Tips/techniques for learning a language.

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So one of the final things I have to do in order to graduate is pass 2 foreign language courses.

I tried to take French, but I didn't particularly care for the lecturer... and the language didn't sit well in my brain either.

So now, in the fall I'll be taking German, and I am particularly dreading this course. But I have to do well, it's my last chance.

I have terrible memory problems with this sort of thing, especially trying to speak in real time. Also, when I hear something my brain doesn't pick up what is actually said (if that makes any sense)... unless I hear it repeated... which isn't likely to happen.

I also have phobias about just plain speaking, talking to myself to practice the language.

And to top it all off, I have difficulties making the subtle articulation changes to make the language sound the way it's supposed to sound.

Learning to read and write is not as difficult. I can at least reason what is being said at my own pace.

So any recommendations? I'm always slightly envious of those who learn languages easily... it's just not something my brain seems wired for.

You'll do fine with German. English and German are related, and therefore the vocabulary is pretty easy to memorize. Spelling is super-easy, it's like phonic English, basically. Those two things alone make things much easier right from the start. German is a very logical and systematic language, without the zillion "exceptions" of some other languages, so that definitely appealed to my aspie need for order. The only tough aspect of German is the actual grammar, which is kind of complicated. There are three genders instead of French's two; the articles and endings of adjectives change according to their position in the sentence; and the verbs tend to pile up at the end of the sentence, not at the beginning as in English. But like I said, the rules are pretty straightforward; once you get them, you have them.

I suggest that you listen to as much spoken German as possible: movies, music, instructional language CDs, etc. and join some kind of practice group so that you can work on your speaking. The reading and writing won't be much trouble, and even the speaking isn't too hard. For me, it's the listening that's tough - it's hard having to wait for the verbs until the end of the sentence - I usually find myself drifting off and panicking.

Good luck. I think you might actually enjoy learning German. It's a cool language.

stevek speaks german, i think

not sure waht to say... i do best just reading the words and remembering... that's all i can say

i like to listen for the rhythum of a language... that's what lets me "allign" all the romance languages and compare/remember things across them

though im not a great speaker... just at hearing/reading... writing ok

i have a defective tongue though and suck at speaking (wisdom tooth surgery gone awry)

what lvl course it is you have to take? higher lvl with conversation emphasis?

Hmm... rhythm of the language. This is something that I haven't really picked up... whenever I have tried to learn a language. How long does it take?

I don't need very advanced understanding... just enough to pass the classes... definitely not conversation level.

I might want to try to get into a graduate math program... and most require a fluency in reading a language. Either French, German or Russian.

That's the extent of the expertise I would need.

When I found out that I had to take two years of foreign language classes in university I was very mad. This was because I didn't do very well in Spanish in HS, which I was required to take. However, I did much better taking Russian in university, which is supposed to be a harder language to learn (in retrospect, I agree).

Here are my suggestions... Try to memorize as much vocabulary as you can (this can be done by reading over the words some each day). This is because the work is cumulative: you can't just forget stuff that you learned earlier. Also, do all of the assigned homework, even though this is very, very tedious. Be sure to select a language that you actually are interested in, because this is a massive time sink.

Well, language classes will make you speak in class, which is annoying. That being said, I think it is actually less intimidating to speak in a foreign language in class rather than in English. This is because you are expected to make lots of mistakes and sound weird talking in another language.

Then you might want to stick with German. I've heard that's the best foreign language for grad-level math, science, & econ studies.

Ich spreche Deutch... But I don't write it so good...