Dankbarkeit - Glücklicher sein!

 Ich rede - Isabel Garcias Podcast

Hier ist eine Übung, wie man sich glücklicher machen kann!



Versuchen wir es zusammen! 

Tips for becoming fluent in German from FluentU

1. Make Use of Your German Dictionary

You’re always going to have more questions than answers, and a dictionary helps you make progress in this area and allows more spontaneity in your learning.

If you don't have your own, here are a few suggestions: 

Langenscheidt language learning aids are high quality across the board.

If you want a challenge, the German standard dictionary “Duden” is for you. It’s universally respected and offers the definitive guide to past and current conventions relating to Rechtschreibung (orthography).

The Internet has many free websites which can help you on the road to fluency, including dict.cc (general accuracy, specificity and breadth of synonyms).

Google Translate can also be a useful tool, but refrain from relying on it too heavily. Google is frequently fallible and grammatically suspect, so you’ll need to check for errors along the way.

2. Use your German Textbook

You'll get a better idea of what remains to learn and what gaps still exist in your understanding of grammar and basic conversation.

3. Listen to German Music

Whether you love rock, reggae, rap, folk or fusion, there are German language artists waiting to fill up your music library and steal your heart.

Google around for artists in your preferred genre, get on YouTube and Spotify, see what you like and go from there.

Google radio stations in German cities for your preferred music genres and use their online streaming services.

Get artist recommendations from German music magazines like Spex. Many of them have music available on US iTunes and Amazon, or you can get adventurous and go through the process of downloading music internationally from MediaMarkt.de. [Remember – support the artists!]

3. Learn German Music Videos [on FluentU]

If you want to simplify the research and look-up process so that you can focus on learning, try out FluentU with its interactive captions – click on any word to see a definition, image, and examples. You can even see the word used in other videos.  [I believe you need to subscribe for the amazing caption service. --rsb]

FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks, and turns them into German learning lessons.  [Maybe you've noticed that I've recently posted quite a few of the items I've found on Deutsch-heute. --rsb]

One of FluentU’s features is

This demonstrates FluentU’s interactive captions in action.

5. Read German Children’s Books

You may like a reminder that I run a German library service. You can check all of the books you see on the shelves out from our classroom!  --rsb   They are charming and fun – plus you’ll gain cultural insights by learning the stories which Germans experience as kids. Some, like the Grimms Märchen (Grimm’s fairy tales) you may be familiar with in their English versions.

Others are German translations of English stories, like the classic “Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt“ (“The Very Hungry Caterpillar”).

6. Read German Translations of English books

Get your hand on one of the “Harry Potter” books for instance. I'm afraid many of my own favorite titles have walked away in recent years . . .  

[My version of the first Potter film can only be played on a universal DVD player.] --rsb

7. Get a German Sprachpartner (language partner)

Use your GAPP exchanger! --rsb

Otherwise, you could track down a native speaker who’ll meet you for regular conversation sessions, surprising you with sentences you would’ve never extrapolated out of lifeless textbook pages.
Alternatively you could ask a leading German learning Twitter feed for a retweet to help you find potential partners. The language center of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin even has an online tandem databank. There are options out there no matter your availability.

8. Find a Stammtisch (regular meeting of German speakers)

URI holds a Kaffeeklatsch every week. --rsb   Bored with talking to just one German speaker? Now it’s time for you to find an entire group of them!

Go meet them and learn their stories – many of these people have lived fascinating lives and will be happy to tell you all about it.

9. Follow German Twitter Feeds

 Use spare minutes to get the latest updates on all things German.  (Remember, you can also change your tritter language configuration to German!)  For humor, try

@NeinQuarterly

@mainwasser

@Aus_der_UBahn

@GrumpyMerkel

Learn through newsfeeds:

@SPIEGEL_alles

@dw_deutsch

@LearnXDGerman

Learn through phrases and single words:

@thegermanfor

10. Listen to German Podcasts

Search iTunes for Deutsche Welle and Goethe-Institut podcasts.

One I enjoy is   Slow German
It’s a fabulous way to accelerate learning for beginners and intermediates. The episodes are hosted by Annik, a journalist who lives in the city of Munich in southern Germany. For the absolute beginner, there are podcasts conducted in English which provide a gentle introduction to key German words.

There’s nothing like a good detective story!  In Radio D
 Paula and Philipp are “Radio D” reporters traveling across Germany to investigate several mysterious cases.

You'll find excitement and fun combined when you tune into  German Pod 101
With attention-grabbing podcast titles such as “How Far Will Klingon Get You in Germany?” and “Have You Ever Seen a Blind Fish in Germany?” the German language learner is guaranteed to be hooked from the start.  There are lessons designed for every level of ability, from the absolute beginner to the advanced speaker.

If you have 30 minutes to spare, take a coffee break with Thomas and Mark in Coffee Break German
Mark has a knack for asking the questions to which all students really want to know the answers. Explanations by Thomas are highly satisfying!


Prepare your conversational phrases and get ready to travel with host Stefen of Learn German for Free
which is a series for the beginner, with cataloged episodes covering basic greetings, numbers, ordering in restaurants, travelling on public transport, and so much more!

Programs like Deutsche Welle’s youth culture show “Pulse” and Goethe-Institut’s “Popcast” will also expand your German music repertoire.

Language learning isn't something anyone else can do for you.  As in mastering anything, your own time investment will pay off, if you just let it!  Please share her what works for you! --rsb  

Fußballlieder

HÖR ZU UND LESE MIT!    -- Podcast mit Step into German


Seit 50 Jahren rollt der Ball in der Bundesliga, einer der besten Fußballligen der Welt. Der DFB, der
Deutsche Fußballbund, hat 6,8 Millionen Mitglieder. Und diese fast 7 Millionen Fußballer spielen in 25.000
Vereinen — so viele organisierte Kicker und Kickerinnen gibt es nirgendwo anders auf der Welt. Fußball gehört (belongs) zur deutschen Kultur wie Goethe, Beethoven und Techno. Fußball ist im Herzen der Deutschen.

Viele Lieder wurden über die liebste Freizeitbeschäftigung der Deutschen geschrieben,

• über den Hobbyfußballer Theodor, aber auch 
• über Stars wie Uwe Seeler, die Legende des Hamburger Sportvereins.

Und mit Fußballsongs kann man Erfolg haben.  „Buenos Dias Argentina“, der Song von Udo Jürgens, wurde 1978 anlässlich der Fußballweltmeisterschaft in Argentinien ein richtiger Hit. Und die Stars der deutschen Fußballnationalmannschaft haben mitgesungen, zumindest haben einige Spieler die Lippen bewegt.

Fußballsongs kommen an.  Die Punkband „Die Toten Hosen“ sind leidenschaftliche Fans von Fortuna
Düsseldorf, einem Verein im Westen Deutschlands.  In ihrem Lied „Bayern“ machen sich die Toten Hosen lustig über den großen Rivalen aus dem Süden, den FC Bayern München:
Jeder Verein hat seine eigenen Fans, darunter auch viele Musiker, die Lieder für ihr Team komponieren.

Fiddler’s Green besingen in einem Folkpunk-Song „ihren“ 1.FC Nürnberg.

Den größten Fußballhit hatten die Sportfreunde Stiller mit ihrem Song „54, 74, 90, 2006“. Deutschland hatte drei Mal die Fußballweltmeisterschaft gewonnen, 1954, 1974 und 1990, und war im Jahr 2006 Gastgeber der WM. Die Fans sangen dieses Lied lautstark in den Straßen und auf Fußballpartys. Alle hofften auf den vierten Titel, aber am Ende gab es für das deutsche Team nur den dritten Platz.

UND HIER FINDEST DU DIE PRÜFUNG...  Hast du alles richtig verstanden?