How to practise your German outside of lessons in London
Monday, 21st December 2009
If you’re doing a German language course in London it really helps if you can find opportunities to practise using your German outside the classroom. Fortunately there are lots of options if you know where to look...
You could join The London German Language Meetup Group, which meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the Bavarian Beerhouse near the Old Street tube station. The group is suitable for those currently learning German and those how have learnt German in the past and would like to brush up their knowledge of the language, and gives you regular opportunities to practise German conversation.
A similar group, called German Chat, meets regularly in the Orange Tree pub in Richmond. This is a group for intermediate to advanced learners of German, as well as for native speakers.
There are regular seminars, colloquia, lectures and other events at the German Historical Institute London, some of which are in German. So if you’re interested in German history this is a good place to visit.
There’s a programme of lectures on German literature, language and culture, and other events at the Centre for Anglo-German Cultural Relations at Queen Mary, University of London.
The German YMCA in London, which is near Hyde Park and Lancaster Gate, runs a series of events for German learners, including the Anglo-German Circle, chance to meet Germans living or visiting London, as well as other learners of German; tea Mornings; trips to plays, concerts, musicals, museums and other places around London; and a variety of other events.
The Goethe-Institut London has a library where you can find a large collection of German books, newspapers, journals, CDs, videos and DVDs. The Institut also runs German language courses and provides information and advice about studying in Germany. The staff all speak German so this is a good place to practise speaking German as well.
There are quite a lot of Germans living in London, especially in Stoke Newington (Hackney). If you get to know German people in this area you’ll have a chance to use your German, and perhaps to take part in the German events they organise.
You could also look German-speaking students at London’s universities and colleges to practise your German with. In exchange you could help them to improve their English, and or other languages you speak.
Tags: history, language course, language, course, london, languages, germany, learning, german, culture
Posted by Simon Ager 2009-12 under
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