"Master German: Essential Tips for Caregivers"

Published: 01.09.2014 v tipy pre opatrovateľky

And here it is! Day D has arrived, and you need to know German, for example, for a caregiver job abroad. Ideally on your own, or with assistance, and it doesn't matter whether you need it for work or personal reasons. And you will want to use it.

Some Tips for Caregivers on Learning the German Language

It is not easy to advise on how to learn a foreign language, as each of us learns best in our own way, but if someone decides to learn a foreign language independently, they certainly have their specific reasons or motivation. There are many ways to learn German.

Online Courses

http://deutsch.info/sk

http://www.langmaster.com/lmcom/com/web/sk-sk/pages/kurz-nemciny-zadarmo.aspx

http://www.royalschool.sk/free-ebooks-nemcina.php?gclid=Cj0KEQjwmLipBRC59O_EqJ_E0asBEiQATYdNhycfwT_SphLjZ4cOqPdzG6PF80kYcUIo8VOUx1GH4DcaAmZZ8P8HAQ

www.slovicka.sk

http://www.operka.sk/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnfUOvwMvzQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8mjwMPmA8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A3HEBmyOPM

http://www.ako-sa-naucit-skor.com/stroj-na-jazyky.html

Books and Textbooks

Another option to start with the German language for caregivers is to purchase or borrow a book.

Even though we live in a technical age, no one should lack a classic dictionary in their basic equipment. I definitely do not recommend relying on quick translation dictionaries or the dictionary itself with pre-made phrases, or assuming that you will learn it immediately in the country.

 

You can find the websites of online bookstores yourself and also in your city. We include some:

http://www.martinus.sk/?uItem=53570

http://www.martinus.sk/?uMod=list&uTyp=search&uQ=Nemciona+polopate

http://www.martinus.sk/?uMod=list&uTyp=search&uQ=Worterbuch

 

If you dare, you can search on German forums for a German person who would be willing to write with you, or even talk with you, say via Skype. You will be surprised at how willing Germans are in this regard. Both of you will learn a lot and have a lot of fun correcting mistakes… ;)

here is an example http://www.deutsch-als-fremdsprache.de/austausch/forum/index.php

Now we will give you a few final tips:

  1.  In the early phase of language learning, it is very important and essential to listen and gain a feel for the language. Since we do not study anything in this phase, we are not distracted by translation or grammatical rules, because this is the fun part that should introduce us to the language. The feeling itself is best acquired through practice in a German-speaking country. If we do not have such an opportunity, we can gain it through television, online videos, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks. You can listen to them in the car or while doing sports, especially suitable for employed people with a lack of free time. In this phase of learning, you should acquire the proper pronunciation and accent. And you should start to understand something, provided you have at least a basic vocabulary.
  2. In the second phase, you expand your vocabulary, and it is only you who memorizes those words. You learn to form sentences and try to conduct basic communication.
  3. In the third phase, you refine your grammar, in the fourth you create conversations and communicate.

What's next? I don't know, choose for yourself. By the end, you should have such an overview that you will realize what you actually (don't) want to do with German in the future. Mainly, give yourself time to experiment and find your area… In the end, we can only state that you truly master a language when you can say what you mean and are able to conduct a conversation.

In conclusion, we can only add that everything should go together and coherently, whether it is language training for caregivers or gaining experience in caregiving. If you want to try the first one, you can opt for online tests or try working as a caregiver abroad where you can test these skills in practice.