I lived in Frankfurt for a couple years as a small child and had picked up some German. So there was a small base. Then, in Kenya, many of our friends were German and so I got to practice a bit. Even did some self studying just for fun. Yes. Just for fun.

Then we learned we were moving to Vienna so fun shifted to fun+need. The first few months I could really study to take a class. There was too much to do. But, life was in German and so I was learning a bit.

I realized quickly that I would need a proper course. People think everyone speaks English in Vienna. That’s not true. Plus, I wanted (still want) to learn. I don’t need to be perfect but I need to be able to communicate.

I found a course I liked: semi-intensive & meets twice a week. I chose this because it fit my schedule and because I had heard so many burn out stories from intensive courses. People would get through A1.1 and A1.2 and then stop. Have you taken an intensive? How did you like it!

We finished almost A1.1 in my class before #corona hit. The last class will be next week. The next course won’t start until July. It’s frustrating. I was starting to make progress. But, such is life. And life is still in German so it’s not as though I can’t practice.

I went through the rest of my course book, did flash cards, found other books. I really tried but after about a month I hit a wall. Self study only takes me so far. Have any of you done well with self study as opposed to a class?

Now I’m getting creative. I’m watching children’s programming. Shows like Die Maus and Stinky und Dirty are good. They are a little advanced for me but I find it helpful. I can read German pretty well. But speaking and listening are hard. The shows help with this.

Also, I’ve been doing some knitting patterns in German. It’s fun (for me) & I’m learning specific German knitting terminology. For example, a purl stitch sort of translates into “knit the wrong way.” This is why Google only takes you so far. Learning isn’t literal translation.

Did you need to learn a new language for your move? Or did you speak the language already but then learn that it’s spoken differently?

Finally, last part of this thread. Is learning German hard? Yes and no. Yes because of grammar. But, for me, having had exposure, and English being a Germanic language, the words themselves are not all that hard.

Some words are insanely long. And I don’t always get the pronunciation right. But I’m learning. I’m getting there. I’m getting used to what I feel is talking like Yoda. Over the fence throw the cow some hay.

Okay this is the real last part of this thread. Favorite words: überspringen (so cute). Handschue (also cute). And Ausfahrt because I am immature and because fart.