St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-03-16
HOW TO STUDY GERMAN.

HOW TO STUDY GERMAN.
0agKestlons for the Stadent Who Hlas
Neither Time Nor Money for Class Work.
The study of German is by no means
SO simple q matter as the words might
imply. 1t may signify . mere reading
knowledge Of the language or the most
thorough acquaintance with its litera-
ture, and ability to speak it with alb
solute fiuency and idiomatic accuracy.
Naturally the methods of study will
vary according to the purpose in view
and the age and requirements of the
student. There is no royal road to the
study of German Or any language,
however glowing are the predictions Of
some teachers and the anticipations Of
credulous pupils Success in Language
study depends upon the students am
bition, industry and ability. 1t is less
a question Of teacher or textbook. al
though these are not to be despised.
But as in everything in life, success
must be learned in language study by
earnest, well-directed and systematic
individual effort.
Suppose, now, an average Amer lean
youth or girl of about seventeen, who
has = fair knowledge of English, has
read some English literature, and can
write an ordinary school essay, wishes
to study German. Let us imagine that
the purpose in view is not converse
tional German, but simply to acquire
facility in reading the masterpieces Of
German literature and to translate
with ease from German into English.
What shall be the method employed?
OF course, an easy way would be to
join some German class in your town
or neighborhood. and let your teacher
direct you. There are hosts of able
and conscientious teachers who can be
of profound service to you, and care
full, systematic instruction is invalu-
able for the foundation of language
study. But have in mind the indie
pendent student. who. perhaps, has
neither the means nor the leisure for
any long-continued class work. What
shall he or she do?
would suggest, first of all, q simple
grammar like Otis elements of Ger
man" in its last revised edition. There
are others equally good, but have
found Otis admirably adapted to be-
ginners. Let the students go to work
Mt once on the Introductory chapters,
and then. after thorough mastery of
the vOcabularies and few paradigms
presented, turn to the selections for
translation at the end Of the book. II
the word lists have been carefully
memorized the work of translation will
become less and less labcrious. would
lay special stress on the need of study.
ing new words and assimilating them.
For q reading and translating knowl-
edge of German, which is all that Is
aimed at by the average American stu
dent, who has neither the means nor
the opportunity to live abroad
and acquire conversational fiuency,
it is indispensable that daily
progress be made in the ac-
QUESTION of new words Language
study is largely = question of word ac-
quisition. Each new word is an addi-
tional brick in the edifice. The broad
er we lay the foundation the more
varied our vocabulary, the more salts
factory the structure. Here the stu
dents own ability and industry must
come into play. would advise him
early to observe the roots of words,
and note how the affix and prefix will
change their meaning. Let the study
Of the roots of words go hand in hand
with the study of the words them
selves. For . good guide at this juno
ture to the student who has a tastes
for word study some chapters in Bo-
haghel's ''Historical Grammar Of the
German Language" can be recommend
ed. OF course. it would be premature
to grapple with the historical and
portions, but the student
would find twenty pages devoted to
the origin Of German words and the
changes in their meaning of much in
terest. These would do more than
merely interest; they would teach pre-
cision and exactness, and inspire a
higher regard for the language itself
as the vehicle of q nations thought
for thousand years and more. Only
in this way can enthusiasm for study
be created-an enthusiasm which shall
glow into still brighter flames when
the elements of grammar having been
mastered and the difficulties of trans
lating simpler selections overcome.
The student can now turn to the de-
lightful task of familiarizing himself
with German literature.-Prof. A. s.
Isaacs, in Ladies' Home Journal.