Noble - Unlocking German: your key to language success

Published by Collins

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Westerhill Road

Bishopbriggs

Glasgow G64 2QT

First edition 2018

Paul Noble 2018

eBook Edition November 2017 ISBN 9780008218744

Version: 2017-11-29

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Acknowledgements

Images from Shutterstock.

MANAGING EDITOR

Maree Airlie

CONTRIBUTORS

Val McNulty

Silke Zimmermann

FOR THE PUBLISHER

Gerry Breslin

Kevin Robbins

Vaila Donnachie

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People who know no German at all.

People who know some German already.

People who studied German at school.

People who didnt study German at school.

People who didnt like how languages were taught at school.

People who are amazed by just how closely grammar books resemble furniture assembly instructions.

Who is this book for?

People who think they cant learn a foreign language.

People whove listened to one of Paul Nobles audio courses.

People who havent listened to one of Paul Nobles audio courses.

People learning German for the first time.

People coming back to the language after a break.

People curious about whether they can learn a language.

People who feel confused by the way languages are normally taught.

Contents

Did you know you already speak German?

Did you know you already speak German? That you speak it every day? That you read and write it every day? That you use it with your friends, with your family, at work, down the post office even in the shower when you read the label on the shampoo bottle?

Were you aware of that fact?

Well, even if you werent, its nevertheless true.

Of course, you might not have realised at the time that what you were reading / saying / writing was actually German but I can prove to you that it was. Just take a look at these words below:

Have you read through them? Yes? Good.

Now, answer me this, are they:

A: English words

B: German words

C: Both

Well, if youre reading this book then youre clearly already a highly intelligent person with good judgement, so you will have correctly chosen C.

Yes, these are words that we have in English but they also exist in German, having originally come into English from Germanic languages. And these are by no means isolated examples of words that exist in both German and English but rather they are merely the tip of a truly enormous iceberg.

In fact, around half of all English words have close equivalents in German.Yes, thats right, half!

If we begin using these words, together with an extremely subtle method that shows you how to put them into sentences in a way thats almost effortless, then becoming a competent German speaker becomes really quite easy.

The only thing that you will need to do to make this happen is to follow the three simple rules printed on the following pages. These rules will explain to you how to use this book so that you can begin unlocking the German language for yourself in a matter of hours.

Well, what are you waiting for? Turn the page!

Rule Number 1:

Dont skip anything!

Using this book is extremely simple and highly effective if you follow its three simple rules.

If you dont want to follow them then I recommend that, instead of reading the book, you use it to prop up a wobbly coffee table, as it wont work if you dont follow the rules. Now get ready because heres the first one!

Each and every little thing in this book has been put where it is, in a very particular order, for a very particular reason. So, if the book asks you to read or do something, then do it!Whos the teacher after all, you or me, eh?

Also, each part of the book builds on and reinforces what came before it. So, if you start skipping sections, you will end up confused and lost! Instead, you should just take your time and gently work your way through the book at your own pace but without skipping anything!

Step by Step

Rule Number 2:

Dont try to memorise anything!

Trying to jam things into your head is boring and it doesnt work. People often cram for tests and then forget everything the moment they walk out of the exam. Clearly, we dont want that happening here.

Instead, I have designed this book so that any word or idea taught in it will come up multiple times. You dont need to worry about trying to remember or memorise anything because the necessary repetition is actually already built in. In fact, trying to memorise what youre learning is likely to hinder rather than help your progress.

So, just work your way through the book in a relaxed way and, if you happen to forget something, dont worry because, as I say, you will be reminded of it again, multiple times, later on.