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How to prepare in advance for conversing

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yantai_scot
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Speaks: English*
Studies: German

 
 Message 1 of 8
05 August 2014 at 5:03pm | IP Logged 
After avoiding Skype all summer, next week some classmates and I (roughly A2 level)are
going to a function for visitors from our Twin town in Germany. This will be my first
time speaking German outside of the classroom to a native Speaker. There will be about
50 of them. How can I/we, prepare to lessen the stress?

I'm going to prepare little statements about aspects of my life- family, work (or lack
of it), hobbies, the town plus some corresponding questions. I was also going to learn
to ask (should I talk to a keen English speaker) if we can speak for just a couple of
minutes in German for the sake of practice (as per Benny's book).

Is there anything else to do or remember? They're from near Frankfurt. Firstly, I want
to be friendly and give them a good impression but secondly, I want to get as much
German speaking in as my brain can muster.
1 person has voted this message useful



slucido
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 Message 2 of 8
05 August 2014 at 7:33pm | IP Logged 
You are right. I think you can use a phrasebook. Then, read it aloud and talk to yourself about the topics. Use your imagination.
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tarvos
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 Message 3 of 8
05 August 2014 at 7:45pm | IP Logged 
Prepare the questions they are certainly going to ask.

Breathe in, breathe out, pretend you are German, and go.
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Radioclare
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 Message 4 of 8
05 August 2014 at 10:07pm | IP Logged 
I would definitely prepare questions in advance to ask them. Maybe think about the
answers they might give and look up some of the likely vocab in advance to give yourself
a headstart. If you're planning to ask them about their town, for example, you could read
through the Wikipedia entries in both English and German to get an idea in advance of
what they might tell you.

I'm sure they will be thrilled to meet people in the UK who speak some German. They will
probably be intrigued about why you're learning German, so that might be a good question
to rehearse an answer to.

Good luck :)
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rdearman
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 Message 5 of 8
05 August 2014 at 11:01pm | IP Logged 
Moses McCormick outlined his FLR method which gives some good questions which you might want to memorize and create some answers for. The thread is located HERE
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jeff_lindqvist
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 Message 6 of 8
06 August 2014 at 12:02am | IP Logged 
This got me thinking of Boris Shekhtman's "language islands" (referred to by many HTLAL members), which basically are topics you know inside-out.

If you don't have total control of the situation, pretend like you have it.

Some related links:
http://andrewblackman.net/2013/04/how-to-improve-your-foreig n-language-immediately/
http://www.learnetarium.com/2010/08/novel-approach-to-learni ng-languages.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/travel/an-archipelago-call ed-russian.html
http://www.learnetarium.com/2011/01/speaking-foreign-languag e.html
http://www.tobefluent.com/2014/07/27/how-to-improve-your-for eign-language-immediately/

Edited by jeff_lindqvist on 06 August 2014 at 12:07am

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slucido
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 Message 7 of 8
06 August 2014 at 9:32am | IP Logged 
jeff_lindqvist wrote:
This got me thinking of Boris Shekhtman's "language islands" (referred to by many HTLAL members), which basically are topics you know inside-out.

If you don't have total control of the situation, pretend like you have it.

Some related links:
http://andrewblackman.net/2013/04/how-to-improve-your-foreig n-language-immediately/
http://www.learnetarium.com/2010/08/novel-approach-to-learni ng-languages.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/travel/an-archipelago-call ed-russian.html
http://www.learnetarium.com/2011/01/speaking-foreign-languag e.html
http://www.tobefluent.com/2014/07/27/how-to-improve-your-for eign-language-immediately/


The book is very good.

"How to Improve your Foreign Language Immediately". Shekhtman.

It's only 95 pages,but it is a gem.

Thank you.


2 persons have voted this message useful



Cavesa
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Czech Republic
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 Message 8 of 8
08 August 2014 at 7:52pm | IP Logged 
I think my advice on another thread could be even more relevant here. I hope you'll find some of it useful, it is based on my recent experience of spending a month in Spain and in Spanish having nearly no past speaking experience.

advice on speaking with a native

Edited by Cavesa on 08 August 2014 at 7:53pm



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