Learning to hear German

I'm trying different strategies to improve my German listening skills. I tried recording myself read a passage and then listen back and write down what I said. Interestingly most of it was easy to pick up, but I could only capture a few words at a time; up to three, and I would have to stop and rewind and re-check.

What I stuggle with is und, I keep hearing it as un. I keep leaving the r off of einer. And three words I struggled with were bewaldete, frütterte and wechselte. Even hearing multiple times I came up with wiewoltete, vertote and wuchselte. Funny I should mistake "b" for a "w", but understandable for thinking an "f" was a "v".

Then I tried recording a short vocab list and tried writing down the english. Interestingly I struggled writing the english unless I'd written the german down first for certain words.

My word I'm a world a way from hearing german and then translating it on the fly!

Location:UK

Shopping Rage

I went shopping in Asda at 2.00pm on Saturday, and I've never known it so crazy. There was a free for all for a parking space, some funny behaviour was to be observed;

- The guy in the car behind kept honking his horn and shouting out hurry up, though we couldn't move anywhere

- At one of the junctions two opposing cars were having an argument with lots of f works thrown in

- Coming down an isle I couldn't move anywhere as I was blocked in front and behind. Asked lady in front to move as lady B came round the corner - who wasn't going to move out the way. There wasn't anywhere I could go, so I waited until she realised. MOVE OUT THE WAY!!!

I got out supprisingly quickly, despite the queues, not sure I'll shop at that time again.

Location:Asda Basildon

Bavarian Beer House

http://www.bavarian-beerhouse.com/index.php?id=146

Went to the Bavarian beer house in Tower Hill on Thursday. Had a really nice time. It was fun trying a bit of German out with the waitress.

Just go out side entrance of Fenchurch street and head under the archway and its on your left.

The food was yummy. I recommend getting pretzels for starters. I had Oktoberfest Chicken and it was yummy. The apple strudel was great. The beer I had was lovely, and they've got a really good selection, including a glass which is massive

Location:London