MISTAKES THAT VIETNAMESE PEOPLE OFTEN MAKE WHEN LEARNING GERMAN

It is inevitable to encounter difficulties when learning a new language. Especially for German, one of the 10 most difficult languages in the world. To overcome these difficulties, the first thing you need to do is find out the common mistakes you make during the learning process. With more than 5 years of experience in training and teaching German. SHB (formerly SHD Academy) will point out the mistakes that Vietnamese people often make when learning German. Help you improve your ability and enhance your German level after this article!

See also: SECRETS TO GETTING HIGH SCORE IN THE TELC B1 GERMAN WRITING TEST

1. Confusion with English

This mistake is easy to make because English is quite popular in Vietnam. Because we have 12 years of learning English. This is just the first reaction when you learn another language. When you learn vocabulary, you will translate from Vietnamese - English to German, or vice versa. But this is the most common mistake when learning German that you need to pay attention to. Translating to English will slow down your reflexes.

Listen carefully for the meaning of each word and translate it into German. As you progress you need to start “thinking in German”. Even beginners can learn to “think” German phrases. Or you can practice by looking up the word in German when you see something. If you continue to use English as a crutch, always translating from English to German, you are doing it wrong. You don’t really know German until you start “hearing” it in your head! German doesn’t always put things together like English does.

2. Pronunciation errors

Pronunciation mistakes are very common for people learning German. Here are some common pronunciation mistakes in German, with examples to help you understand better:

Mispronouncing “ch” like “x”: In German, the sound “ch” is often pronounced like “kh” in Vietnamese. A common mistake is that learners pronounce it like “x”. For example, “ich” (I) is pronounced like “ix” instead of “ikh”.

Mispronunciation of “r” and “l”: Some German learners have difficulty pronouncing the sounds “r” and “l” correctly. In German, the sound “r” is often the final sound of a word and is pronounced as a separate sound, similar to the sound “ơ” in Vietnamese. For example, “Haus” (house) is pronounced as “hauz” instead of “haus”. The sound “l” in German is often pronounced softly, similar to the sound “l” in Vietnamese. For example, “Schule” (school) is pronounced as “shule” instead of “sku-le”.

Mispronunciation of “ö” and “ü”“: These two sounds do not have equivalents in Vietnamese, making it difficult for learners. The sound “ö” is pronounced like the sound “ơ” in Vietnamese, but the lips are opened wider. For example: “Hören” (listen) is pronounced like “hơ-rờn” instead of “hơ-rờn”. The sound “ü” is pronounced like the sound “u” in Vietnamese, but the lips are rounded. For example: “Hügel” (hill) is pronounced like “hư-gel” instead of “hơ-gel”.

Mispronunciation of “ei” and “ie”: In German, these two sounds can be confusing for learners. The sound “ei” is pronounced like “ai” in Vietnamese. For example, “Ei” (egg) is pronounced like “ai” instead of “êi”. The sound “ie” is pronounced like “i” in Vietnamese. For example, “Sieben” (seven) is pronounced like “zi-ben” instead of “xi-ben”.

3. Vocabulary errors

When learning German, you may encounter some common vocabulary mistakes. Here are some mistakes and examples to help you understand better:

Misuse of prepositions:

• Error: “I go to school at 8 o'clock.” (I go to school at 8 o'clock.)
• Correction: “I go to school at 8 o'clock.” (I go to school at 8 o'clock.)

Confusion between similar words:

• Error: “I buy an apple.” (I buy an apple.)
• Correction: “I bought an apple.” (I bought an apple.)

Gender discrimination of nouns:

• Error: “Der Mädchen spielt Fußball.” (The little girl plays soccer.)
• Correction: “The Little Girl Plays Soccer.” (The little girl plays soccer.)

Misuse of adjectives:

• Error: “Ich bin sehr alt, weil ich nur 20 Jahre alt bin.” (I am very old because I am only 20 years old.)
• Correction: “Ich bin sehr jung, weil ich nur 20 Jahre alt bin.” (I am very young because I am only 20 years old.)

Error in using umlaut correctly:

• Error: “Ich mochte gerne ein Stück Kuche.” (I want a piece of cake.)
• Correction: “I want a piece of cake.” (I want a piece of cake.)

4. Communication error

Being able to communicate is the main goal when learning German. However, many people are afraid of making mistakes when speaking and therefore become shy and unconfident. To overcome this mistake, you should practice speaking German with native speakers or join German study groups. The most important thing is not to be afraid of making mistakes and actively use German in real communication situations. Practicing a lot every day will help you gain confidence and improve your communication skills.

5. Writing errors

When writing in German, many people struggle with special vowels, misspellings, and incorrect punctuation. To overcome this, you need to read a lot of German texts and pay attention to correct spelling. Use a dictionary or spell checker to check your writing before sending it. Try to practice writing every day to improve your German writing skills.

6. Capitalization rules in German

There is a huge difference in capitalization in German that needs to be noted. It is the only modern language that requires capitalization of nouns, for example “am besten” or “ auf Deutsch”.

Hopefully the above article has provided you with useful information and helped you improve common mistakes in the process of learning German.

Article reposted from duhocducshb.com, the official website of SHB Education Organization. September 13, 2024, SHB brand officially converted into SHD ecosystem towards comprehensive development Accordingly, the website https://shdacademy.vn/ will be the official website of SHD specializing in the field of Vocational Study in Germany.