How do I learn German?

Cliche, I know. . . But I’ve known people who have used Rosetta Stone with success.

The very best method would involve you moving to Germany. But that’s a bit expensive.

Look for actual language classes in your area. Watch German-language movies and try to figure out what’s being said with as little subtitle help as possible. Buy the software. Find more German friends.

Try here honey: http://www.livemocha.com/
I just registered because I’d love to learn Swedish, just to watch all of those Wallander stories I adore, without needing the subtitles :-)

I’ve also heard good things about Rosetta Stone and www.livemocha.com.

Learning to speak a language using Rosetta Stone is akin to learning to ride a bicycle by putting on roller skates. It can support the development of productive skills through the learning of vocabulary and structures and practising the ‘receptive’ skills (reading and listening). It would take an exceptional learner, in my opinion, to achieve more than elementary communicative competence in this way.

If you want to learn conversational German, you need to speak German. I’d also suggest that learning one skill in isolation is akin to learning to write without learning to read first – you can’t really avoid the other skills and genres of discourse.

Livemocha looks interesting, and I would certainly encourage you to join for the opportunities it provides you for practice in your target language. However, you will have to pay for anything but the basic German course.

I like the social aspects of the site – using peers who speak the language you wish to learn to help you and correct you, for example, is good practice that reflects current thinking on how people learn. On the other hand, you might prefer to study in a more interactive setting – with other German learners in a classroom. Ultimately, I’d suggest that conesequential contexts are where learning takes place, particularly at more than basic levels of proficiency. This means learning the language in groups.

Ideally, I’d suggest enrolling in an evening course at a local college or other establishment and using livemocha for extra practice. You would also do well to find a language exchange partner in your neighbourhood or school.

Where are you based, if I may ask?

Thanks all for the suggestions.

@the100thmonkey a small town close to New York City.

Ich würde mir an Deiner Stelle zahlreiche Podcasts anhören. Hier gibt’s Verzeichnisse:

http://www.podcast.de
http://podster.de

One with English descriptions

http://german.about.com/od/audiolistening/a/gerpodcast.htm

Thanks folks. Very helpful comments.

I recommend using Michel Thomas for Beginners as a supplement. It certainly isn’t enough to teach you German, but I still think (might be wrong) it is very helpful. Anyone else even heard of Michel Thomas?