Learning German

I was a freshman in high school when I chose to take German.  I was fourteen 

when I began and seventeen when I finished.  I took German for all four years in 

high school. 

   I chose German because I had two neighbors who were German.  One was a 

family with a girl my age and we were good friends.  They had just moved from 

Germany to the U.S., so I heard German in their home all the time.  The other 

were second generation immigrants, and I heard the language in their home a 

good bit, but English was their first language.  The children did not speak much 

German, but understood some phrases.  I was close with both these families, so 

this led me to take this language.  My mother grew up with a grandparent whose 

first language was German, so she knew some and encouraged this.  My father 

did not discourage it, or say that it was difficult to learn.  I have heard since that 

Spanish is easier.  Perhaps this is a myth.  At that time, immigrants who spoke 

Spanish were not to be found in so many cities and towns as they are now.  I 

think if either of my children wanted to take a language other than Spanish, I 

would point out how helpful knowing the language would be.  

   My memory of going through the process of learning this language was 

painful.  I had Mr. McFeeley, whom I liked for his sense of humor, particularly for 

his ability to poke fun at us in a way that was harmless.  I do not remember 

feeling that he had high expectations of us, and I, unfortunately, lived down to 

these expectations.  I was not a student back then, in the sense that I am now.  

Now I look for that trait in my teachers, and I’m usually not disappointed.  I had 

great difficulty communicating in the language, and I came away knowing a few 

phrases, which I have since lost.  I received a grade of C for this class each 

semester.  However, I will say that I still enjoy listening to this language.  So, 

apparently, my love of this language survived this classroom experience.