subject: Tips Learning To Speak German Fluently [print this page] Are you planning a trip to Germany or Switzerland? Interested in learning more about your German ancestry? Is your company sending you on that very important business trip? Wouldn't it help to be able to say more than "Ja"? If you're reading this, you need to know how to learn to speak German fluently.
But there's good news - learning German isn't nearly as hard as you think! You just have to develop an ear for the German language. Listen carefully to a German speaker. You'll notice that there are many sounds in German that aren't precisely like their English counterparts. German speakers pronounce the letter combination "Th" like an English "T." The letter "G" is never soft, either. These differences can make German sound harsh and strident. But as the sounds of your new language become a part of you, it will become easier and easier to learn to speak German fluently.
Now I'm going to ask you to do something a bit unusual - watch an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie! Repeat the actor's lines, trying to make your accent sound as much like his as you can. No, you're not speaking German yet - but you're getting a feel for the sound of the language. Believe it or not, "playing" with German sounds will help you learn to speak German fluently.
Obviously, learning German involves more than faking a German accent. Learning a language requires a systematic program of study. Many people nowadays enjoy online learning, because they can study at their own pace and repeat lessons until they've mastered them. Or, you may prefer taking a formal class or listening to CDs. Whatever method you choose, make sure your program focuses on conversation. Speaking German and reading German aren't the same activity, and it's a lot easier to learn to read the language after you've learned to speak it well. In the end, there's only one way to learn to speak German fluently - listening and talking back.
Remember, German has three genders - masculine, feminine, and neuter. This isn't something we have to worry about in English, so gendered nouns may be new to you. Masculine nouns include dog (der Hund) and coat (der Mantel). Die Decke (blanket) and die Ferien (vacation) are examples of feminine nouns. Das Haus (house) and das Schwein (pig) are examples of neuter nouns. The words "der," "die," or "das" mean "the," and indicate the gender of the accompanying noun. There's no way to predict whether a noun is going to be masculine, feminine, or neuter, so if you want to learn to speak German fluently, always remember to learn the proper article at the same time you learn the noun.
If you want to learn German fast, though, practice your conversational skills on a new German friend. You'll never learn a language thoroughly until you begin to speak it like your own. For that you need a partner. Human interaction will help you learn to speak German fluently, and you'll make a fast friend, too!
