How should I learn German?

[ciphergoth]

I must learn German. Anyone got any recommendations on the best way to do it?

I don't want to memorize a phrase book; I'm not very good at that and I don't think it really stretches far enough. I'd like to feel like I understand what I'm saying. I'd like ideally to get back to O-level standard German, in which I miraculously scraped a C but was really at D standard or so. I need spoken German to the extent of understanding "You have to get off here; the tram is turning left" and written German for phrases like "Added quick hack to the Java virtual machine for IFA demo".

I'd love to have half decent pronounciation. I used to have a good ear but now my attempts to say anything in German cause giggles.

Should I blow £54 on this set of CDs?

• "German with Michael Thomas Complete Course CD"

Should I trust in good old Auntie?

• "Deutsch Direkt: Cassette pack"

Should I go down some other route?

• "German language learning: results 1 - 50 of 524 items"

ajva? Anyone?

cheers...

Comments

hmmm

[ajva.livejournal.com]

It won't go wrong, I suppose, but Linguaphone is for serious language learners only. It really is very boring. I challenge anyone to get past chapter 3. I never did (used the German and Mandarin ones, and saw my Dad struggle with the French one for about 10 years). The problem is that it never shows you anything fun, and it takes ages to get through any individual chapter, so you feel as if you're making no progress. Bah!

A Linguaphone sceptic. xxx

Re: hmmm

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Why do you think I can't speak German? :)