6

I have a friend who is Russian and has used German for day-to-day matters for the last two years. He is very well able to have detailed conversations in German. However, his use of articles is often incorrect (unsurprising, since learners of an L2 with articles while their L1 lacks articles often have trouble with this). This is particularly disturbing in written prose.

Basically any kind of imaginable problem occurs:

  • Lack of article where one would be expected
  • Presence of article where none would be expected
  • Mixup of definite/indefinite articles (der/die/das vs. ein)
  • Mixup of gender (der vs. die vs. das)

For the last one there are some tendencies but in the end it just requires a lot of practice. The other problems, however, may be different in this aspect.

I have been trying to teach him this indirectly by feigning misunderstanding (e.g. asking for clarification when he should have used a definite article, even though the meaning can be recovered from context). Progress is not invisible but somewhat slow. Because my friend can perfectly use the language he finds it difficult to spend time on doing exercises on this topic, especially also because the exercises you can find are all below his level. What are some other ways to train correct use of articles?

  • 2
    Does this person want correction? If not, shouldn't your question be about how to teach an unwitting language learner how to properly use articles? – AML Jun 19 '19 at 23:54
  • @AML he does, but for limited effort (since the language is already usable). –  Jun 20 '19 at 07:08
  • I wouldn't say the exercises are below his level if he can't do them. I just think it takes a lot of work - the fact that this level is otherwise quite good doesn't open up any shortcuts as far as I can see. –  Jun 20 '19 at 09:35
  • @Minty fair point, though I meant the exercises aren't really challenging in terms of vocabulary or sentence structure. But if you are right about the second part of your comment that would constitute an answer to my question (albeit not the one I'd hoped for). –  Jun 20 '19 at 12:34
  • 2
    I think he just needs to read much much more German texts. Writing skills get better by imitating what is read. Listening and speaking do not help so much. – Janka Jul 01 '19 at 23:17

0 Answers0