The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Great to have you back!
It IS a tough language, not one of my favorites -- heck, Chinese is easier than German for me!

You're welcome. I still struggle with it -- reading is one thing, speaking is a whole different ball game. Hang in there.

Hello there, Denise.

I lived in Germany for about six years at different times. I could get by, but it sure wasn't easy. Welcome to the group!

Denise wrote: "Hello All,

I'm trying to get back into my Goodreads discussions. Expat living in Germany. Sprechen Sie Deutsche? Because I'm not very good at German. It's a tough language.

Anyways, I'm looking ..."

Hello Nanacy,

As a German living for the past 30 years in the UK I remember that struggle very well. German (huge grammar, lots of rules, but sticking to the rules), English (lot less grammar, some rules, millions of exceptions). However, don't give up on German as especially reading German and Scandinavian literature in German is sooooo much better than in English. And my favourite regional books with regional accents, which for me bring the Laender right into my living room.

Also German, with its possibility of simply creating words to describe something exactly is so much more precise and whilst I now mainly "think" in English, there are still times when I try to describe something for which there is an excellent German words which is exactly right and I can't find the same in English.

Don't despaire there comes the time when it just klicks and you'll find your brain has switched. When I go to Germany now, everybody tells me that my German as anglicized.

Bill wrote: "I lived in Germany for about six years at different times. I could get by, but it sure wasn't easy. Welcome to the group!"

The problem is if you are an English speaker, you are just so lucky an there is just not that much of a need to learn another language fully. Worth it however, as knowledge about the structure and usage of a language, can help explain a lot about how people express themselves and why and can do away with a lot of preconceptions and prejudices.

Gisela wrote: "Bill wrote: "I lived in Germany for about six years at different times. I could get by, but it sure wasn't easy. Welcome to the group!"

The problem is if you are an English speaker, you are just s..."

That is so spot on, Gisela!

Dear Denise, I used to speak French and I know exactly what you mean by thinking in a different language. I caught myself in the cafe and started thinking in French! How weird.