Collaboration

[MsNatalie99]

As a fellow German I have to ask:

Elf Monate Englisch? Was hast du denn in der Schule gemacht? Gibt's da keinen Englisch-Unterricht mehr?

For the resident US natives: In Germany, English is a mandatory subject starting in fifth grade. So every German should have had between four to seven years, depending on school type.

Come again?

 

[MsNatalie99]

As a fellow German I have to ask:

Elf Monate Englisch? Was hast du denn in der Schule gemacht? Gibt's da keinen Englisch-Unterricht mehr?

For the resident US natives: In Germany, English is a mandatory subject starting in fifth grade. So every German should have had between four to seven years, depending on school type.

I got a question, sent you a PM

 

[MsNatalie99]

Deleted

 

[SisterJezabel]

Once you start thinking in English, you're on the right track.

My partner, for whom English is not his first language, said that when he started dreaming in English he knew he'd made it.

 

[Blind_Justice]

I was taught English words and grammar for more than six years at school, but I only learned to understand the language when I was in Ethiopia where I had no other choice. Some have a knack for learning foreign languages, I had a lack. Inhibitions, insecurity, shyness, and more of those.

And, to be honest, I think the German education on English still sucks. Even at university level. In many places, shops, companies, and organisations in Germany, English is still useless. I'm not talking about Berlin here; I can imagine that Dreieich isn't the epitome of internationalism. The new generation is picking up on it, but they had/have a long way to go.

Once you start thinking in English, you're on the right track.

I never said the system is _perfect_. Without your own initiative (and who has that in fifth grade?) you can easily fall behind, especially when your classes have 20+ people in them. I concur in regards to university level English - when I studied English Lit, I've seen a lot of students who barely managed to string two coherent sentences together, which made life pretty interesting for them since our professors conducted all their lessons in English. There were few programs to help brush up on fundamentals.

Also, don't forget that most people eventually stop bothering keeping their skills sharp once they're out of the education system. I would be hard pressed to do some proper 11th/12th grade maths or anything biology/physics/chemistry-related - despite having an IT background, mind you. I kept up with English for two main reasons. First, I wanted to understand what my favorite bands were singing and second, it was the de-facto Internet language. It didn't hurt that I prefer my entertainment in its native tongue and a good chunk of what we get here is made either in the US or the UK anyway. In the end, I even decided to write my smut in English because it's easier than writing hot sex in German.

 

[MColton84]

Also, don't forget that most people eventually stop bothering keeping their skills sharp once they're out of the education system. I would be hard pressed to do some proper 11th/12th grade maths or anything biology/physics/chemistry-related - despite having an IT background, mind you. I kept up with English for two main reasons. First, I wanted to understand what my favorite bands were singing and second, it was the de-facto Internet language. It didn't hurt that I prefer my entertainment in its native tongue and a good chunk of what we get here is made either in the US or the UK anyway. In the end, I even decided to write my smut in English because it's easier than writing hot sex in German.

Your not wrong. I was in Babenhausen in the late 80s right before the wall came down. My father was on the US Army base. If I am not mistaken, I believe Babenhausen is in Hesse, but I can't be certain. Most of what I know of Germany is from childhood memories, replaced by power ranger episodes. I can honestly say that within 2 years of not having to use the language, I had forgotten all but a few key phrases. If I had to go there now, I wouldn't know enough to call a cab from Frankfurt Airport. I wish Tap all the best of luck. It is hard trying to learn or Re-learn a language. It doesn't make it any easier having to learn it on the fly. If I am also being fair, I failed 12th grade English and it is my natural tongue.

 

[TapionTapioca]

As a fellow German I have to ask:

Elf Monate Englisch? Was hast du denn in der Schule gemacht? Gibt's da keinen Englisch-Unterricht mehr?

For the resident US natives: In Germany, English is a mandatory subject starting in fifth grade. So every German should have had between four to seven years, depending on school type.

Grüße mein deutscher Freund, ich sollte vier Jahre grundlegendes Englisch haben. Sie haben Recht damit, dass ich in meinem fünften Jahr ein armer Schüler bin. Nach dem Tod meines Vaters hatte meine Mutter Probleme mit Drogenmissbrauch, und so wurde ich zu den Eltern meiner Mutter in eine winzige Gemeinde in Bruckmoos in Österreich geschickt. Während ich dort war, wurde ich zu Hause unterrichtet. Ich kehrte nach Deutschland zurück, um mit meiner Mutter in Babenhausen zu leben. Es lag in meiner Verantwortung, amerikanisches Englisch zu lernen, bevor ich mit meinem fließenden Ehemann hierher zog. Ich war mehr an Alkohol und sozialen Aktivitäten interessiert, um es ernst zu nehmen. Seitdem unterrichtet mich mein Mann zusammen mit einer Software, die er von seinem Arbeitgeber ausgeliehen hat. Ich kann auf Deutsch schreiben, aber wie Sie gesagt haben, hat der Sex mehr Musik auf Englisch.


Sorry I knew its not German forum. I can answer better than writting english.
I took one year and failed, but was to do more. Soory if I misled.

 

[TapionTapioca]

Your not wrong. I was in Babenhausen in the late 80s right before the wall came down. My father was on the US Army base. If I am not mistaken, I believe Babenhausen is in Hesse, but I can't be certain. Most of what I know of Germany is from childhood memories, replaced by power ranger episodes. I can honestly say that within 2 years of not having to use the language, I had forgotten all but a few key phrases. If I had to go there now, I wouldn't know enough to call a cab from Frankfurt Airport. I wish Tap all the best of luck. It is hard trying to learn or Re-learn a language. It doesn't make it any easier having to learn it on the fly. If I am also being fair, I failed 12th grade English and it is my natural tongue.

Babenhausen Kaserne was closed before my six birthday. you are correct. Babenhausen is in Hesse at Dieburg

 

[Omenainen]

One thing Finland has going for us, compared to for example Germany, is that being the tiny, puny language we are, nothing is dubbed beyond some kid's movies and programs. So we grow up hearing a lot of English, some Swedish, German, etc depending on what we look at on tv (or probably on the net, nowadays). Helps in building an ear to what sounds right and what doesn’t.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Ich kann auf Deutsch schreiben, aber wie Sie gesagt haben, hat der Sex mehr Musik auf Englisch.

Das ist komisch. Ich lerne Deutsch (langsam, schlecht...) weil die Musik mehr Sex hat als auf Englisch. Naja, für mich.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Australia is similar to the US, where most of us only know our version of English. About thirty years ago I had a good grasp of Auslan (deaf sign language) as my (now ex) sister in law was deaf. Now, I just remember the basics - "Pardon" "Thank you" "Fuck off" "Dick head"...

I collaborate with an Indian writer and edit another's stories. We've all benefitted from the interaction, and I think you will too. Your editor/collaborator needs to understand you are learning English, and you need to accept any suggestions they make.

Good luck!

 

[Blind_Justice]

Grüße mein deutscher Freund, ich sollte vier Jahre grundlegendes Englisch haben. Sie haben Recht damit, dass ich in meinem fünften Jahr ein armer Schüler bin. Nach dem Tod meines Vaters hatte meine Mutter Probleme mit Drogenmissbrauch, und so wurde ich zu den Eltern meiner Mutter in eine winzige Gemeinde in Bruckmoos in Österreich geschickt. Während ich dort war, wurde ich zu Hause unterrichtet. Ich kehrte nach Deutschland zurück, um mit meiner Mutter in Babenhausen zu leben. Es lag in meiner Verantwortung, amerikanisches Englisch zu lernen, bevor ich mit meinem fließenden Ehemann hierher zog. Ich war mehr an Alkohol und sozialen Aktivitäten interessiert, um es ernst zu nehmen. Seitdem unterrichtet mich mein Mann zusammen mit einer Software, die er von seinem Arbeitgeber ausgeliehen hat. Ich kann auf Deutsch schreiben, aber wie Sie gesagt haben, hat der Sex mehr Musik auf Englisch.

Was bitte ist ein "fließender Ehemann"? Alle Studenten sind arm, aber was du hier als "poor student" verkaufst, heißt bei uns "schlechter Schüler." Ich finde es ja nett, daß du mich siezt - außer dem Jobcenter und anderen Behörden im Schriftverkehr tut tut das nämlich kaum noch wer - schon gar nicht im Internet.

Ich hab keine Ahnung was du hier abziehst, aber Deutsch geht anders.

 

[MColton84]

Babenhausen Kaserne was closed before my six birthday. you are correct. Babenhausen is in Hesse at Dieburg

Is witches tower still there? I have only been once, and is one of the few things I remember vividly from those day?

 

[TapionTapioca]

Was bitte ist ein "fließender Ehemann"? Alle Studenten sind arm, aber was du hier als "poor student" verkaufst, heißt bei uns "schlechter Schüler." Ich finde es ja nett, daß du mich siezt - außer dem Jobcenter und anderen Behörden im Schriftverkehr tut tut das nämlich kaum noch wer - schon gar nicht im Internet.

Ich hab keine Ahnung was du hier abziehst, aber Deutsch geht anders.

Sie können denken, was Sie wollen. Ich sollte mich nicht beweisen müssen.

 

[TapionTapioca]

Is witches tower still there? I have only been once, and is one of the few things I remember vividly from those day?

I don't know, perhaps you should google it.

 

[TapionTapioca]

I got a question, sent you a PM

Why you not responding to my messeging? dont be rude

 

[MColton84]

I don't know, perhaps you should google it.

Fair enough sorry. I just figured since you probably lived within 10mi of it you would know. Sorry if I offended you. I meant no disrespect.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Sie können denken, was Sie wollen. Ich sollte mich nicht beweisen müssen.

QED. Die richtige Formulierung ist "Ich muss mich nicht rechtfertigen." Your Google translate-fu is sorely lacking and you are not fooling anyone, pumpkin.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Collaborators are often concerned that they will have to do all the work and the other person is just getting an idea written for them. Have you written stories in German?

If you can write well, i.e. tell a compelling story and structure a plot, then it is likely someone will happily help translate it into English. If it's a collection of plodding sentences that are boring and a sixth-grade teacher would say they lacked variety or sparkle, then authors are unlikely to see anything in it for them.

Are you using speech to text? Some of your words sound like a computer badly correcting spelling of English in a German accent.

Dreiech ist in der Nähe von Darmstadt, oder? Meine Deutschaustauschpartner wohnten in Darmstadt. Leider bin ich seitdem (in 20 Jahre) nie in Deutschland gewohnen.

 

[jaF0]

Not much of the new German music crosses the borders. It is hard for me to associate German language with 'Love', but there might be some history behind that.


(We're getting better at looking beyond the history and seeing how hard and honestly the Germans work to be progressive and open-hearted; trust me. It is more and more appreciated. But it's just so convenient to have a group of people nearby to scowl at.)

Outside of Oktoberfest and the Bavarian Beer houses and the rumors of frolicking Frauleins, I don't associate Germany with fun or lightheartedness. Even today, the news I read from there is ... well ... not for this board.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Your love for German music may be related with the genre you enjoy. Strong, macho. The words, the letters, sounds used in German language certainly work well to give them that grit.

That is a big big part of it, but it's not only the heavy stuff I like. German has some softer romantic music too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzXj5oJ4-4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6F1AkGHMZI

This one gets a mention in my current series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jrfluDC9AA

I won't deny, there are also a couple very sweet German songs, but out of Germany you rarely hear of them. Out of my head, I can only come up with artists like Rammstein (not sweet), Schlagers (a music genre. Often disgustingly sweet), Udo Jürgens, Matthias Reim... And Nena, of course. Not much of the new German music crosses the borders.

It's pretty much non-existent here. Rammstein is about the only German-language music I can recall hearing on the radio here. Maybe "Rock Me Amadeus" or "99 Red Balloons" (usually the English-language version) very occasionally on the oldies stations. Past that I've had to explore via YouTube and other avenues.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Outside of Oktoberfest and the Bavarian Beer houses and the rumors of frolicking Frauleins, I don't associate Germany with fun or lightheartedness. Even today, the news I read from there is ... well ... not for this board.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Outside of Oktoberfest and the Bavarian Beer houses and the rumors of frolicking Frauleins, I don't associate Germany with fun or lightheartedness. Even today, the news I read from there is ... well ... not for this board.

We have our fair share of tinfoil hats and pandemic deniers, but the amount of school shootings, racially motivated police brutality and literal attacks on government buildings is still way below yours. Also, as a free added lesson in German, "Fräulein" hasn't been used for at least fifty years because it's very demeaning to unmarried women. Since 1971, every unmarried woman in Germany has to be addressed as "Frau". We are extremely anal about equal treatment. You should read official bureaucratic paperwork, it's a slogfest because both males and females are explicitly spoken to. I'm really curious to see how they'll include the non-binaries...

Overall, life in Germany is rather quiet and nice. Our healthcare is pretty good, the amount of armed psychos is still manageable thanks to our wonderfully restrictive gun laws and the amount of people forced to live in their cars because they can't afford rent is pretty much near zero. And finding asylum seems to be much easier than elsewhere.

Check your fucking sources.

 

[ElectricBlue]

^^^^^

Careful folks, it's the AH, not the GB. Keep it civil.