A question and answer study guide to learning German
 
 
Learning a new language, especially if you haven´t learnt a foreign language before, can
be a daunting task at first. Because many questions are being asked by students year
after year, we have provided you with a list of FAQs. At the moment this project is very
much a work in progress and will hopefully keep growing. In the meantime, have fun
studying German!
 
Questions and answers:
 
 
Q: Will I have to study German vocab and grammar every day?
A: Yes. Learning a language like German is relatively easy. It doesn't require you to
grasp difficult concepts. However, tenacity is the key. Half an hour every day after your
class is much more effective than cramming two days before a test. Although we
generally only introduce one topic per class, you will find that, if you do not keep up with
what's been done in class each day, it will be difficult to catch up.
 
Q: What is the best way to learn vocabulary?
A: Everyone learns differently and some methods work better for some students than for
others. However, reading through your vocabulary list once will not mean you know the
words. It takes several repetitions before vocabulary "sticks" permanently, no matter
which approach you take. Here are a number of suggestions. Try them out and see if
they work for you. If you have a special method that work wonders for you, let us know.
Exercise book: Divide the pages of an exercise book in two by drawing a line down the
middle. Write the English word on the left side, the German equivalent on the right. The
actual process of writing them down is already much better than only looking at the
words in the book. After that, cover one side and try to remember the equivalent in the
other language.
Dictaphone/Voice-recorder: Some people are better at remembering things they
hear. Use a Dictaphone or some other voice recorder to record the word in English, than
leave a gap of a few seconds and say the German translation. When you replay the tape,
use the gap to think of the equivalent word.
Index cards: Write a word on a small cue/index card and the translation on the back.
Put them all in a box with two compartments ("correct" and "incorrect"). Depending on
whether you translate a word correctly you will put it under the respective category.
Repeat all the incorrect ones until them are in the "correct" category. If you want to see
an example of how this works, come and see me, I have a sample box with German
verbs.
Post-it notes: Especially in the beginning, a good way to learn new nouns is to stick
little notes with the German word on objects throughout your house. As you will use
them every day this can be a great way to remember their German equivalent. Ask your
parents / flatmates first!
 
 
Q: Do I need to remember the gender of German nouns?
A: Yes. When you are starting German don't be put off from speaking if you are unsure
about the gender of a word. You can still communicate your message even if the article
is incorrect. However, as you move on, you will notice that knowing the gender of a
noun becomes increasingly important. That's why it makes sense to start learning the
gender right from the start.
 
Q: How do I learn the gender of German nouns?
A: As for learning vocab, there is really no one best way. I have had students who colour
coded their nouns. For example, blue was masculine for them, pink feminine and white
neuter. Thus, they would remember a blue dog, a pink cat and a white house.
Others grouped genders with Auckland suburbs: Ponsonby was masculine, Grey Lynn
feminine and Herne Bay neuter. Thus, dog was Ponsonby-word, cat a Grey Lynn word
and house a Herne Bay word.
Of course you can simply learn the der/die/das with the respective noun. Whatever
works for you is the best way.
 
Q: How do I practice German grammar?
A: If you feel that your grammar skills are a little weak, we recommend you get the
book English Grammar for Students of German by Cecile Zorach. It has easy
explanations of German grammar and compares it to the way it would be used in
English. For additional exercises, consult the German 101 resource website.
 
 
Q: How do I get an A+ in this course?
A: The following recommendations will not guarantee you an A+, but they greatly
increase your chances: Go to all classes, including clinics and tutorials. Come prepared,
be sure that you have revised and understood what was done in the previous lesson. Do
a little bit of German every day. If something is unclear, make use of your tutor's office
hours to ask or make an appointment to see them. Participate in class, volunteer for
dialogues, role-plays etc. – they are the best way to practice your speaking skills. Go to
the language lab to listen to the Kontakte-CDs regularly. Make use of the additional
online resources provided on the departmental web-page. Once you have done all the
listed and linked exercises you will have no problems with any of the tests and exams.
Below are some other ways to make the most of your German experience and improve
your marks:
 
Q: How can I listen to / practice more spoken German?
A: Once a week, there is an informal meeting of tutors and students who will chat for
one hour in German. It is mostly during lunch hour, so bring along your own food. Tea,
coffee and cookies will be provided. Don't be scared if you are only a beginner, you can
just sit there and listen, if you want. Look out for sign advertising "Kaffeeklatsch" on the
departmental notice-board.
 
Q: Are there any simple German movies to watch?
A: In Auckland, there are generally one or two original German movies being shown in
cinemas around the city. Although you will have to rely on the subtitles in the beginning,
you will soon start to understand complete sentences. Consult your newspaper or ask
your tutor about German movies currently screening. During the semester, the German
language assistants usually show one German movie per week. Have a look at the notice
board to see what's on and come along.
The AV library in the Arts building also has a great collection of important German
movies. Most of them you can simply watch in exchange for your student ID.
There is also DW-TV, the German equivalent to BBC-World. It is screened generally
screened on Prime. Check your newspaper for current screenings.
 
Q: Will I be fluent in German after this course?
A: No. You will have sound basic skills. German 101 should only be the starting point on
your way towards learning the language. After three years of studying and often a
semester in Germany, some of our senior students are fluent speakers of the language.
 
Q: Can I go to Germany to study?
A: Absolutely. There are a great number of scholarships and exchange programmes out
there, either offered by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Office) or Auckland
University's partner unis in Germany. They range from four-week language courses to
full one year academic programmes, some of them will pay for flight, accommodation
and tuition. Ask your lecturer for more information. Usually students would go in the second or third year of their degree, so if you are thinking about it, make sure you apply early so you do not miss the application deadline. Don't be shy, these scholarships are
not that difficult to get.