| Whether you're going to move abroad for a | | | | particular cognates. |
| fixed amount of time for school education, | | | | |
| business issues or simply for a better/new | | | | The first thing that you could do in this |
| type of lifestyle, you're going to be hit by | | | | case is grab a list of English – German |
| what most people call the "cultural shock". | | | | cognates off the Internet and give them a |
| This involves hitting yourself to a new | | | | read-through so you can recognize them in a |
| lifestyle, new ways of handling issues, | | | | text or spot them in a conversation. This |
| sometimes a new type of currency, but most | | | | will also help in dealing with the so called |
| importantly, a new language. Actually, the | | | | "false cognates". False cognates are words |
| biggest shock will be this language barrier, | | | | that look alike and sound alike in both |
| especially if you're moving to a country | | | | languages, but actually have a different |
| where the mother tongue is no where near your | | | | meaning. For example: the German word |
| own language's lexical foundation. For | | | | "eventuell" might seem like the English word |
| example, switching from an Anglo-Saxon based | | | | "eventually", however the meaning in German |
| language to a Slavic, or Latin one (or vice | | | | is quite the opposite. Eventuell means |
| versa) can be extremely unpleasant, since you | | | | "possibly" or "perhaps". Another good example |
| won't be able to understand any bits of a | | | | of these false cognates is "brave" – |
| conversation. What this article will aim for, | | | | "brav". You would thing that the German |
| is try to give you a few tips and tricks on | | | | "brav" means "brave" in English, however its |
| how to start learning this new language | | | | correct meaning is "well behaved". The German |
| faster and how to adjust to the new culture | | | | word for "brave" is "tapfer". |
| through language. | | | | |
| | | | As you can see, this is a starting point for |
| Let's say your native language is English and | | | | your cultural shock adjustment in what |
| you move to Germany (the German language is | | | | regards the language of the foreign country. |
| of the same lexical foundation as English). | | | | Of course, the example above is very |
| Even though you might not know the slightest | | | | particular, but it applies to many other |
| thing about the German language when you move | | | | situations. And since language is such an |
| there, you will still be able to take out | | | | important step in understanding a new culture |
| bits and pieces out of writings, | | | | and adjusting to it, it is advised that you |
| conversations (well admittedly, maybe less | | | | start learning it even before you move abroad |
| from conversations, at least not until you | | | | if possible. Even if you don't have time to |
| get used to the local accent, talking speed, | | | | take some local courses, the Internet can be |
| etc). The reason for this is that many words | | | | a good source to start learning. There are |
| are quite common in both German and English. | | | | several learning websites out there that can |
| Take "house" for example, which is translated | | | | help you do so and some of them offer quality |
| as "haus". Although the spelling is slightly | | | | free online language courses that can give |
| different, the pronunciation and the | | | | you a heads up on a language in a matter of |
| morphosyntax are almost the same for these | | | | days. |