Today I had the pleasure helping my son with his German homework. Since my husband and I are both German we want our kids to know German as well. The Bay Area has actually a pretty large German community and we do have a local German school with after school German classes. I would say we are lucky – my son probably not so much. We do speak German at home but it is not an easy language and I realize more and more that there are certain aspects that get lost. Today homework was to correct German proverbs:
One of my most memorable of the list was “Der Appetit kommt beim Lernen” corrected to “Der Appetit kommt beim Essen”. It means that the appetite will come with the meal. It was used a lot when I was a kid and we did not like lunch or dinner – we had to eat in anyway. I guess I am not telling him that often enough (what does not mean that he likes everything – quite the contrary actually), because he had no idea what I was talking about. I actually like the idea of using it as “The appetite comes with learning” (what was the “wrong sentence”). It makes as much sense to me in this context. I keep telling myself that one day he will thank me.
Another good one:
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund.
– The early morning hour has gold in its mouth.
It basically means that if you get started early you will come across the best opportunities. Similar to the early bird catches the worm. I do like proverbs and a lot are stuck in my head even if I don’t use them as much anymore. I feel like these are harder to learn in a different language since they are usually not meant literally. They are so cool though. Do you have a favorite one?
Home here and there 
I have a bad enough time learning French, living in a French-speaking province, I’m still learning. So I feel for your son. But then again, agree with you that it’s good for him to know his parent’s language. The more languages the better as it opens up so many more job opportunities.
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It’s not easy and definitely harder for some. My dad also does not speak English that well and I want him to be able to talk with him.
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There are certain languages that seem to be easy to learn, and almost natural. Others are really difficult. Though it’s also true many have the ability to learn languages easily. Me? Not so much.
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I am not sure where I fall but my son definitely has a harder time than my daughter. I do know that I will never be able to speak without an accent.
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It really is a gift to learn a second language. Some have the talent, some of us don’t. I too will always have an accent.
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I love proverbs/idioms! Do you remember that I posted a list for NaBloPoMo every year… I should dig some up in my archives!
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Now that you say it, I do remember. It”s so fascinating to realize how hard it is to understand the meaning in a different language. My son knows German but had no clue.
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Yes- I’m thinking of some proverbs in English- “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.” Those would be very confusing to translate to another language! As a matter of fact, I think they’re even a little confusing in English. Not many people use them anymore.
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Yes, I think people use less proverbs in general. It’s really a shame. I have to look those up.
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Oh I love proverbs. When you master thought you are knowing a language.
But it is so hard to really grab the meaning specially when you never hear them in context.
My favorite German one – because it translates so funnily in English – Mal den Teufel nicht a die Wand.
The first one I learned in English was: Caught between a rock and a hard place.
San’s posts about proverbs are so fun. I remember them with joy.
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Yes, they are really fun. I can’t believe I forgot San’s posts about them. There is an Instagram account called The Language Nerds. That is pretty fun, too.
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