Learning a language is like learning a musical instrument. You won’t be able to form your tongue and lips around the different German sounds unless you practice, practice, practice. Although grammar exercises and vocabulary trainers are very important, you can’t learn a language without actually using it.
Find Conversation Partner Online
Of course, it is almost impossible – and no fun at all – to practice talking to yourself. But a conversation partner is most probably just a click away. In the time of high speed internet, and voice and video chat, there are no excuses for not using and speaking the foreign language you want to learn.
To find conversation partners you don’t even have to leave home. Sign up for one of the big social networking services like Facebook or MySpace and look for German friends. The chances are pretty good that there is somebody out there who would practice some German with you, maybe in exchange for practicing English.
On Facebook, you can search for "german conversation“ or "german conversation table“ and will be supplied with a list of groups and people sharing an interest for German language and culture.
Social Networking in Germany
If your German is good enough, you also can sign up for one of the German social networking services and find an online pal. Some of the big ones are StudiVZ.net or MeinVZ.de, which even has an English language version, making it easier to get started.
If you actually want to get out of the house and talk to people in a live setting, meetup.com, is the right choice for you. Here you can find numerous groups all over the United States who organize regular meetings and are open to everyone.
To get you startedm here is an example of how to introduce yourself: "Hallo, ich bin (your name) und möchte mein Deutsch üben." – "Hello, I am (your name) and want to practice my German". Add something interesting about yourself and start talking.
All You Need is Internet
You really don’t need more than a computer, an internet connection and a free voice and/or video chat program like Skype or Google Talk to find a German conversation partner.
The Internet and Web 2.0 applications are a convenient way to find the modern version of a pen pal. And, who knows, maybe your online conversation partner will even become real friend who you just have to visit one day. Another great reason for learning a language. To make an appointment in German learn how to tell time in German. Viel Glück!
Josefine Köhn-Haskins - Josefine Köhn-Haskins is an award winning journalist, author and correspondent.
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