"German is a horror": 5 myths, through which people do not dare to start

"I'll never learn it", "Too late at my age", "Articles will break me", "The words are like that, that three letters make one forty". If at least one phrase is familiar, this article is for you. The majority of Ukrainians, які приходять на «курси німецької мови онлайн», start with the same fear. And already in a couple of months they are laughing about it, that once held back. In this article we will analyze 5 the main myths about the German language - calmly, in fact and without "guarantees for 3 months".

First the main thing: these fears are normal, but not true

Fear of language is rarely born from real experience. Usually this is a retelling of other people's horrors: "The neighbor's daughter studied and studied and never spoke", "But this grammar is terrible". These stories take on a life of their own and scare those away, who hasn't even started. Let's analyze them one by one.

Myth 1. German is the most difficult language in the world

This is a classic. In fact, in international rankings of difficulty for a Ukrainian, German is somewhere in the middle. Chinese is more difficult, Japanese, Hungarian, finnish. It's simpler - Slovak, Polish.

What is playing to you:

• German and Ukrainian - both languages ​​"with cases", the logic is similar;
• in German, the expected spelling: spelled almost the same, how does it sound;
• no tones, as in Chinese, and there are no "invisible" sounds, as in French;
• the power of grammar is that, it system: studied the rule - and it really works.

So the "most difficult" is definitely not about German.

Myth 2. Articles der/die/das will destroy you

The first shock of almost all beginners. But articles are not chaos, as it seems at first. Close 50% nouns have a predictable gender by ending: -ung always die, -chen is always das, -er is mostly der. It's not magic, and the rule, which is studied in one evening.

And one more truth: a mistake with an article in a live conversation almost never prevents you from being understood. The Germans continue to listen calmly. In education, articles are important - in communication, they are not a disaster.

Myth 3. The words are so long, that they cannot be studied

The Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitänsmütze does exist. But this is a joke, not everyday. In real life 99% long words are a combination of two or three short ones:

• Front door = house (house) + Type (door);
• Hospital = sick (patient) + Haus (house);
• School child = school + Kind.

That is, a long word is a constructor. Understand the parts - understand the whole. It is not more difficult, than to understand "telephone" or "red-skinned" in Ukrainian.

Myth 4. I'm too old, to start

One of the most harmful myths. So, young children imitate pronunciation faster. But adults have their advantages: discipline, motivation, willingness to understand the rules, life context. Adult, who teaches 30-40 minutes a day, a year later speaks better than a child, which simply "listens to the language around".

We have students on the courses and 25, and 55, and 70+. Everyone is talking. It's not a question of age, it's a question of regularity.

Myth 5. I have no language skills

Abilities are a small bonus, not a sentence. 95% of the result in the language is time and method, not "talent". If you have ever learned any language (even Russian - you didn't have it from birth either), then, the device is working. You just have to go through the same path again with German: regularity → practice → confidence.

"I have no ability" usually means "I had a bad experience at school". It is not the same thing.

Where to start, if you are still afraid

• Select for yourself 2 week. Don't "learn German", and "try, how is it anyway". for 2 it will become clear in a week, is it for you.
• Don't start with grammar. Start with 100 of the most frequent words and simple phrases - there will be a feeling of "I can already do something".
• Set a micro goal. Not "free to speak", and "order coffee in German" or "introduce yourself to 5 sentences".
• Find a format with people. This is why self-study works poorly, that no one is afraid to deny. In the group you see, that others are the same — and that relieves anxiety.

Frequently asked questions

How much time is needed, to "speak freely"? Depends on the intensity. 30 minutes a day is B1 in a year and a half. Intensive format is faster. Without regularity, there will be none at all.

Can you learn the language?, if me 50+? So. Most of the limitations are in the head, and not in the brain. Age plays a role in pronunciation (there will be an accent), and not in understanding or speaking.

And if I ever started, I quit and now I'm ashamed to return? Come back without shame is the most common scenario. Most "success" stories started with 2-3 attempts.

Should I go to Germany?, to learn German? No. Earlier - yes, today - no. High-quality online training provides a level no worse than "on-site" courses.

Conclusion: fear is not about language, fear is about the beginning

None of these 5 myths do not stand the test of reality. German is normal, logical, fully learned language. It is successfully mastered by people of any age, any educational background, with or without any previous language experience. There is only one question: when you finally allow yourself to start - not "when the time comes", not "when I have inspiration", and today? Because in a year you will already know how, or convince yourself again, that "it was not worth taking".