I just started my beginner German Klubschule lessons at Migros in Zug. Is it typical for the instructor to teach beginner German speaking nothing but German? Seems oximoronic or is this the teaching strucuture?

There is not better way than to shock you into learning a language by total immersion. It's a methodology. They know what they are doing. Eventually the words, through the teacher's repetition will become familiar, and within a context provided by the teacher you begin to understand without fathoming.

It forces you to deal with the new language, embrace it.

If I had language lessons and they didn't do this I would want my money back.

Absolutely, not everyone on your course is a fluent english speaker.

I find it helps a lot, you should do your beszt to ask questions in german too.

ooh show off !!! your writing Denglish now ....

You will be surprised how quickly german words begin to take on a meaning when they are the only thing you hear.

Good luck, the first 3 months are the hardest

Make mistakes, scrape your knees. It's all good

Getting the confidence to just say-it without being embarrassed, even if wrong, is the quickest route to learning in my opinion. Going all shy, means that you never apply what you learn in the real world. The reception to your attempts is invariably supportive.

dave

Alcohol helps too. There are many people in local boozers who will only be too happy to jibber jabber. Hanging around in bars drinking with the locals can be very helpful.

It's pretty typical. My classes were pretty much this way. Often though, your teacher will speak a bit of english and you ask a question here or there.

One of the students in an early class was Albanian and understood only the other Albanian in the class. It took her quite a long time to begin to figure anything out, but one day things started to click and she started asking the rest of the class all sorts of questions. Total Immersion DOES work, but it takes time.

I have yet to start my French classes, but I have moved in with a family in Geneva who only speak French to me unless it's of vital importance. I've already picked up a few words. Although the kids love to giggle at my pronunciation. Silly nasal-y French words.

Ein glass fluessig Dolmetscher, bitte.

I'm hoping to start this very course in Zug soon too, work are paying.

Let me know how it goes? A workmate also goes to this class, Monday and Thursday evenings. May be in the same as you? He's on an advanced one or summat now though.

It helps loosen the tongue into those schluuschischluussi sounds. You know, like being able to say Feldschlossen as if you've been drinking it all your life.

Some good insight here. I agree with those who said it's better to have an instructor who speaks only the language which you are trying to learn. My high school Spanish teacher refused to speak to us in English. We (students) were bummed out at first but we got used to it and were grateful come exams.

My first day of Migro Klubschule starts today in a few hours. I'm off to drink a few beers before I get on the bus.

It's stupid, because you waste time not understanding anything. Especially grammar rules etc. This is "fake" immersion. If you live in a German speaking canton, that's all the immersion you need, the school should be their to teach you, not have you learn by yourself. You might as well just simply watch German MTV and learn just as much for free.

Care to share with us what experiences you've had learning German, and what you have found that has worked for you?

It's not stupid, what is stupid is people who go to these classes and for whatever reason insist on speaking English most of the time. Then, you learn nothing.

As for grammar etc. There are visual aids, whiteboards and charts. The teacher does not babble at break-neck speed in German (like TV despite the visual aids) - the teacher slowly talks to you making sure that you grasp what they are trying to do. Slowly slowly catchee monkey.

As for TV, I'm a huge advocate of this, especially the news, off the radio too.

You're not giving people credit for the ability to absorb. Look at kids, how quickly can they pick it up? Why shouldn't adults be able to grasp and absorb too?

And being able to spelt it - Feldschlösschen

Drinking this early in the day Hugh?

Iis is a typical of frustration a bit cos a new student does not want to be embrassed by LOL.. keep learning and follow what the teacher wants you to do that's the matter of a new language learner as i don't mind to be shy at the beginning as a beginner. I learnt French at GGG schule.. and i enjoy very much even i saw some classmates sometimes look a bit shy to say some words in French..

J'habite a Bale.. Je Viens de Indonesie..and mon nom Siswantoyo.

A bientot