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Learning German - how difficult is it?

Posted in Germany forum

I've got a job offer for Frankfurt and am thinking of relocating there with my family. Problem is that none of us speaks any German, and I heard it's really hard.

Any advice on how long it takes to get a basic grip of the language? And how can you get by in Germany in the meantime (with English)?

Paul O'Connell

  • posted by  in Germany forum 

    Hey...

    Feel free to check out this online german course:

    http://www.German-Online.net

  • posted by  in Germany forum 

    Well then, good luck for your studies and your trip to Germany one day ;)
    Learning languages is always a nice thing to do (and quite useful also), but I have to admit that I gave up learning German after a while...I should try to keep it in my mind, reading some books or something...hmm.

  • posted by Deleted user in Germany forum 

    hehe my studies hm ok hehehe Ya, I learn German because I want to go there someday =P but if I'm not going there, well.... there's nothing wrong in learning something like that. Just reminder, today (1st december) is world aids day

  • posted by  in Germany forum 

    hi! I really TRY not to get confused but grammar has never been my strong point and it will never be, I suppose ;)
    So how do your studies go on? Do you learn German because you want to go to Germany one day or just because you like the language?

  • posted by Deleted user in Germany forum 

    Hello everyone.... I'm still in my home country and I'm learning german language here =P I'm agree that german language is very "structured" and one u undrerstand, it will be esy for u. According to me, I think that german gramatik doesn't have so much difference with english. But one thing that I think quite hard is the vocabulary and to understand when someone speaks german to me, since I'm not familiar with them. my family is 100% non-german and none of my relatives speak german (except in my german course). So I have to read more on german books amd practice more on my listening. While english is a familiar language to everyone which I think, make it very easy to understand.
    Btw Fernando, don't get confused with "die Kuche" and "der Kuche",it's just one of their grammar which I know as "Praeposition" hehehe.... Goodluck....

  • Chase Ellison

    posted by  in Germany forum 

    If it helps.. This is my 14th or 15th day in Berlin. I came here with NO German language background. However, I've learned by now how to do simple things; pronunciation of places, order food, give correct change when asked for in German, and so on. All in all immersion you will learn quickly. I am sure if you even have a short background from one of the simple computer programs that many travelers use to to teach the basics you'll be ahead of the game. I'm sure if I were here longer on this trip (Leaving in two days :( ) I would do much better. However, when I return in March to move here for an extended period, I am thinking I will be able to do much better

  • posted by  in Germany forum 

    German needs alot of concentration and practice,i have done it for two months........its a nice language.........you can do it too i believe so,

  • Gabriela Zafira

    posted by  in Germany forum 

    Hi Paul! The best way to learn German is to simply speak it as much as possible. If you do a language course for the grammar as well, you should be able to get a grip of the language in about a year.

  • posted by  in Germany forum 

    I just made the same experience as Stefan!
    In France often it's a waste of time trying to speak English to those people! And if one of them does, you will hardly get along with it!
    So don't worry about the English skills of German people, most of them (especially the younger ones) have at least a basic knowledge!

    I can't agree with Ruben unfortunately, German grammar and stuff is much harder than English and not always easy to look through! For example they say "DIE Kueche" (the kitchen), but it is "Sie ist in DER Kueche." (she's in the kitchen). But with practicing the language with Germans you will get along with it well after one year I think.

  • Stefan Cosma

    posted by  in Germany forum 

    Don't worry about Germans' English skills. Over the past 3 months i've been in France and there I must say that there's a national pride not to speak English!!! And the few of them that "speak" EN do it so badly that I had a hard time trying to understand them. And they are also very intolerant with the mistakes done when speaking French. It has to be perfect, otherwise you get a big "quoi" when you try to say something :D

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