Since yesterday I have been living in Germany for two years!
Two years ago yesterday I arrived in Germany and started my new life here. Two years is not long also not short. I remember at that time I thought after two years I could speak very good German, but until today I still speak very poor German-I was too lazy!
Today I am thinking about after two more years, will I be able to speak very fluent German? I wish so and I should do! I think I need to set up a plan for myself to improve my German level. At least I should speak German with Martin instead of English. If I can do it, I believe after two more years my German will be much better.
Even though my German is still not fluent, but I still learnt a lot in the past two years, and I also changed a lot. The biggest step is that I got a job. The other big changes are my attitude and stomach. In the past two years, I have gone through some hard time to adjust myself to the new country. I could get over of it was due to the supports and encouragements from Martin, my parents-in-law,my sister and my brother,. After the hard time, I am now cherishing my families much more than before. I realized how important they are to me; My stomach has also changed. From the beginning I didn't like the German food until now sometimes when I am leaving home for some days I will miss German bread. My stomach adjusted the new environment quicker than I thought.
Today I thought the same as the day I arrived in Germany two years ago. I don't know how I will be after two years, but I am more enjoying my life now.
Yes, you have adjusted to life in Germany; next you'll be speaking better German - Jah?
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ReplyDeleteHi Lingling, and I will try to remember what was said -- computers sometimes just refuse without giving a reason, and this just happened.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say, that I think German language has a quality to it that is good to understand for learning, and that books etc. don't seem to notice this, but I think every learner does.
It is that there is a kind of 'network' of knowledge that I think you have to gain before it becomes more natural and easy to use, and therefore easier to learn more.
This network includes all those many small things which books are light on, but conversation and writing are full of - like the particles I call 'positionals' because indeed they locate things -- all the an, nach, bei, etc.., which attach themselves everywhere, and often have a different meaning depending on where they attach. As with all old languages, I think you can only learn comfort with them, and that by practice. It's the same for all the verb modifiers, which are often subtle.
I think there are hundreds of items in this fundamental 'network' that makes meaning, and so your idea of deliberately using German for a portion of talk with Martin and his family is a very sound one. You always have the English when needed, when things might get important, until they can come out in German also.
Soon enough this will give you what books and study don't, and I think this will mean that learning German will suddenly become more easy and natural to you, something to look forward to. I also used newspaper reading as another way to gain some of this, because often enough it's hard to pick out of conversations unless you have someone close to you.
Anyway, it's very nice to hear that you are becoming happier there. Germany has very definite cultures, just as China can have, and as you'll know, this can mean a good deal of pleasure as you learn the ways for each next opening door.
Lingling, it's as always very good to hear how supportive and friendly Martin and his family are -- thoughtful and nice people, I feel, and a smile to them.
You yourself then have that nice, and very interesting place to grow.
Best regards,
Clive
Hi Clive: I think you called the 'network' is the environment. It is a great advantage to learn a language when we are living in the language environment. Many Chinese students who has never been to Germany but studying German in China.
ReplyDeleteI thought since I am living in Germany, I have big advantages to learn German-especially my husband is a German. But even though I have such a big advantage, if I don't put efforts to it, my German will still be poor-that's what I often blame myself for. This is also why many foreigners living in a foreign country for many years but can not speak the local language well.
TV, radio, newspaper, Internet, speaking with family, colleagues and friends, all of them are the tools to learn German. What I need to do is just to focus more and to be more diligent.
Lingling
Lingling, yes, the environment is very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI did mean something a little different in talking about 'positionals'. I believe Chinese language lacks most of these, as does English, so it is a little different concept, and that is what I thought of.
I think you can learn them best of all in an immersive environment -- the concept is for recognizing one of the important things you are learning, and that might also help.
I read here in Swiss papers and in Spiegel to keep practicing, as well as for the interests.
Regards,
Clive