Bernard O'Shea: Achtung baby, I'm going to learn how to speak German in 2022

I've resolved to learn new skills over the years, including how to knit a jumper and juggle, but next year I'm going to actually success

Mon, 13 Dec, 2021 - 05:55

I've decided that 2022 will be the year I learn valuable skills. When I told my wife about my new pedagogy plot, she recalled my previous self-improvement attempts. She reminded me that I have tried and failed to learn how to play the piano, juggle and knit a jumper. I proudly exclaimed last January they would be just some of my achievements in 2021. Also, to grow my vegetables, brew my beer and learn how to fly a plane (this was a pretty big and way too expensive a daydream). However, her personal favourite was, "Oh, you also said you would learn German."

I did take German in school for two weeks in 1st year but dropped out. The only thing I learned was how to count to 20 and that I was terrible at languages. I've always felt I could speak foreign languages, primarily because of the Eurovision Song Contest. Ireland just couldn't stop winning the Eurovision in the 80s and 90s. We took it for granted, and it's probably the only reason I can count to 12 in French. While playing Irish music in Germany, I worked out that the only phrases I would ever need were 'Ein Bier bitte' and 'Noch ein Bier, bitte' because most Germans have excellent English.