Help! How do I improve my language skills?

I ask because from what I know of mml at cambridge, even if I was a native speaker I'd still find the course intellectually challenging. My problem at the moment is that I cant possibly read classic french or german literature (eg Böll) without reading a translation in conjunction. In this way, being fluent in every day language would help enormously (and of course once I mastered everyday language Id need to use books and newspapers to make any further progress)

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here, but how would brushing up on "everyday language" help you to understand Böll?
I'd say if your course is mainly literature-based, it's important for you to practise reading literary texts, even if you still find them a little tough to get through now. Don't use translations, try to figure the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases out for yourself and only use a dictionary when you feel you absolutely have to. You're really supposed to be reading them in German / French, so if you keep mentally translating them back into English to figure out what they mean, you'll slow yourself down.

My problem with the second part- I dont just find literature 'a little tough'- I find it impossible. Some texts like Maupassant are manageable provided I have an online translator on hand to look up the ten or so words a page I dont understand (that get in the way of general comprehension), but others like Böll, there are so many words I just cant read it- it takes and hour for 4 pages so lose the sense of the story, and certainly dont get a feel for it. I just really dont see how anyone could start an mml degree this october straight from school- Ive found A-level french and German really easy the whole two years and ive always got A-grades without trying, which makes me think its not me personally finding the level too difficult. My aim with literature is basically to be good enough to read a book without an online translator to hand, and understand enough not to have to look up words most of the time.

Isn't the point of going to university to learn, not to prove that we know everything already? And doesn't the fact that you don't know everything already excite you?

thanks for the response

in answer- I hardly think any A-level student would know everything already after just 15 months of extra language learning and reading. I think even my parents who are educated professionals in their 60s would find an undergrad course at cambridge pretty hard (and my dad went to oxford in the 60s). basically, I would *ideally* like to be as fluent as a native speaker my age in both, because then I could really go into depth in studying languages with a semantic/philosophic slant and I could spend my time reading criticism from all 3 and really understand it, and Id be able to imrpove my quality of expression like I am in english (i still dont feel my english is adequate for writing satisfying essays). basically my impression of mml at cam is that sky's the limit so Im in no danger of taking the excitement out by knowing too much.

I think you must just have a lot more negative capability than me

And of course, you have the advantage of being able to take a gap year - I can't afford that. What's the plan then? Living in France and Germany? I'm jealous!

Im actually pretty screwed money-wise. I cant deal with uncertainty were exams are concerned- which is why im so keen to be ahead of the game at uni, but Im fine with going abroad on my own, completely unsure of what will happen (fear of anything else gets dwarfed by fear of failing exams, and 15months unplanned is a welcome alternative to 4 years of constant exam courses)

I have €1800 in the bank Ive saved up, which should get me started, but im going to have to find a job as soon as I get there and work at least 3 nights a week an both sat&sun. Im basically doing the same thing most gappers do (working to fund exciting projects) except im doing the two simultaneously so I spend all my time in the country- because in my experience its the only way to learn. So I cant exactly afford it, but I do have parents who could bale me out if need be (which they would only do as a loan with interest ) my only source of funding is that they'll be renting out my room (bc i live in oxford theres a lot of demand for this what with all the foreign students at language schools & chinese students sent to british private schools)

And It'll be 6 months in both then Ill go back to Germany if I need to

If your worried about expenses- you could always consider getting a seasonal job abroad during the summer aftr yr1- since the euros climbing rapidly atm (I dont know what it'll be like in 2009 mind you)

I'm currently learning Dutch, the problem that I have is that I have now forgotten pretty much all the french I knew and have a tendency to use Dutch words when speaking a little french .....hmmmmmph

Ah, don't worry - it's perfectly normal. You haven't forgotten your French, you're just out of practice (and you go out of practice at incredible speeds when you're learning another language). If you start speaking French again it'll come back to you very quickly.

I do hope so. I am really out of practice with the french ...which can be a problem as my brother in law is french and speaks little/no English .... I haven't seen him or my sis for a few years and so only speak occasionally on the phone... maybe i will enroll on a course refresh it all a little..

Only if all you're looking for is the gist of what they're saying. Perhaps you should identify your weaknesses, listen to Germans speaking and mimic them. By the way, adjective endings, cases and prepositions make perfect sense - if you think they don't, you either haven't been taught well enough or you haven't learnt them well enough. Here's my page on adjective endings.

i know what they're saying and everything, but im saying, i don't think listening to them for ages helps grammar. i was always taught in a mixed ability class, until my sixth form, in which, for the first year, consisted of people, well, to put it lightly, didn't suit german, so i've always been held back at the details. and now grammar just seems to me like maths h/w... it makes sense and everything, but i just can't grasp it in "real life situations", and i end up making up my own, and then messing up the most basics like saying der mutter lol

now grammar just seems to me like maths h/w... it makes sense and everything, but i just can't grasp it in "real life situations", and i end up making up my own, and then messing up the most basics like saying der mutter lol

wow, i feel lonely, i only do one language... (german)... but speak 2 natively
how does one go about drilling the grammar into ones head? word order and stuff is logical and makes sense, but like adjective endings, cases, prepositions, just don't make sense. and im pretty sure spending 10 years with germans won't help, cause you'll just get the jist of what they're saying, and will lose out on accuracy...

on the accents front, i think, there is nothing better than to spend a week or so (depending on how quickly you learn) with a family in your respective language. cause that was definately the turning point for me. spent 7 days in germany, having learnt the language for less than 2 years, came back, and got a south german accent
and i can tell the difference between different parts of germany, and can even distinguish differences between austrians and swiss and germans!!