[Dr Feelgood]

German is my mother tongue, I always thought it must be a nightmare to learn as a foreign language, because the grammar rules are very difficult. But pronunciation is easy and follows a very reliable pattern, that's true.

I can only recommend what I would recommend for all other languages too: First, learn according to your personality type. Are you a very analytical guy, do you like to fully understand things before diving into them? Then start out with textbooks and vocabulary. Are you very extroverted and enjoy being around people a lot? Then just go to the country and dive in, without knowing much beforehand.

Vocabulary is just a matter of sitting down on your ass and putting in the time. Grammar can be too, but you need a lot of practice until it becomes second nature to you and you don't have to think about it anymore. Like, A LOT. It just takes time to learn a language well.

I read somewhere that a room full of people speaking German sounds like a running machine... which is true. It's a mechanical language, not a smooth and beautiful language. But I love it not only because it's a part of what I am, but also because it's a great language to play around with, double meanings, word games, etc... Have fun learning it (if possible, lol)!