Learning a language as an adult - any tips?

[MooncupGoddess]

I am trying to learn German at the moment, but it is going quite slowly. I have been to classes, watched German films, try to go on Duolingo as often as I can, etc... the grammar is not too bad but I find it really hard to retain new vocabulary, or understand spoken German unless the speaker talks very. slowly. indeed.

Does anyone have any language-learning tips? Or I am just TOO OLD and my poor neurons can't cope, as I secretly fear.

This is going to sound like a stupid 'tip' but it's not: Can you go to Germany or Austria? Best would be to go in some capacity that means you MUST speak German (a homestay? friends? friends of friends?). Make yourself ask questions, even if you already know the answer; always greet people; talk to the person on the supermarket checkout, etc. Take a class - in German - in some unrelated subject - like knitting or car repair. Yes, you'll look a bit of a loon :) but it's worth it.

I honestly think that the best way to learn a language is simply to start talking - you'll get a lot wrong, but soon you will start to communicate.

Why have you chosen German, by the way?

It's not a stupid tip at all! I have had a few long weekends in Germany in the past, which I've really enjoyed, hence why I'm now learning the language. I'd also like to be able to read German literature.

I'm hoping to get to Germany for a bit longer this year but the tricky thing is finding a situation where I have to talk German... everyone one meets in a tourist situation has good English. I guess I should aim to get off the tourist trail and meet more locals.

"Make yourself ask questions, even if you already know the answer"

This is actually a really good idea. Perhaps I will pretend to lose my watch so I can practise my asking-the-time vocabulary.

If you can stay in one place for a bit of time, do try to find a hobby group or class and dive in. These people will be German speakers - if anyone starts explaining it all to you in English, just explain you need the practice in German. They'll be happy to help.

Also, being there for a while you will learn the vocab for food and transport and everyday stuff, which will help loads. You will need more 'immersion' to really speak and understand.

I always find it's about getting over the 'I sound like an idiot' stage and just talking on, regardless of your actual ability. Your ability will eventually catch up.

Me too! I mean, ich auch!

I'm finding Duolingo to be really good, so suggest to stick with that. There is also the Michel Thomas method, I think they do a version for German -- great because they start with all the words and phrases that are most similar to English, so you can build up a big vocab quickly.

If you are in London there's the Goethe Institut, not only for classes but events where you can practice speaking.

I also picked up a lot watching German movies -- there's so many good ones! Goodbye Lenin, the Edukators, Lives of Others, etc.

"I always find it's about getting over the 'I sound like an idiot' stage and just talking on"

So true. I need to curb my inner cowardly English person.

Good to hear you're on the same quest, dreamingbohemian! That's a good tip about the Goethe Institut - I had written them off as their courses are SO expensive but hadn't thought of checking out other events there.

Yes I think for example they have film nights, you go see the film and there are drinks afterwards

There's a big German pub in Vauxhall, you could practice with the bar staff!

You could check out City University London, I think their language courses are much cheaper (a friend of mine did French there for a few years). KCL also has evening classes but I think they're probably a bit pricier.

You're no coward! It's uncomfortable, trying to learn to speak a language. Everyone hates that part.

Good luck!

Have you got post-it notes all over your possessions dotted about the house? It helped me learn Spanish vocabulary. I wouldn't open the fridge without saying frigorifico, or loook in the mirror while brushing my teeth without saying espeho (crikey, I know the word but can't bloody spell it )
You can slowly build up to 'open the fridge', 'I am opening the fridge', 'I opened the fridge', 'I opened the fridge to get some cereal', etc, as you get more grammar.
Have German tapes in your car - the more you listen, the more you'll get used to the sound and start to distinguish words, vocabulary at first, then more structure. Try copying the words and their pronunciation - even if you don't know what they're saying.

tapes guess my age

When I want to improve my vocab I buy magazines about things im interested in, im learning greek and food mags have helped me with my vocab.

Podcasts!!!!

I am evangelical about them. All free on iTunes, some are amazing. I have got my rusty Spanish back to my degree level in less than a year.

Good luck! It's a wonderful language!! Keep at it, sounds like you're doing the right things! And get yourself over there as often as possible! Maybe try smaller places where it's possible to find non English speakers.

When I learned German it was because I was living in Berlin, so I did have an advantage. I found having the tv on all the time was very helpful, so that I was hearing a lot of German, even though I wasn't always trying to understand it. Soap operas were great because they use a lot of everyday forms of speech, for instance they greet each other, go shopping and talk about mundane things and relationships. Films are very plot driven so the things they say aren't always relevant to what you would use in real life, and the dialogue is also very information dense in order to move the plot along so it's harder to follow than a soap opera.

You could use your everyday life to practise. When I lived in Berlin I would look up key vocabulary and phrases before I went out to do a particular task. You could do that even though you will be using English, so if you need to fill a prescription look up words and phrases that you might need and practise keeping them in your mind until you get to the pharmacy. So you don't have to remember it forever, just a few hours and the next time you need to look up those phrases they will last a bit longer in your mind.

Dranksangria....good call onthe podcasts.

Any clues for accessing the free ones. I am interested in French

Just go to iTunes and have a search around. I signed up to have them automatically downloaded into my iTunes library then just popped them onto my MP3 (not got an ipod) Listen to them while I'm MNing.

The best ones (and the Spanish ones do this, and so do some of the English ones I recommend to my students) have a conversation of sorts, and then a kind of feedback session where the speaker goes over some of the key vocab and phrases, which is especially useful.

This is brilliant, thanks everyone. Soap operas are a good idea, I'd never have thought of that!

My suggestions may sound silly to you, but I found them really helpful when I lived in Germany in the 80s

I watched (at the time) things like re-runs of Dallas (simply because I knew the storylines anyway), the adverts, read the newspapers, listened to the news, time and time again - because they supply imagery, it isn't hard to pick up the vocab.

I'm learning German too, because my DP is, erm, German. Pinned up on the wall we've got a growing list of all the verbs, nouns etc that I've learned so far. I can now build simple sentences, and they are getting longer as I pick more stuff up. I'd also suggest German kids' TV and books if you can get them.

Viel Glück

Oh, and don't learn nouns without their articles

Oh yes cartoons are good

There's a cartoon about singing mice called Jonalu (can find on youtube) which I like because the little critters enunciate very very clearly and do hand gestures to fit what they're singing (I'll never forget hoeren is to hear, for example!)

IMHO and IME the key to learning this language as an English speaker is to get down and dirty with the grammar.

Become intimately familiar with:

• the declensions of the noun and the adjective
• which prepositions take which cases
• word order, especially situations which send the verb to the end (relative and subordinate clauses)
• strong verbs
• weak and adjectival nouns

if in your reading you see a grammar that appears puzzling try to explain it to yourself before moving on, just as though you were learning vocabulary from reading. For instance if you see "das Buch lag auf einem mit einer Marmorplatte versehenen Tisch", suss out the function of each word and take it apart. At first sight it looks like nonsense, but. Ask questions about the grammar and usage you see. Why is that in the genitive? is that the imperfect subjunk? What's the difference between 'zwar' and ', und zwar'?

Find the impressive constructions that'll knock the examiner bandy. (Hint: translate into German, 'Because I should have learned French instead').

Thanks chateauferret, that is very useful. I have a vague grasp of the first four items on your list but 'weak and adjectival nouns' are a new one on me! I will get on the case (as it were).

Fortunately I studied Latin and Greek for years so have an embarrassing fondness for grammar. It's the actually talking to real live German people that does me in.

I know this is an old thread but what the hell.

My biggest tip for language learning is to listen to/read/immerse yourself in things that are INTERESTING. If you wouldn't read it in your mother tongue, why struggle through it in another language?

My interests include cycling, early years education and cinema amongst other things. So when I'm learning (French in my case) I seek out resources on these subjects and focus on them. I figured this out after years of boring myself stupid with French news and worthy literature.

Likewise, I also read novels in French that I've already read and enjoyed in English. Yes, they're translations - but so what? It's still French and there is a lot to be gained from it.

I admit I am coming at this as an advanced learner, but I think the same still applies as a beginner.

Since the thread has been resurrected...

Drink! No, seriously. If you get the opportunity, then having a conversation in German in e.g. a pub means your inhibitions are lowered so you're much more likely to just give it a go and keep trying. Obviously too many drinks won't help, but enough to loosen your tongue a little.

Also, when you're practising the receptive skills (reading & listening), a bit like chateauferret said, make sure you understand every word. Don't treat it like your mother tongue where you can just assume meaning from context if you come across an unfamiliar word, check and make a note of it in your vocab book (do keep a personal vocab book!).

Of course, the other posters have taken my proper good ideas!