Learning German
As you know I have an affection for Germany. Mostly the South if we're being honest, but then that's probably as much because I've never been to the north as anything else. It's not just the beer (although that's a big part of it) - I love the food, the people the culture, and I just think it's a really great place to be.
On my pretty much annual trips to Bavaria (I've branched out of Munich now, but haven't quite escaped the Southern regions) I have attempted to pick up a bit of the lingo. I speak a little more each time, and a little more confidently. I am now not getting answered back immediately in English, but rather locals tend not to know what language I actually speak, which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing but at least they speak German back giving me a chance to try and understand. What I do know is that I have a lot more fun when I am able to talk the talk and feel pretty bad when I have to allow the locals to speak English at me. They're only too pleased to do so, but I still feel it's an imposition and really don't want to be one of those SPEAK ENGLISH LOUDLY tourists. I am in their country after all.
So I've done the basic book, I've done the basic conversational CD, and last year I even tried a 'German phrase a day' podcast, which was actually pretty useful, but whilst I don't feel the need to study German literature or be gramatically perfect, I think I need to do a bit more. So I've looked around and there's are a few options:
1) A brief eight week "Get By In German" course. It's short, sharp and cheap, but doesn't start till April, meaning I'll only actually get five of the eight classes in before my next trip there. I'm also slightly concerned it will be so basic that it won't teach me a lot I don't already know, albeit in a slightly more coherent manner with better pronounciation and stuff.
2) The full bhoona. Well, the start of the full bhoona - "German 1" at Strathclyde uni - 20 weeks with written German, cultural stuff and everything. Problem - it's expensive (over £150, but then it is 20 weeks) - big plus, it starts next week and I'd get all but the very last class in before this year's beer trip.
3) Back to the CDs/books. Maybe invest in a better, more comprehensive course than the 'bluff your way in...' I've got now.
Sadly they've changed the ILA rules and I now can't get one of those. Any thoughts from those of you who have tackled a second language before (I know a good few of you have) ?
On my pretty much annual trips to Bavaria (I've branched out of Munich now, but haven't quite escaped the Southern regions) I have attempted to pick up a bit of the lingo. I speak a little more each time, and a little more confidently. I am now not getting answered back immediately in English, but rather locals tend not to know what language I actually speak, which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing but at least they speak German back giving me a chance to try and understand. What I do know is that I have a lot more fun when I am able to talk the talk and feel pretty bad when I have to allow the locals to speak English at me. They're only too pleased to do so, but I still feel it's an imposition and really don't want to be one of those SPEAK ENGLISH LOUDLY tourists. I am in their country after all.
So I've done the basic book, I've done the basic conversational CD, and last year I even tried a 'German phrase a day' podcast, which was actually pretty useful, but whilst I don't feel the need to study German literature or be gramatically perfect, I think I need to do a bit more. So I've looked around and there's are a few options:
1) A brief eight week "Get By In German" course. It's short, sharp and cheap, but doesn't start till April, meaning I'll only actually get five of the eight classes in before my next trip there. I'm also slightly concerned it will be so basic that it won't teach me a lot I don't already know, albeit in a slightly more coherent manner with better pronounciation and stuff.
2) The full bhoona. Well, the start of the full bhoona - "German 1" at Strathclyde uni - 20 weeks with written German, cultural stuff and everything. Problem - it's expensive (over £150, but then it is 20 weeks) - big plus, it starts next week and I'd get all but the very last class in before this year's beer trip.
3) Back to the CDs/books. Maybe invest in a better, more comprehensive course than the 'bluff your way in...' I've got now.
Sadly they've changed the ILA rules and I now can't get one of those. Any thoughts from those of you who have tackled a second language before (I know a good few of you have) ?