Expect Negative Factors In Learning German
"It is not that learning German is all rainbows and unicorns; it's just that, when faced with the realities of a language course, one learns to expect difficult moments in the beginning and to persevere."
Learning a new language can be one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do but it can also be frustrating - especially when you're not quite sure why. Depending on how long you've been learning German for and your own individual goals, there are many different factors that may make learning any new language especially challenging.
Some of these factors are inescapable and can get you down from time to time, but others can be avoided if you know how to prepare for them. For example, German courses are usually in an intense face-to-face environment which may not be ideal for everyone. The goal of these courses is to communicate in German from day one without worrying about grammar rules or conjugation. These courses tend to work best for people with very specific goals, such as preparing for a speaking exam or any other practical speaking situation that requires immediate results. However, they may present challenges if your goal is mainly just to learn German.
In these courses, students are encouraged to participate in discussions and activities from the very beginning. If, for example, you're a beginner but you have a level B1 exam coming up in 30 days, it may not be a realistic expectation to ask you to participate in discussions on literature or politics. However, if that's what the class is focused on, you'll either have to wait patiently until the right time (in terms of the goal of the course) or simply fail miserably!
Some people find this sort of "all-or-nothing" approach quite stressful and discouraging. Others may find it motivating and energizing. There is also an alternative: private tutors or small groups. These are often the better option for most people who are interested in learning German because you can work at your own pace and on any topics you want.
Another major factor that can make or break your learning experience is the language material itself. Some textbooks are excellent, others are far-from-perfect - and some just plain stink!
If you're a beginner, it's not uncommon to feel like you've learned nothing after struggling through a whole course - especially if you've been using a material that's poorly organized or so poorly written that it hurts to even look at it. Ideally, you should be learning new vocabulary, grammar and sentence building skills all at once and in a logical, sequential order. Unfortunately, this is rare to find in most textbooks that are available in Canada.
Another problem with German textbooks for beginners can be the numerous errors in spelling, conjugations, gender endings and pronunciation of cognates (words that look and sound the same in English as they do in German). It is therefore important to make sure that your own textbook meets certain criteria before you spend any money on it. The more work you put into making sure that the textbook is up to snuff, the more likely it will be that your course will be successful which means you'll learn a lot in the process!
Finally, there are other factors you can't control and that can contribute to a miserable German course experience. For example, if your instructor doesn't have any experience with teaching languages or gives you horrible grammar advice or tells you things about German that go against everything you've ever learned about it - these factors will not only make learning German difficult, but they can make it feel like an absolute waste of time.
If you're not surprised to hear that German textbooks are difficult and that learning German can be stressful at times, I'm really not sure what you'd expect! Unfortunately, there's no way around it - sometimes negative factors just do happen. But when they do, there are a lot of things you can do to prepare yourself and find some extra motivation in the process. If you can learn to believe in yourself and your ability to succeed, it will make a huge impact on your overall learning experience:
1. Set realistic goals that are based on the limitations of your first language.
It's very common for students who are already doing well in their first language to feel like they already know enough to progress quickly in their second language. However, this is not necessarily the case. Keep in mind that the first language is simply a tool for learning the second and it will never be perfect. The more you use it, the better you'll become at using it - but you'll never be 100% in control of it.
Instead of comparing yourself to what people say you should be able to do or what someone else was able to accomplish, focus on your own unique abilities. The best way to do this is by setting realistic goals based on your current ability level. If you set goals that are too high and stress-inducing, learning German will be a negative experience from beginning to end!
2. Know what you're aiming for - and be clear about what it is you want to be able to do.
This will allow you to compare your progress at the end of your course and know whether or not you've made significant progress. If you don't have specific goals of what sorts of things you want to achieve, it's very difficult to feel like you've actually made progress. If, for example, all a certain course offers is general topics that are not related in any way to speaking German or writing a good essay, there's really no point in continuing!
3. Always ask yourself if it was worth it and ask others if they think highly enough of the material you're using to continue with it.
If you're not sure about how you feel about a certain textbook, or if you think you might want to make a switch, ask someone else - ideally someone who has experience teaching the same language or similar ones. If there's no one available for instant consultation, try to wait at least 24 hours before making any changes to ensure that you've really thought it over.
cONCLUSION
Consequently, it's important to remember that German courses can be very rewarding if you find the right ones. It can be very frustrating at first but if you take the time to do a little research and be patient about what your options are, it's possible for anyone that's motivated enough to learn anything!
As you work through your German course, remember to:
Focus on using the language as naturally and spontaneously as possible. Learn to use new expressions in context and try to speak or write as much as possible in your free time. Find some way (a friend, a class, etc.) where you can use German constantly throughout the day instead of just focusing on it when there's time.