Language learning takes many shapes and forms. A lot of it can be done with using good online language learning sites (see below, under self help), but books still have their place.听
Recommended books
Make sure that you have the books recommended for听听补苍诲听.
It is also essential that you have access to the following dictionaries:
- a good German-English/English-German dictionary containing around 200,000 items of vocabulary (ie听not听a concise dictionary) eg听Collins German-English/English-German Dictionary听or the听Oxford-Duden听German Dictionary (preferably an edition including the new spelling reforms)
- a good English dictionary, eg听Collins English Dictionary听or the听New Concise Oxford Dictionary
The following books are also recommended:
- M Durrell, K Kohl & G Loftus,听Essential German Grammar, (2002)
- M Durrell,听Using German. A Guide to Contemporary Usage,听(1992)
- M Durrell,听Using German Synonyms, (2001)
- 础听碍眉苍锄濒-厂苍辞诲驳谤补蝉蝉听&补尘辫;听厂颈濒办别听惭别苍迟肠丑别苍,听Upgrade Your German听(2003)
- 础听碍眉苍锄濒-厂苍辞诲驳谤补蝉蝉听&补尘辫;听厂颈濒办别听惭别苍迟肠丑别苍,听Speed up your German听(2017)
Useful reference works:
- 尝补苍驳别苍蝉肠丑别颈诲迟,听Basic German Vocabulary
- 奥补丑谤颈驳,听顿别耻迟蝉肠丑别蝉听奥枚谤迟别谤产耻肠丑听(a user-friendly German-German dictionary)
- 顿耻诲别苍,听顿别耻迟蝉肠丑别蝉听鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉补濒飞枚谤迟别谤产耻肠丑
- 顿耻诲别苍,听搁颈肠丑迟颈驳别蝉听耻苍诲听驳耻迟别蝉听顿别耻迟蝉肠丑
- 顿耻诲别苍,听厂迟颈濒飞枚谤迟别谤产耻肠丑
The Department of German & Dutch has an excellent collection of yet more German reference books in the听MML听Library. Besides all the standard dictionaries you will find there not only a range of philosophical and historical ones, but also some more unusual ones which should make browsing in this section very enjoyable.
Self help
What you get out of your German Language work depends a great deal on what you put in independently of your teachers鈥� instructions. The following may help you improve your German on a day-to-day basis:
- On this听听you will find a large selection of online language learning and other resources for you to browse through and work with at different times and stages in your course.
- 罢丑别听听puts on interesting events and holds a regular听Stammtisch听which will put you in touch with German native speakers. It has also in the past produced German plays. You could take a lead. Becoming a member is essential!
- German films are often shown by the German Society or by Lectors, and there is a good selection of DVDs in the Faculty Library.
- The online resources of the听听are well worth exploring, particularly 鈥楯ust-in-time Grammar鈥�, an extensive interactive German grammar revision听programme. The Language Centre鈥檚 Language Learning Adviser in may be able to pair you off with a German native speaker keen to swap conversation sessions - don't be shy!
- Above all, keep a regular written record of the new words and phrases meet every day - including the gender and plural of all nouns - and of the context in which you find them.
