Willkommen! If you’ve ever tried to learn another language, then you know how challenging getting some of the most common phrases down just right can be. If you are struggling with your German, don’t worry – I have some tricks to help you learn those German phrases with ease, but first…
Imagine, walking through narrow, winding cobblestone streets, surrounded by row houses from an era long past. You take a deep breath and the smell of the country air (landluft) fills your nostrils. Ahead, between the houses and their red clay rooftops you see lush, green rolling hills, the peaks of an ancient, yet well preserved castle tower reaching up towards the sky.
The people bustling around you in their modern day clothes disappear for a moment and you can almost imagine yourself in the midst of medieval Germany; a land of fairy tales, tradition and beautiful pastoral scenes.
This is the Germany of my childhood and in much of the countryside it is still this way today. Visiting places like this will take you off the beaten path and if you want to blend in with the locals, get the best deals in the tiny village shops and order a beer or two, you’ll need at least a few basic German phrases under your belt.
So, how can you learn German fast?
Well first, let’s but a few myths about the German language.
Myth #1: Most Germans Speak English
Many of the best sites in Germany are located in the countryside and once you leave the big city, German is going to be the language of choice. Most Germans (Deutscher) outside of the bigger cities speak very little or no English at all. So, if you really want to experience the country first hand, you’ll need to learn some German phrases in order to get by. Fortunately, knowing even a few common German phrases will go a long way.
Myth #2: Most German Phrases are Difficult to Learn
Learning German is no more difficult than learning most other languages. In fact, if you already speak English, German is a very logical language to learn since many of the words sound similar to each other. German is also a phonetic language, meaning that the words sound exactly the way they are spelled. The one thing that most people have the most difficulty with is how to pronounce German words, if that sounds like you, then you may want to check out my guide to German pronunciation.
Myth #3: German Sounds Harsh and Gutteral
While I won’t dispute this entirely, German can actually be a refreshing change from the more accented or nasal intonations of French or Spanish. I may be a bit biased, since German was my first language, but there are many ways to soften the German language and give it more of a flow.
When you learn some of the more common German phrases, you will learn how to use simple words like “denn” , “jezt” and “doch” to help soften your sentences and make them sound more natural.
Learning German is Fun and Easy, How Can I Get Started?
Sign up for my free German Phrases podcast and each week you’ll receive your own personal German lesson delivered to your inbox complete with vocabulary list and phrase sheet. You’ll learn how to order a beer the right way, make your way around town, common German sayings and slang phrases and a whole lot more! I’ve even reviewed some of my favorite language learning programs so you can pick the one that’s right for you without wasting your hard earned cash.
So, sign up and I’ll see you on the inside…
Auf wiedersehen!
