As I mentioned in my resolutions post we are learning two languages this year. I won’t be doing German from scratch, I got a GCSE in it many moons ago, and have dipped my toe in on and off over the years, but I don’t remember lots more than I do!
Anyway, FP and I are primarily learning it through my OU German course (L193) materials, which I had to give up when I actually took the course. Plus, children’s books for G, but I like variety so I had a look round for something online to supplement it and was pleased to find an excellent resource at Deutsche Welle. In my quest not to waste time in forums I’ve spent over an hour this morning doing their interactive course. But as you can see on the website, there are other courses too, including the fun looking Mission Europe where you can also learn French and Polish. I think it’s aimed at teens but I like it! My other top choice from the Deutsche Welle page is the learning German with the news section (I do like the news!) It’s read slowly and with simpler sentences.
There’s also the BBC for German (and others).
And for little kids, well G likes Hello World where he also does Spanish, and there are other languages too.
I also find the Deutsch Welle site and BBC sites great for learning German and they were 2 of the sites that helped me most to improve my German.
Since you’re not at beginner level, you might also be interested in checking out our learn colloquial German podcast (pukkagerman.com).
All the best it and your other 2009 resolutions.
Tyler
If you want to practice with someone, my A-level German, though a bit rusty, was refreshed with the OU’s Auftakt thingy a few years ago, but I still get the adjective endings wrong all the time!!
If you go to foreign language forums and chat rooms, it’s never a waste of time whatever crap you’re talking about there – that’s the main way I keep my French live and sharp
I might practice with you in a few months after I can say more than today is thursday, the weather is cold kind of thing
I have bookmarked a couple of forums again. I did before and then gave it up but I am committed this year!