More About the Past

Abstract

Once you have mastered the basic tools for understanding the past tenses, it will be much easier to conduct a more detailed conversation. You can also begin to extend your reading skills by looking at newspapers, magazines and perhaps even books. The most important thing is to sample subject areas that you are already familiar with in your own language and that you genuinely enjoy. If you are interested in world events, look at a German daily after you have seen or read the headlines in English; if you like women’s magazines, pick up a German weekly or bi-monthly. And if you enjoy literature, start with a short story that you know in English, or get hold of a bilingual edition. Some children’s books or comics are great fun to read too.