I was talking to a German friend who briefly spoke to my dad on the phone today, and when I asked, he said "Sorry, but your Dad speaks better German than you
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I'm beginning to see why keirf has practically given up no Finnish despite living there - it's ten times harder than German. And I assure you the grammar machine in my head works even slower...
How about you learn a few basic Polish phrases so you can convince Ze Churmans you're Polish?
Speaking a foreign language is fucking difficult. It really is, and you're in NO way a failure for not passing for a native after only a year. My dad has lived in England for 25 years now, and he STILL gets clocked as foreign. I'm bloody certain you speak better German than me :) My grammar is dodgy as hell, I just try to wing it anyway. :) *hugs* I'm dead impressed that you've managed for a year. I couldn't.
Dude... you're not a failure! I heard you speaking German several times and I think your German is amazing! You're really good at using German colloquial phrases and jokes and things that make you sound more German, and your language is grammatically very good too.
Anyway, it's impossible to never make mistakes in a foreign language... since we didn't grow up in that country. And accents don't matter. I actually find accents quite exotic and sexy :p
Also, that person spoke to your dad for, what, 5 minutes? So how can they judge?
I heard you speaking German several times and I think your German is amazing!
Good point, well made. I should have thought of it myself, actually, given the shenanigans in Dessau. I suspect bighairydave is quite grateful for your prowess in German that scored him a couple of packets of painkillers that he so desperately needed; I wouldn't have been able to go into Dessau and find them on my own.
You say your dad hasn't lived in Germany for 30 years or more, BUT how long was he there for when he was there? That is probably a fairer comparison than recency of visit?
When I speak french they think I'm from Germany, rather than England (but still not france)... But you must remember there are different skills, and accent in spoken german is TINY part of the language, and when it comes down to it really not that important!!
Don't worry, don't put yourself down, and remember YOU'RE GREAT :)
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How about you learn a few basic Polish phrases so you can convince Ze Churmans you're Polish?
Nie mówię dobrze po niemiecku.
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Too fucking right! It isn't easy...
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Anyway, it's impossible to never make mistakes in a foreign language... since we didn't grow up in that country. And accents don't matter. I actually find accents quite exotic and sexy :p
Also, that person spoke to your dad for, what, 5 minutes? So how can they judge?
Chin up Amy, you rock! *hug*
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Good point, well made. I should have thought of it myself, actually, given the shenanigans in Dessau. I suspect bighairydave is quite grateful for your prowess in German that scored him a couple of packets of painkillers that he so desperately needed; I wouldn't have been able to go into Dessau and find them on my own.
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When I speak french they think I'm from Germany, rather than England (but still not france)... But you must remember there are different skills, and accent in spoken german is TINY part of the language, and when it comes down to it really not that important!!
Don't worry, don't put yourself down, and remember YOU'RE GREAT :)
xxxxxx
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