining Rosetta Stone without monetary transactions? Torrents?

[led37zep]

I got rosetta stone and its been awesome.


I highly suggest it.


I'm tired...you don't get anymore than that.

[boosterp]

Anybody obtaining Rosetta Stone without monetary transactions? Torrents?

How dare you ask such a thing! :innocent:

[mudflap170]

Just talk to Katja. I've actually been thinking of getting her to translate German porn for me. "Who the hell am I kidding"? I really don't care what they're saying.

[~Katja~]

Anybody obtaining Rosetta Stone without monetary transactions? Torrents?

yes, join the military :)

[sailor]

I got rosetta stone and its been awesome.


I highly suggest it.


I'm tired...you don't get anymore than that.

got any more info?