Learning a new language

[johnjohn320]

Hey guys,

I speak English (obviously) and a little Spanish, but only from having years of it in high school and college. I'm a professional pianist, and have been booked to perform a small European tour around Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg. Yep, time to learn some German. Yes, I will have other English-speakers around, but I'd really like to know enough German to say, hail a cab or order at a restaurant. Not to mention just being able to understand what people are saying to me.

So, I leave in late August. Not much time. Obviously, being immersed in it when I go is going to accelerate my learning (and probably sound completely different than any pedagogical approach I take before then). But, what do you guys think is a good way to go about getting a bit of German under my belt before I go? Rosetta Stone? Pimsleur Approach? (http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/) I've noticed the latter does that sneaky approach of automatically subscribing you to future lessons, cancel anytime yada yada. But it's much cheaper up front. A third option/something completely different?

Whatcha think?

 

[lxskllr]

I got Pimsleur CDs years ago. I didn't follow through with learning, but the approach seemed reasonable, and I think the method is respected. I'd go with that, and also get on some Germen websites, especially for news. That'll give you practical material to read and listen to.

 

[mnewsham]

rosetta stone works if you can afford it (or torrent it like the rest of the world). Got me through Chinese in high school while being one of the more proficient speakers by the end of the term.

 

[KidNiki1]

i'm using the Pimsleur audio books from audible.com for german. i'm still fairly new to it, but it seems pretty tailored to learning how to speak the language you would need on an every day kind of basis. i like it because i can use it pretty much anywhere since it's on my phone. i listen a lot in the car. that way, when i'm talking out loud to myself in german, i'm not annoying anyone else.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Rooooseeeettttaaaa stoneeeeeeeeeeeeee. Only $19.95 a year! Order now! Free demo cd! Also get a free window shiner! Just add shippppppppppppppppppppppping and handling!!!!!!!

 

[anyusername]

I don't know what you've heard, but German is extremely hard.

 

[johnjohn320]

I don't know what you've heard, but German is extremely hard.

Yeah, I know. Doesn't really change my situation, does it?

 

[brianmanahan]

I don't know what you've heard, but German is extremely hard.

the most annoying part is that german uses a gender for like every noun in the language, which is stupid

but on the plus side, it doesn't put adjectives AFTER nouns like latin languages, which is also stupid

which is more stupid? not sure.

 

[johnjohn320]

bump