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/lit/ - Literature

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2492106 No.2492106 [Reply] [Original]

I'd like to try learning German, but I can't take a proper university course right now. I know there are a lot of polyglots on /lit/, so would anyone mind recommending a no-nonsense, non-gimmicky German instructional method or textbook?

I had originally wanted to use FSI (http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php?page=German)) but it only has "German Basic", basically prep for later immersion-style education, which I won't be doing. I really just want to learn the language traditionally, grammar memorization and all, from the ground up. I'm wary of methods like Pimsleur which seem to focus on conversational vocabulary and gloss over grammar, or which claim you'll absorb the grammar "naturally" by inference.

>> No.2492117

ngggghhh those feet

>> No.2492128

if you're a native english speaker it's much easier to learn french

a LOT easier

>> No.2492137

Download a copy of Rosetta Stone.
It's not great for vocabulary but it will give you a great "sense" of a language.

>> No.2492167

I am a native German speaker, so I can't really imagine how hard it is to lern the language.
Rosetta Stone is a good program, if you can get your hands on it, I would recommand it.

Other than that, I can recommand you to check out a page called livemocha. It is basically a community like facebook, but it is all about learning languages. You can do courses, exercises etc. and you can have your exercises corrected by native speakers.

I am using this page to learn russian and I quiet enjoy it.

>> No.2492181

rosetta stone is fine if you know nothing.
after you've got the basics the only reasonable step is immersion. worked for.
i am a native yiddish speaker with a nigh perfect command of german.
skype nick is froyim.gratch if you have some particular questions.

>> No.2492185

>>2492181
>worked for
*worked for me
>>2492167
>I am using this page to learn russian and I quiet enjoy it.
как дела?

>> No.2492188

>>2492181
>skype nick is froyim.gratch
wait, no
it's "Froyim Gratch"
bonus points if you know where that one's from

>> No.2492308
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2492308

>>2492167
I started Icelandic on livemocha, I really should finish that...

>> No.2492371

a spam thread?

>> No.2492397

>>2492371
indeed. livemocha is a crapsite with a dozen of "users" trying to cash on the interpals model, that is: aging wankers from western nations pretend to be learning one exotic language and get some provincial ho as a wife. but this doesn't make any sense without any sizable userbase.

>> No.2492486

doesn't matter what book you get, the grammar's the same. wanna pay me to ship you one? $7, I have like 3.

>> No.2492491
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2492491

>>2492397
Wait, what...

I haven't been on the site in about two or three years, I thought it was just a nifty way to learn a language.

>> No.2493442

ich bin ein berliner

>> No.2493471

1. Choose prestigious university
2. Go the the website of the prestigious university
3. Find people who teach german
4. Email people who teach german, ask for syllabi
5. ??????
6. Speak german

>> No.2493494

>>2493471
good idea. anyone know if they'll really send you it?

>> No.2493508

>>2493471
fuck, i've been doing this all day, though not the emailing thing. cambridge lists their curriculum for the beginning german course but when i looked up the book itself it had really really bad reviews.

tried the rest of the ivy leagues and a few other major unis and none of them list it on their site. might have to email after all.

>> No.2493518

Just read Amazon reviews.

>> No.2493535

>>2493494
Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. Make your email concise and professional, and probably. I've emailed a few ivy/prestigious school professors, and most have responded.