So just to make things clear, I generally didn’t achieve or apply myself at school. I was bored, there was no mental challenge and teachers would call me by my older brother’s name..He was an arsehole at school. So they all hated me, I put in tons of effort into my first few years of high school, got straight A grades and was top of all of my classes. I found zero reward for it so stopped caring, then eventually was too ill to continue with school.
But anyway! I digress, as usual.
I want to learn a foreign language, German! I spent two years “learning” German in school and know nothing of it, my brain is a sieve at the best of times. I spent even longer in school “learning” French, I think it’s a nightmare of mine to be stuck alone in France. Guh!
So yes, German eh? Yes. I actually have German (Or maybe Austrian?!) relatives way down the line on my father’s side. Not 100% sure, my Grandma is way cloudy on most things, never mind her family tree. But also, my favourite American happens to speak fluent German and has had a spell over there. So I feel like she is great motivation to learn?! If that makes any sense at all.
An ex of mine and her mum would speak Welsh together when they were being secretive, bitchy or even the odd time loving and sweet. I found it really intriguing that they had this closeness and such a tight bond I suppose. It wasn’t something I’d really witnessed before. I’d quite like to have that with someone, in a personal sense. Be able to just chat away, be rude about someone, talk about someone behind their back. Silly shit like that. But also to be able to find words that sound more fitting to feelings or thoughts that I want to convey. For all I know they’re just not right in English and I’ll find them in another language. So I better get looking.
I mean, it bothers me that my brain is a sieve and my memory is terrifyingly awful. But maybe it just needs work and I need the motivation that I seem to lack for so many things throughout my life, the present isn’t an exception.
I’m a work in progress, I’m sorry if that bothers you. But look, I’m working on it okay? You know what, fuck that. If it bothers you, you’re not wanting me to succeed and find my much deserved happiness.
So, German. I’m searching online looking for ideas of the best ways to almost self-teach. I mean, I’ll get some help along the way, but this needs to be something that I seek out and just do. Has anyone recently learned a foreign language? How did you do it, any advice, tips or tricks to help me out?! I’d really appreciate it.
MelancholyContemplation 
school wasnt my thing either! there really werent any rewards for it actually i think, besides getting a diploma and going to college that was basically my only motivation, that and somebody once said they didnt think i would ever graduate high school so naturally i had to prove them wrong! hahaha but anyways, good for you for wanting to learn another language! german sounds cool and hard all at the same time! haha so good luck with that (: and it would be cool to be able to chat and bitch to somebody personally in another language! i say go for it! sorry no tips though ): haha
It will be difficult, but I actually have motivation :3 I was linked this website: http://www.duolingo.com/
If you’re interested in learning a new language I’d totally suggest it, I spent some time on it last night brushing up on the basics that I learned maybe 6/7 years ago!
Good luck with German. Spanish and Japanese are on my bucket list. I took four years of Spanish in high school. My fourth year was actually an honors class. I didn’t bother to take to fluency test when I went to college, though. Despite the fact I was all As and Bs in high school, I hardly spoke Spanish. I just memorized the vocabulary words, aced the test and promptly forgot them so I could learn the words for the next test.
I took a year of Japanese in college. That was something else. I felt like I was really getting it. They do it differently in college and it stuck with me. I still have some of the hiragana and katakana memorized, but most of the words have left me. All the same, Japanese has always been something I wanted to learn, so I hope to pick it up again some time in the future.
p.s. it’s great you’re American friend speaks German. I bet they can help you out. It’s always easier when you have someone to practice with.
Oh thanks! (and thanks for stopping by to comment again, I really love responses!)
I guess that’s the difference between academically and objectively learning a language. I did the same at school with French, I got straight A’s in it, I can’t recall anything but the bare minimum from memory.
Japanese is intriguing! I’d love to pick up Korean personally at some point later down the line, that sort of culture really interests me. I feel like the language would give me a much better grasp of it at the level I’d like to understand.
She already linked me this website http://www.duolingo.com/ and I’m going to spend time every day doing little by little, getting help from her along the way. It’s pretty important that I learn to speak it too, rather than just read and write. So Skype is super helpful :3
School TOTALLY was not my thing in high school. I don’t even remember high school because I was more into the friends and trouble aspect of growing up. But when you take classes because you WANT to, you end up learning a lot more. Trust me. I like school now because it’s my choice to do it. When you’re forced into anything, it’s harder to like it and take it all in. Good for you, sir! 🙂
Ah I feel you, I was exactly the same as you in terms of school. I guess with the right drive and maturity studying is a very different thing. Passion and drive are so important to me for motivation.
Thanks miss! I hope your week has started well and your weekend was equally awesome 🙂
Aww thank you mister 🙂 It was a good weekend! Back to the grind, plus all my school work, but I’m dreaming of sleeping in on Saturday. Not too far!
I did Spanish for five years at school. I could probably just about count to ten now, and that’s it. Kind of a shame though. Having a second language is a great thing.
Yeah I learned French and German at school but barely applied myself past passing the subject (sums up school for me). I’ll be sure to blog about this again some time, I’m still cracking on with it slowly but surely. It’s difficult but totally rewarding, I’d suggest trying it if you have spare time or you’re looking for a new hobby!