Do you speak German?

42358POSTS

9 years ago

Hi everyone,

It is widely agreed that mastering the German language is essential for a successful integration in Germany. Do you agree? Share your experience!

Do you speak German? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend a language course in Germany?

If not, how do you cope with daily activities? Is it easy to communicate in a different language with Germans?

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Priscilla

See also

Finding a job in Germany from abroad - Guide
A1 German Grammar - 9 Replies
Learning German Language - 6 Replies
Just for fun: How well do you know Germany? - 2 Replies
Do you feel at home in Germany as an expat? - 3 Replies
Improve German language with Tandem - 9 Replies
What do you like the most in Germany? - 15 Replies

psychdoc Member

14POSTS

9 years ago

Absolutely ! No matter which foreign country you live in, if you don't learn to speak the language at least a little ,you are isolating your self.

dhitchman New member

8POSTS

9 years ago

I speak a little.
Not being fluent isn't a deal breaker here as most speak English. The biggest issues are in the job market, basically mainly big internationals are open but the rest largely closed unless you are native German level (just good isn't enough).
The main hassle is with official forms, most are in German and take some wading through if you are not able to get a friend to help.

I used inlingua and then a course provided by one of the companies, neither really got me very far (the company course was certainly the best... it was delivered by a Croatian, so someone who understood the difficulties of learning German). Currently my daughter is tri-lingual but still in kindergarden, I am picking up more from her as I go along.

jblanche New member

5POSTS

9 years ago

Yes,absolutely! Every foreigners who are living here in Germany have a big advantage if they can speak German. It would be helpful on your daily living and at work as well. Some Germans don't mind the grammar, but on my part, I see to it that I speak with correct grammar. German is not an easy language to learn but everyday is a learning process.

People who are new in Germany can check out their towns if there are private German course schools and at Volksholschule (VHS).

kamarti123 New member

3POSTS

9 years ago

Absolutely.聽 You shouldn't move to a foreign country without the willingness to learn the language.聽 I once wrote about this...

GuestPoster105 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

"One step forward, two steps back". The problem is mostly not the German language itself but the variety of dialects in Germany. Lots of Germans think they speak German but the speak a dialect. Try to learn as many words as possible and don't bother the grammar. Most common German sentence do always have the same grammar. So germans mostly do not know why but they only know it because it is a standard daily used sentence. Try to get degree B1 in German language (40% of the people do) and you will survive.聽 I live in M眉nchen (Bavaria) and even Germans in other parts of the country do not understand a word they say. Keep Calm and enjoy life. No good days, without the bad ones.
Advice:
1. Do read German newspapers.
2. Watch the daily news on ZDF or ARD.
3. Watch quizes to learn about Germany in general.
4. Do not forget to continue to speak your mother language daily.
5. Last but not least: stop trying too hard. Relax and learn daily. You have to use every foreign word three times before it is and stays on ur "harddisk".

mahadiahmed Member

21POSTS

9 years ago

in general one should learn the language in order to understand how people think ( mentality ) with German is much more needed!
The language its self is very beautiful , logic and elegant ( in my opinion). if you are interested in reading literature and聽 philosophy, you would enjoy it so so so much ( in german) .
good luck

abyot11 Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

yes i speak German,in my Opinion it is very essential to learn the language in the land where you live.Specially in Germany, you have to learn German ,there is no alternative,in order to manage your live.

GuestPoster105 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

Yes, I do speak German, it is not perfect but it is rather OK. Good enough to write essays for school and to work in Education. I learn it after being 40 so it is still a challenge.
My partner is not german so we speak 麓kind of veeeeery flexible German麓 at home, our kids try to help us somehow to speak better but, well, Rome wasn麓t made in a day.
I particularly find it now good, because I no longer have the impression of people being angry when talking (one must accept it is a rather harsh sounding language). I enjoy reading, singing and watching movies in German, and pretty much to my surprise I even laugh when I am meant to laugh!!
I tried for ages (3 years) to learn it really hard and I was in different schools... with rather OK results, including the VHS (cheaper that most private schools). My breakthrough (necessary to start a Career in Germany) came with a private teacher, called Otto E. He is now in Argentina but still teaches via Skype (I don麓t make fake publicity,聽 if any Spanish-speaker needs the contact let me know).
It is a WONDERFUL language, once you get the grip of it!
Best wishes and don麓t lose heart, you got to work for it.

ramisbg Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

#10

It's really a big challenge, I can speak some German that I have learned in VHS, but of course this is not enough, I lost several good job opportunities because of my weak speaking skills. maybe I was quick to start looking for job before speaking good.
on the other hand, how can you practice you language? I think this is a big problem, I tried to look for local friends, or ask for conversation courses but unfortunately nothing is available, since I live in a small village and many of the people are old people who speak a very heavy Deutsch that make it harder. Plus you could face the pre-judgment that prevents you from establishing friendships.

GuestPoster105 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

#11

Absolutely !

LILY27 Member

11POSTS

9 years ago

#12

yes absolutely,and its really very important specially if you work...its more easier to communicate with people here.not all people can speak English so it really big help if you speak German for your daily life..to buy,asking something you like to know and so on....without German skill its not easy to get a job.not shy if wrong grammar they will understand it...its the same if they learn our language im sure they cant speak it perfect.thats the same with my english its also not perfect but i try and try...right?if you like to learn you can do it,..i learn with my husband through Skype before i came here in Germany ...i have luck i passed German and got A1 certificate without going to school聽

聽 ...i live here since September 2015 and begin to learn more it was not easy because i begin in a higher class coz my husband tell them to test my German skills and i was near B1 im very happy in this time but at the same time also nervous..it was crazy for me coz i don't know what is Dativ, Akkusative and so on and my classmate know already this coz they learn it from the start...i learn in VHS i have luck my teacher also is very good they explain and give time if you not understand..''THANK YOU TEACHER''

聽 hehehe...i finished in 3 months and also passed it..yeheyyyy...and now im happy i hear most of people i speak with that i speak good German for a short period of time...but my problem is im mostly alone at home and i also speak everytime english with my husband..hope i meet new friends and train more my German...honestly they say im good but im still not satisfied there are really words and sentences i cant understand...so hopefully i can speak with other people more...i like to pursue my German this year B2 and C1...its better if you like to make Ausbildung...

danielpavelka Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

#13

I have spent over a decade as an expat in Europe and I have always found greater acceptance by locals and an easier integration into the culture by learning (at least conversationally) the language. Inhibitions tend to fade, you make friends (that will help you), and you break the view that American can't speak languages.

I have always taken the time to at least be familiar with the culture where I was living. You must not compare but adapt. After all, you are now the auslander.

Hesham Dowadi Member

2POSTS

9 years ago

#14

Sehr geehrte
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen weil ich in Deutschland arbeite.
Ich bin fach Oralchirurgie (Zahnarzt)
Wo wohnen Sie? & woher kommen Sie?
Mit freundlichen Gr眉脽en

disput.az New member

8POSTS

9 years ago

#15

Undoubtedly !

GuestPoster105 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

#16

Hesham Dowadi wrote:
Sehr geehrte
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen weil ich in Deutschland arbeite.
Ich bin fach Oralchirurgie (Zahnarzt)
Wo wohnen Sie? & woher kommen Sie?
Mit freundlichen Gr眉脽en

I realize the topic title might have prompted you to use German, but can you please write in English on this forum so everyone can follow along?聽

Romaniac

Hesham Dowadi Member

2POSTS

9 years ago

#17

Hello
I can speak German because i live in Germany since 2010 and working in Germany as specialist in Oral Surgery ( Dentis)
Thanks

sashakeelpk Member

2POSTS

9 years ago

#18

The language its self is very beautiful , logic and elegant ( in my opinion). if you are interested in reading literature and聽 philosophy, you would enjoy it so so so much ( in german) .
good luck

Hingi Member

2POSTS

9 years ago

#19

Hi....

I can speak a bit of it (ein bisschen), But I'm still learning to know and speak it better. It is very important knowing German language for interaction and job search if one wishes to work in Germany. Most jobs require good command of German.

To me I still find it wealth knowing this one of the world important languages especially for sciences if you want to taste some ideas in their originals.

Vielen Dank!

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

2802POSTS

9 years ago

#20

I don't know why anyone would learn German if they don't plan to live in a German speaking country but if they do, it is essential. For a visit or very limited stay then once can of course survive with English. But for the long term one should do their best. Otherwise, one is always dependent on others and missing half of what is going on. And while many contacts might at first be actually happy to practice their English with you, this gets old real quick. The attitude, rightfully so, is that one needs to at least make an effort at assimilating. And while learning the language doesn鈥檛 guarantee one will have a fruitful social life, the lack of language skills will probably limit it. And one often reads posts on this site about people鈥檚 loneliness, which can become a major problem once one is beyond the initial flurry of getting started in a new country. And it is very unfortunate that one might struggle to overcome the complexities of getting a job and place to live and manage the immigration process and then have to wonder if it was all worth it when one feels alienated.

But mastering any language is a matter of degree. Few foreigners, unless they come at an early age, are going to learn it like a native. But locals generally understand this and don鈥檛 expect perfection. It is probably worth it to make a major effort in the beginning including taking classes at Volkshochschule, the Germany system of community colleges or at a language institute. Once one has reached some level of proficiency then watching TV and reading newspapers and magazines really helps. Despite being more or less in Germany for more than 2 decades I still didn鈥檛 bother to tackle reading German books until a couple of years ago. I read for pleasure and the thought of struggling through a whole book just didn鈥檛 sound like my idea of fun. And then I discovered that yes, there are a lot of books out there that I can manage and exactly by taking on the ones that were a bit above my normal level were a challenge yet gave me a feeling of accomplishment to learn some more.

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

2802POSTS

9 years ago

#21

Brendstetter wrote:
"One step forward, two steps back". The problem is mostly not the German language itself but the variety of dialects in Germany. Lots of Germans think they speak German but the speak a dialect. Try to learn as many words as possible and don't bother the grammar. Most common German sentence do always have the same grammar. So germans mostly do not know why but they only know it because it is a standard daily used sentence. Try to get degree B1 in German language (40% of the people do) and you will survive.聽 I live in M眉nchen (Bavaria) and even Germans in other parts of the country do not understand a word they say. Keep Calm and enjoy life. No good days, without the bad ones.
Advice:
1. Do read German newspapers.
2. Watch the daily news on ZDF or ARD.
3. Watch quizes to learn about Germany in general.
4. Do not forget to continue to speak your mother language daily.
5. Last but not least: stop trying too hard. Relax and learn daily. You have to use every foreign word three times before it is and stays on ur "harddisk".

I have to commend Brendsetter on these insights. My German wife always tells me that there are no "German" people; Germany is a collection of very different groups. And while all German dialects have similar roots, the differences are bigger than most foreigners realize.聽 My wife's parents moved from the area of Germany known as Franken to Schwabenland, the next region over. Not only was the dialect strange but they were considered as foreigners with all of the negative connotations. For a foreigner to gain acceptance they need to learn, or at least understand, the dialect where they live. Yet if they want to be understood elsewhere they need to know the difference to High German.

sundaykahindi775 Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

#22

yes i speak very exellent Germany.I needed to learn good German because i came here as a Student and had planned to work and live here.

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15634POSTS

9 years ago

#23

sundaykahindi775 wrote:
yes i speak very exellent Germany.

Is your Germany better than your Englandish?

Leahsofly Member

2POSTS

9 years ago

#24

Is the German language hard to learn??

drummochy Member

3POSTS

9 years ago

#25

If you want to understand how the natives think you need to learn the language.

liveworkgermany New member

8POSTS

9 years ago

#26

Yes, of course, all immigrants must learn the language of the host country. Just because you're an English speaking expat doesn't magically exclude you from this. "I don't have time", "it's too difficult", "everybody here understands English" are just other ways of saying "I can't be bothered". Plenty of people less educated than you have managed it (taxi drivers?) so no excuses.

You need to have this mindset of "I can and I will" and not "I probably could but it's too much trouble". I have written an article聽 liveworkgermany.com/2017/01/learn-german-the-motivation-you-need-to-kick-start-language-learning about this for those interested.

Good luck and don't give up!!

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

2802POSTS

9 years ago

#27

Leahsofly wrote:
Is the German language hard to learn??

Compared to what? I find Latin languages like Spanish a bit easier but of course it is not so complex like Finnish nor so strange like Chinese dialects or other tonal languages.

djjeffster New member

4POSTS

9 years ago

#28

Hi my exprience learning German has not been a easy task and journey.I am from canada I married a German woman and I have been here for 2years now.When I arrived in Germany I maybe new like 5words in total in German.I attend German language courses in one of the schools they have here the course expand my learning of more words and basic sentences but I felt the course was very poorley structured and I did not grasp the whole course.In around the time before I finished this course I got a job and training offer from a trucking company聽 here. In canada I was a truck driver.This company offered to pay my trainning in a school to obtain my truck driving licence in Germany for months I attended school for training learned partical and written tests in school.I attend a course in the UK for my licence .When it came down to the final day to do my truck driving test with the official German goverment office I failed .I decide not go any further with my training and moved on.In the time since than have found a fulltime job at the airport here as a baker have been there for over a year now my coworkers talk to me in german and english up to this point in my time in Germany I have studyed my german off and on .I can diffentley speak more than when I first came here sentences and can understand my coworkers only a little when they do speak to me if they speak fast and with long sentences find it very hard to understand.I do try to learn when I can now german but it has come to a point where I can not remeber every word every sentence my wife bless her heart trys to speak with me to with her english being perfect and of course her being born in Germany her German is perfect but she trys with me but we are not always on top of it everyday and to be honest it has beome very stressful for me at times have come to point where I think I will never find the key tolearning German and basically have given up.

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

2802POSTS

9 years ago

#29

Sorry to hear djjeffster had such experiences. But it shows that the ability to learn something is very personal. I had to go through the process of getting my German driver鈥檚 license. And although I had decades of driving experience I did have to study the material since not everything is done exactly the same and one needs to recognize and understand German signs. But through a driving school one gets good study materials and I got 100% on the test. Plus one can take the exams in a dozen different languages. So if djjeffster took the exam in German then I wonder why he didn鈥檛 do it in English? So if one fails, it鈥檚 not that German is too hard but one either lack competency or didn't really prepare well.

And the attitude that one gives up on learning the language where they are living is rather incredible. Maybe for an older European language speaking person to learn Chinese or something but not German. One needs to have some patience and accept that they will have periods where they see little improvement. It goes in fits and starts at times. But yeah, if one starts with a defeatist attitude towards learning a language then they will not get far and should consider staying in their home country.

John Fernandes Active member

25POSTS

9 years ago

#30

Yes it's is a must to read, write and also being able to communicate with other people in German. I did online with Babbel for one year and it does help for beginners but one must speak with other people doesn't matter even if it is wrong. I work as a Chef for a German Restaurant and sometimes I take help from my colleagues if any challenge arises....but if you speak a little and try to understand the people, I think it is enough to survive. I have not been in other parts of Germany but here in Krumbach, I think the people are gentle.

djjeffster New member

4POSTS

9 years ago

#31

Moderated by Priscilla 9 years ago
Reason : off topic

djjeffster New member

4POSTS

9 years ago

#32

Thankyou for the insights and advice and that is awsome you got your licence congrats it sounded like a hard road for you to.I was lucky being from Canada I got my drivers licence right away something in the german driving laws that grant licences to canadains but I was very lucky to be able just to transfer over my old one from Canada to Germany .The hard part was getting my licence for driving a semi or big truck spent alot of money to end up in the end not getting it .I passed the written test part which was in english but the TUV road test for LKW did not pass it is kind of unfair that they dont have road testers that speak english and are willing to give the road test in english but that is the TUV laws and just have to go with the flow .I will be honest have thought many times going back to Canada but to be honest I have established a life here with a loving wife a job which I am very good at and where my coworkers understand聽 english is my mouth language and they are willing to speak to me in english and German so I can learn.Maybe it will take me another year two weeks months I dont know but eventually I think I will come to a point where I will be confident in my ability to finally grasp the German language and move forward.

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15634POSTS

9 years ago

#33

This is not a thread for discussing how to obtain or convert driving licenses. Please stay on topic!
However, it is a good idea to start a new thread about driving licenses and you are welcome to do so.

lauriesfranconia Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

#34

Yes, I speak German. Before moving to Germany I listened to podcasts on deutsche Welle to get started. After moving I attended the six month integration course in Bamberg. There were more than 16 different nationalities learning along side me in the course. It was hard and it was time consuming but it was totally worth it. I think it is very isolating not to learn the language and worse you miss out on lots of wonderful aspects of the culture.

Shahzada Arslan Ahmed New member

4POSTS

9 years ago

#35

No i want to learn German Language

Mumbles New member

9POSTS

9 years ago

#36

Yes 100% you will need to learn at least the basics.. pending career choice.聽 As I am relocating to Berlin shortly I have taken up language classes with a college called Goethe Institut. They are a German based college with an easy teaching methodoly.
--> goethe.de/ins/au/en/index.html

Eddy

Hoiam Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

#37

Indeed. To know more聽 about the culture of people聽 you live with. You must聽聽understand聽 their language.聽 How they deal.聽 H ow they think.聽 How behave And聽 however聽 to live safe. That can not be with out understanding the language they speak.

Mumbles New member

9POSTS

9 years ago

#38

Hoiam wrote:
Indeed. To know more聽 about the culture of people聽 you live with. You must聽聽understand聽 their language.聽 How they deal.聽 H ow they think.聽 How behave And聽 however聽 to live safe. That can not be with out understanding the language they speak.

Language, forms one part of the total understanding of ones culture....

Just saying.

Sandeep Tripathi Member

2POSTS

9 years ago

#39

I speak little bit of German.聽 I am now at B1 level and I did my A1 and A2 from Goethe Institute in Kathmandu and now doing my B1 in VHS in my own country. I plan to use it for doing masters in German.

I have heard that knowledge of German language is essential to integrate. I feel speaking is the most essential of all the skill in speaking that is required followed by listening. I feel my speaking level is okay but listening native speaker is little hard as my teachers till now have been non native.

I personally feel, more the german materials (Books, videos, movies, songs) you cover better gets the language.I am willing for tandem partner to improve Deutsch and also to practice more Deutsch and tackle task of having fluent German.

Sincerely,
Sandeep