Verbal ability assessment

How do i know when my pronunciation is correct. The likelihood of my speech patterns matching the speakers on the course are limited (different voices), so this doesn't really give me a clear indication of whether I am likely to be understood by a native of Germany.

Hi Sean, With the record function you can listen to your voice and compare it to the native speaker it helps a lot improve your pronunciation. If you still feel unsure about how you sound you can record your voice and send it as email to the support. On this website you can record and send it as an email without registration: http://vocaroo.com/ You can also use http://www.mylanguageexchange.com to find native German speakers in your area. I hope this helps. Paul

Hi Sean, I can second what Paul said from a student perspective. The recording exercises are great. I know I'll never sound like a native German unless I live there for many years, but I can tell from the recordings my accent is getting much better. If you practice, I'm sure you will be understood even if you can't make certain sounds like a native. That "ch" sound, I think, is one of the hardest to imitate, much harder than the umlauts. But whether you say "Ick" or "ish" and neither is quite right the way Germans say it, you will be understood.

I've always enjoyed the accents of those whose native language is not English and wondered if they also enjoy accents of those whose native language is not theirs. For example do Germans like to hear the accent of Americans speaking German or those from England speaking German or the French speaking German? Robindale

I have wondered the same thing. Will the ladies find my thick American accent charming? Actually, being on a border state and traveling in Canada a lot I can do Canadian pretty well. Europeans like Canadians better than American anyway so I can wear my Toronto Maple Leafs cap and I'm all set, eh?

I know what you mean. Americans have a horrible reputation. When I lived in Berlin, I took a trip to Paris. Everyone told me, "Don't speak German in Paris. The French hate the Germans. Newsflash ... they hate Americans more than they hate German. I switched to German and was received much better. Robindale

I had mixed experiences in Paris. Contrary to what Jason says, I didn't find Parisians particularly friendly. I don't speak any French at all, but I was with someone who spoke a little and tried to order an ice cream at a cafe in French which even I could understand, but the waiter pretended not to understand and then haughtily informed us he spoke perfect English and we should order in English. So, even if you try to speak their language, they hold you in contempt if it isn't very good. Well, some do anyway. Some people were nice enough and I understand it is better in the country, but I was only in Paris. Maybe next time I'm there, if I ever go again, my German will be good enough that I can speak in German.

I have to tell you about an experience I had, oh, maybe two or three years ago. My dh and I had gone out to WY to visit our son. On the way back my dh officially had an aisle seat and I officially had a window seat. There was no one in the middle. After all the ticketed passengers had boarded, the standby passengers were boarded. Two elderly "asian looking" gentlemen, who were obviously together, were directed by one of the flight attendants to seats. One across the aisle and ahead one row and the other to the seat between us. I indicated that I would sit in the middle if he wanted. No one likes to sit in the middle ... especially between two people they don't know! As he settled in, he showed me his passport. I looked at it and wondered why I could read it. It slowly dawned on me that it was in GERMAN! I asked him, in German, if he spoke German. He said yes, a little. On the flight I was able to ask him things for the flight attendants and relay his answer to them. I also learned that he was from South Vietnam and had been living in Germany for the past three years; he and his brother were on their way to Florida to visit his wife's brother (I didn't have the heart to ask where is wife was because I was afraid the answer would be that she was dead); and they had been in CA for two weeks visiting various places. What are the chances that a woman who did not speak Vietnamese would be sitting next to a man who does not speak English and they would be able to communicate in German. It was a very touching and very humbling. Knowing another language can be very beneficial! Robindale

Cool story. Thanks for sharing. I don't know if there will be much practical use in learning German although I plan to travel to Germany again and Austria as well. However, I always wanted to learn it, and not having the time is no longer an acceptable excuse, so I'm going to see what I can do. At the very least, it's better for my brain than watching TV. Byron

Do things have to be practical to have value? You're exercising your mind and learning about another culture. That makes you a better person. And you never know. You may wind up on a plane next to someone who speaks German. Eons ago I was in BWI (Balt/Wash airport) and was able to help a German couple find their way to their gate. Not a big deal to me, but I'm sure it was to them. From what I have seen you are doing great with your German! Can't wait to hear all about where you live ... auf Deutsch, naturlich! Talk about details about the whole area, places you used to live, places you'd rather live, things you don't like about where you live ... etc. Don't limit it to just the "I live in blah, blah." Robindale

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll write something a little later this week. I've been giving it a little thought. I'll try to write using something other than simple sentences for the practice so bear with me if I mess up the syntax or order. I'm still not sure when a phrase qualifies as a dependent clause because then the verb is at the end, otherwise it is the second part of the sentence. So, if you can help me, that would be great.