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

Re: Rah!

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Well, I anticipate visiting Berlin every six weeks or so, so I'll be around German speakers anyway. And now I've worked out how to pick up email from work, German is flowing into my inbox daily, and I keep wishing for the ability to read it, especially when it's addressed to all@convergence.de.

I'm away so often that night classes probably wouldn't work for me.

Great picture, BTW!