German For The Tired

German last night was fun. I was really tired though. I was so tired that it was hard to concentrate. Understanding English is tough when you’re wiped, so German was an absolute struggle. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get good enough to be fluent in the language. We had a subtitute, because Tom, our regular teacher was out of town. She was really great, but she talked really really fast. I also fumbled over her “Warum studierst du Deutsch?” (Why are you studying German?) question (among other conversations she tried to invoke). I think this was mostly because I was tired. I swear. Overall it was good. We studied Personal Pronomen (personal pronouns), which was a good exercise. I guess it’s all about learning a little bit at a time.

After class I decided not to go out with my German buddies because I was falling asleep as we waited for Margaret. They also wanted to goto a pizza place instead of our regular German bar (and said Pizza place was about as far south from school as my house is north), so I went home, watched some TV and fell asleep pretty much right away. Oh sleep. We love thee.

Funny German Word

I’m sure there’s a ton of them out there, but we came across this in class yesterday and I had to share.

The word is das Fischerstechen. According to my German textbook it means “fight of fishermen on river.” Who knew you needed to describe that situation so often that it needed it’s own word? I certainly didn’t. :)

German Journey

I’ve stepped up my German learning, or at least I’m trying to. I’m now falling asleep to German TV, and waking up to it (when I actually wake up like I should :)). I can set my TV to wake up at a certain time, so I used to have it wake me up 15 minutes before my alarm and set it to the German TV station. I don’t know why I stopped, but I have now started doing that again as well as listening to the German channel before I goto bed. It’s been pretty cool. I don’t understand more that 5 or 10 percent, but it’s cool when I am able to pick out the words, and actually know what they mean.

Pam also suggested I listen to German TV more to train myself to hear it. She suggested online TV which I’ve been doing as well, but I figure since I’ve got it on my Satellite I might as well use it. Her suggestion kind of spurned me on to actually doing it. I’m listening to it in the background right now. It’s amazing when you understand a language that your brain can pick up key phrases even when you’re not paying attention, such as your name, or things you’re interested in, or “FIRE!”, etc. Obviously I can do that in English. My goal is to know German well enough to be able to hear it and understand it without really trying. My fluent by 30 goal is a little more than 2 and a half years away. So much to learn. :)

I’ve actually been looking online for stuff as well and found a couple of videos I liked on Youtube. Music is a pretty good way to learn a language and Paul Van Dyk is one of my favorite DJs. I think I’m also going to have to find a CD by this band Wir Sind Helden. I really like their style. Do you think Amazon.de will deliver to Chicago? :)

I think they’re cool even if you don’t know any German. Enjoy.

“Wir Sind Wir” by Peter Heppner and Paul Van Dyk

“Nur Ein Wort” by Wir Sind Helden

Rollenspiel!

I thought it might be fun to post my german homework from tonight. I can think of at least one person that might think it’s interesting. The rest of you will have to suffer through it. :)

Ich komme an der Jungenherberge an. Ich frage den Herbergsvater viele Fragen.

**Ich:** Hallo.
**Herbergsvater:** Hallo. Kann ich Sie hilfen?
**Ich:** Ja, wieviel kostet es zum Aufenthalt über Nacht?
**Herbergsvater:** Es kostet 26 Euro pro Nacht.
**Ich:** Das is nicht so schlecht!…bekomme ich Essen?
**Herbergsvater:** Ja, das stimmt.
**Ich:** OK. Wann servieren Sie Essen?
**Herbergsvater:** Frühstück ist um 8 Uhr Morgen…Mittagsessen ist um halb 1, und Abendessen ist um 18 Uhr.
**Ich:** Sehr gut. Danke. Sind andere Leute von anderen Ländern hier?
**Herbergsvater:** Ja, viele. Wir haben viele Leute von Italien, Frankreich, und Österreich.
**Ich:** Wunderbar! Wie weit ist der Stadt?
**Herbergsvater:** Um 4 Kilometer.
**Ich:** Danke. Haben ein guter tag!

Google’s poor translation here.
FYI: Jungenherberge actually means Youth Hostel not boy lodging, and Herbergsvater is a Youth Hostel Director, not a Harsh Supply Father.

Alfred Rückkehr!

Deutschunterricht ist heute abend viel spaß gewesen. Alfred hat zurück gekommen. Er ist in Deutschland gewesen. Er hat viele Geschichten gesagt. Alfred ist sehr lustig. Es ist nett, daß haben wir ihm zurück.

Ich habe 5 Übungen für Hausaufgaben. Hoffentlich werde ich vor nächste Dienstag ihnen tun.

Google’s Translation.

Ich liebe Deutsch

Deutsch ist viel spaß! Wir haben heute Abend unsere zweiten Klasse für dieses Semester gehabt. Wir haben zwei neue Studenten gehabt. (eigentlich alt, aber sie sind nicht letzte Woche da gewesen). Jon habe wieder mitkommen. Wir haben in meinem Auto geübt. Ich habe, daß “eine Rechnung” bedeutet “Bill” auf Englisch erlernt (nicht “Receipt”). “Receipt” bedeutet Quittung eigentlich. Ich schätze, daß ich bin falsch gewesen. Denken Sie nur!

Get google’s poor translation here.

Deutsche Klasse!

Ich begann meine Deutsche Klasse wieder heute. Wir machte eine Pause für den Sommer. Ich war sehr aufgeregt. Ich glaubte, daß ich würde schlecht sein. Ich war unrichtig! Klasse war viel spaß und ich erinnerte mich viel!

Mein Freund Jon kam auch mit mir. Er ist der Bruder von Beth Butler (ein Freundin von Minnesota). Jon hatte auch spaß. Nächste Woche soll auch gut sein. Jetzt muß ich meine Hausaufgaben tun!

Get the translation (sort of).