improve my German

I’ve been lazy with my German lately; after completing a beginner’s night class the tutor promised an intermediate class to follow it, which never actually came to be. I find it a lot easier to learn and practise when I’m speaking with others, so going back to reading books on my own was a little disheartening.
Anyway, I just have to focus more. I’ve also got a LiveMocha pack, which came with books and the chance to sign up to their website where you can communicate with native speakers, which I think will be very productive for me. Must remember to sign up soon! In the meantime, I was bought a “Dirty German” phrasebook, so I’m building up quite an arsenal of crude German phrases haha!

Finished my beginner course this week. It was pretty easy since a lot of it I’d learned at school, but I really needed my memory jogging so it was worth it. The teacher is in the process of arranging the intermediate class, so hopefully I’ll get started on that in november.

It was great. There’s only me and one more girl there. It’s almost one-on-one tuition for a ridiculously low price! Getting homework for the first time since leaving school 7 years ago is weird though…

It’s the way to go for me. Though the fact that you’re a proper adult now and not a student anymore really hits you when you sign up for night classes! It’s a 10 week course with a 2 hour lesson every week, and only 15 minutes from my flat. The company also runs really small classes (3-6 people max) so you get a more personal experience. I met up with the guy who organises it today and paid my deposit. It starts in a week or two, and I’m really excited, as I’m planning on going to Berlin in October and would love to be able to talk beyond the basic German I already know. I’ll let you know how it goes =)

My friend who is also learning German gave me two audio guides today, and I’m buying a third from my work. It’ll make an encouraging change to use a CD rather than just reading a book and I’m also considering joining the German class my friend goes to, when it restarts in the autumn.

I did German in high school but I want to improve the basic grasp I have. I’ve got a book (I’d love Rosetta Stone but it’s just far too expensive for me) and so far I’m finding it pretty easy to re-familiarise myself with the basic stuff, questions, about myself, things like that. I’m thinking, when I get a bit better at it, of putting a notice in the local paper to find a German-speaking person to hang out and practise with. I think having conversations would be a really good way of learning, and a lot cheaper than pricey software!