4While it shares a common ancestry with English, German is a challenging language for anglophones to master. According to language experts, achieving fluency in German is harder than learning even more esoteric languages, like Swedish or Afrikaans. Intermediate fluency requires 750 hours of complete immersion learning. If that sounds like a lot, count on it taking much more time if you're studying alone, outside the classroom. Here's how to begin.An English-German dictionary.
- Pick a method. Try an online course, many of which are free for all or part of the course (http://www.deutsch-lernen.com/, http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german). If you'd rather learn off line or on the go, try language tapes (such as Pimsleur), interactive computer programs (like Rosetta Stone) or podcasts (http://freelanguage.org/learn-german/digital-tools-and-media/audio/learn-german-itunes-audio). Or you can always sign up for a class at a University, language learning center or your nearest Goethe Institute.Stick to it. Learning a language requires discipline. Whatever your method, it will be useless if you don't create and stick to a learning timeline. Everyday exposure is preferable, but at least four days a week is a must.Reinforce what you're learning. Immerse yourself in the language as often as possible, and take every opportunity to speak. Watch movies in German (like "Das Boot," "Run Lola Run," and "Goodbye Lenin"), and repeat every word or phrase that you can make out. It will be difficult at first, but eventually try turning off the subtitles.Find a language partner. Use Craigslist or a bulletin board at your local hangout to find a German speaker who wants to learn English (or any other language you speak). Meet up weekly for a conversation in your mutual tongues.Go to Germany (or a German-speaking country). Exchange programs and study abroad (check out http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/06__Education/03__Exchange/00/__Exchange__programs.html) are the simplest way to go, but they're often expensive, unless you receive a scholarship. Remember, you can always visit, travel and make German-speaking friends along the way.
