Place reviews

You only need a few phrases. Don't worry, everyone there speaks English. You won't have a problem.

 

Ein Dunkles bier, Bitte? Enshuldigen Sie, bitte? Vielen Dank. Ich spreche kleine Deutsch.

 

Not sure exactly what you're trying to say here. "I speak (only) a little German" would be either "Ich spreche nur wenig Deutsch" or "Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch". If you want to say "I don't speak German" you'd say "Ich spreche kein (note spelling) Deutsch".

 

I also had a good laugh at your expense, for what you said is "I speak small German."

 

Here's all you need:

Ein Bier, bitte.

Noch einmal, bitte.

Wo ist die W.C. (vay, say), bitte?

 

Just went back to read Spartan1979's plans. Yeah, the smaller towns and less touristy places may require some German. Even in Heidelberg, if you're doing day-to-day stuff like grocery shopping there will be people you come across who don't speak English. Places like Köln and Düssledorf should be fine. Not sure about Miltenburg or some of the smaller towns. For me, it seems that young adults through about 40-ish year olds can speak at least a little English. Always ask "Sprechen Sie Engisch?" first, which is considered more polite than simply speaking English at them.

 

This is exactly what I meant earlier. No one has a problem speaking English if one has the capability to do so. Even the same question asked in English is alright. It's just important to not assume everyone's speaking that language.
When I was in Holland, I kind of had the same problem. I know that most Dutch speak German (and English) very well to perfect. Still, I thought it unpolite just to start a simple ask-and-buy-conversation in German, so I always asked if they spoke German, and if not, English was always a perfect alternative.

 

That will be useful until you hit the Franconian dialect. Then what you have learned will be as useful as someone fluent in French visiting Montreal

 

Wait, they don't speak German in Bamberg? Six months wasted.

 

I'm trying. I was thinking kleine also meant "little." Oh well.

I'm less than a third of the way through the Rosetta Stone course. I'll keep going for my next trip.

 

As compared to high German?

 

Langsam bitte is a good phrase to learn too!

 

Slow please??

 

Ja -- as in, "Speak slower, I'm still learning."

More formally: Sprechen Sie bitte langsam.

 

Ein Klein Deutsch!!! hahahaha

 

That's been a running gag joke for many years.

 

Wo ist DAS WC bitte ?

 

We're off to Germany in 4 hours. Vielen Dank für Ihre ganze Hilfe!