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Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

So I started out 2012 with just a couple of goals, both of which were around improving my physical health.  After that, I kind of forgot about adding to my list, and it's only been in the last few weeks that I have taken the time to kind of add to them.

Inspired by the Relief Society Pursuit of Excellence program, one of the goals I have added was to develop some skill in another language.  And I've been trying to figure out which language I should focus on.  Years ago in college, I studied German, and even though I enjoyed it, I never stuck with it.  And now that so much of business is conducted in Spanish and Chinese, I was thinking that maybe it's time I did something different.

So with this goal in mind and trying to decide on a language, I had an "aha" moment while I was watching "The Sound of Music" last night. Back in college, one of the things we did was learn some songs in German, as it was supposed to be a way to get you comfortable using the language. And ever since then I've remembered how to sing "Edelweiss" in Deutsch.  As Christopher Plummer (Oh Captain my Captain) started to sing it, all of a sudden in my head, I was singing it to myself, and actually thinking it in German and not English.  Believe me, that has NEVER happened to me before.  So I thought - there's my answer.  It was time to focus again on the one that I'm already somewhat familiar with.  

This morning while surfing the web, I discovered a site hosted by the BBC, where you can get some language skills FOR FREE!  Forget Rosetta Stone, or Community Ed classes, the BBC had me at the word FREE. The BBC site is now duly bookmarked, and I plan to spend some time on it each day for the rest of the year.

So  this morning, while I sat here sipping my hot cocoa (which I can now add back in to my diet being as it's September), I also went through one of the first lessons, which was on Introductions.  And now any visitors to Tracie's Holladay Inn can expect to see post-its with German phrases stuck around my house.  Here's a sampling:

Hallo, darf ich mich vorstellen?
Ich bin Tracie
Ich wohne in Holladay
Ich bin Business Analyst 
Ich arbeite bei Holiday Inn
Auf wiedersehen!


Comments

The Perry Family said…
What a great goal to have! I have always wanted to learn another language so you are inspiring me - perhaps it's something I could try out. I think German is a great choice for you!!! Love you!
September 2, 2012 at 12:50 PM
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