Scratch

NOTE: This is for the few people who requested a topic for my guides. Please do not come on if you are going to point out that it is impossible to learn an entire language over forums. I'm not disagreeing either- it is impossible. What I am doing is simply giving them a head start, by teaching basic words and a few verbs, and giving tips for study techniques.


Let us begin with our first lesson then, shall we?

Lesson 1: Basic Words
These are the essential words for the German language. They are simply words of politeness. These are helpful to know if you are going to Germany, and are also a great start for learning the language. I will post the English word, then the German word, then its literal pronunciation. I may also point out a few things in red.

Yes - Ja (Yaw) Note: 'J' sounds like 'Y' in German, pretty much all the time
No - Nein (Nine)
Hello - Hallo (Haw-lo)
Goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen (Oaf Vee-der-sane) Don't be frightened by the size of this word- its actually really easy to say. Just remember the 'W' will always sound like 'V'.
Please - Bitte (Bih-tuh)
Thank You - Danke (Dunk-uh)
Sorry - Traurig (Trow-rig)
Man - Herr (Hare)
Woman - Frauline (Frow-line)
1 - Ein (Ine)
2 - Zwei (Zvy)
3 - Drei (Dry)
4 - Vier (Veer)
5 - Fünf (Foonf) The two dots above the 'u' in 5 is an accent called an Umlaut (Oom-lout). It makes the U sound more like 'oo'. So its not 'Funf', its 'Foonf'
6 - Sechs (Seks)
7 - Sieben (Seebin)
8 - Acht (Act)
9 - Neun (Noin)
10 - Zehn (Zen)
11 - Elf (Elf)
12 - Zwolf (Zvolf)
Who - Wer (Ver) With all these next 'question' words, you must remember: W = V
What - Was (Vass)
Where - Wo (Voh)
When - Wenn (Ven)
Why - Warum (Varoom)
How - Wie (Vee)
I - Ich (Eechk) When saying this word, make a slight throat sound at the 'ch'. Not just 'Each', but 'Eakch' or 'Eachk'
You - Sie (See)


Memorization Techniques:
-After reading over once, cover the German side and only look at the English words. Try to remember the German word. After you write down or just think about your guess, uncover the word, and see if you we're right. Repeat multiple times for each word.
-Another technique, is re-writing everything I just wrote on paper. It takes longer, but it will get it stuck in your head. Trust me. I do this for school studying too, and it works brilliantly.
-Memorize some common words and use them. Just stick them into your everyday conversation and you will get used to them. (Note: you must be using them right and pronouncing them right or this will mess up). This one should not be used on its one, because it is not as effective.

I guarantee at least one of those techniques will get it stuck in your brain.



So, the wraps it up for this lesson. Class Dismissed 



Lesson 2: More Basic Words (Opposites), and Basic Phrases

Last edited by wiimaster (2011-08-17 08:30:16)