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I spoke to a German family last night! | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| datsunking1 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5588 days ago 1014 posts - 1533 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: German, Russian, Dutch, French | Message 1 of 4 09 January 2010 at 4:12pm | IP Logged |
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So I work at a retirement home after school serving food in a little restaurant (Ich bin Kellner!) and I had a table of German speakers. I believe there were 3 natives, one that learned in school, and the other two (the husbands I believe) didn't speak any German. Some how their conversation arrived on the German language and I couldn't help but listen in.
The were talking about cases and the difficultly that German had on non-native speakers, but some parts were extremely logical. I was clearing the table next to them to reset, when I said "Mind me butting in, but I think German is difficult. The cases just go in one ear and out the other" The natives laughed at this and so did I. (Their English was absolutely perfect. They were talking about enzyme digestion with cheeses in the stomach after a meal! Then they proceeded to give me elementary lessons on the Genetiv and the Dative case. "I'm going with the cup to put it on the table, now the cup is on the table." Stuff like that. :D There was a woman from Texas at the table that spoke absolute perfect German. I was so impressed that I just sat there with my mouth hanging open. The native German speakers told me it's manditory that all German students take English from 5th grade on, which probably would have DOUBLED my knowledge in Spanish because we start in 8th grade, and it's no where near as efficient. They also told me that they were very impressed with my interest in German and really pleased. They said "It's not very often Americans really take an interest in another language to really understand it. They usually learn it because they are forced or "need the credits or something" At this point the non speaker raises his hand and says "Guilty!" and everyone busted out laughing lol :) All in all, I had a very good day :D German people are so friendly, I felt like I was sitting at the table and not working :P -Jordan Edited by datsunking1 on 09 January 2010 at 4:13pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| global_gizzy Senior Member United States maxcollege.blogspot. Joined 5706 days ago 275 posts - 310 votes Studies: Spanish | Message 2 of 4 10 January 2010 at 1:21am | IP Logged |
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Wow, thats good for you. I cant wait until I get a chance to speak with natives of some of my target languages--about their native language. Well, technically I've done it at school, since my SPN teacher is Puerto Rican raised in Spain and didn't learn English until she was in college...and MA-chan, a friend from Spanish class is an International student, but its not the same. I've yet to have one of those type conversations out in the "real world".
I'm so envious sometimes, but I'm also so nervous at other times to speak about languages to people...hmh. :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| datsunking1 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5588 days ago 1014 posts - 1533 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: German, Russian, Dutch, French | Message 3 of 4 10 January 2010 at 3:01am | IP Logged |
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Tell me about it. If I start speaking in their native language I don't want to come across as ignorant or anything. I hope when I study abroad I will be able to speak rapidly and with proper structure and everything so I don't butcher their language. lol The LAST thing I want is a bad impression :P
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| brian91 Senior Member Ireland Joined 5447 days ago 335 posts - 437 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 4 of 4 09 May 2010 at 11:20am | IP Logged |
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Just found this thread. I was in the train station a few months ago, and there were two beautiful German women
about my age sitting beside me at the station and then on the train to Cobh (or Queenstown, which was the Titanic's last port of call in 1912). I was too nervous to speak to them though (I'm nervous enough around girls without having to conjugate verbs). I plan on helping out at the retirement home this summer, but unfortunately won't meet any German speakers, unfortunately. :D 1 person has voted this message useful |
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