= Ich drücke dir die Daumen = best of luck! If you're in a country where you don't speak the language that well... I've started reflecting, of course, about how I am learning the language, or how I should be doing it. I thought I would record some pointers here mainly for myself, but perhaps also others who have decided, for some strange reason, to immerse themselves in a land where they don't speak the language, and maybe perhaps also need that language to get a job and not get kicked off the island. I'm just sayin.
1. Do something specific in your target language. For me, that's yoga at the moment. A few times a week I hear almost the exact same words, with slight variations between teachers, especially in pronunciation. So now I know how to say "send your hips to the front" in German. Oh so useful.
Seriously, we learn languages the best in full phrases. The more you can hear and practice any given phrase verbatim, the easier speaking will be. For example, saying "I thought that he said that..." is a bit more complicated in German, but something that I now say often. In german it's "Ich habe gedacht, er hat gesagt, dass..." - and that now takes about 2 seconds to say. (note- that's more correct in this form spoken than written.) It becomes like one word that functions as a preamble to the rest of the thought. So go learn a random set of phrases really really well, feel better about that small area of speaking, and build on that.
2. Don't be afraid to ask strangers to clarify. Yes, it's a bit annoying, but not as annoying as still not being able to understand anyone who doesn't slow down for you after months of living in the language. And this is something I have to constantly remind myself here in Vienna, where the waiters are, um, less than polite.
3. Take your time speaking. Don't get nervous. It's much easier to speed up your language that is already correct than correct phrases that are incorrectly ingrained in your memory.
4. If you can't understand them, they probably also can't understand you. I'm not sure why I added this one, but I somehow find it comforting. Like I'm not alone in confusion.
I don't know if this is true of everyone, but I always loved listening to and helping my friends who were trying to improve their English. I try to remind myself about that often. (PS, I've been concentrating so much on German, I have no idea if I'm supposed to use "about" with "remind"! Don't laugh.) And even though I know my German is just good enough for slow conversation over coffee at the moment, most people are excited and impressed that I want to learn. And quite a few have said it's rare to find an American that speaks German here. So there... That's all the news for now, if I think of more pointers I'll add them!
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