Category: German Culture

The Origins of Oktoberfest: from Munich to London It is this time of year again when Londoners get together in droves to celebrate Ludwig and Therese’s wedding. You may wonder what I am talking about. The Oktoberfest, of course, became a tradition in Munich, Bavaria, after King Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Theresa got married. […]

People of all ages learn German in London through classes or private German lessons. Because Germany is only an hour’s flight from the United Kingdom, you can put your German language skills to use relatively easily. German Youth Language You may wonder how youth language can be helpful unless you are part of Generation Z […]

Communicating in Switzerland presents unique challenges. Among other things, Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The largest language group, accounting for more than 60% of the Swiss population, is German. However, the German spoken in Switzerland differs in several ways from the standard German spoken in Germany or Austria. There are […]

Preparation on both parts is critical in making or breaking a successful German lesson. My lesson planning may involve following the syllabus of a course book or bespoke learning material, correcting homework, reading a piece on economics or simply keeping up to date on current affairs. A healthy interest in politics and the economy makes […]

Since Brexit happened and everything has been firmed up, UK nationals who live in Germany require a residence permit. That process is surprisingly straightforward. Options Studying in Germany is possible and requires a student visa. The same applies to vocational training. You can also apply for a permit to set up a self-employed business or […]

The Duden is the authoritative source for correct spelling, grammar and pronunciation in German. It is what the Oxford English Dictionary is to English. It was first published in 1880, comprising 27,000 entries. The latest 27th edition has just been published with 145,000 entries, 5,000 more than in the previous. New words are mainly loan […]

When doing business in Germany, you will probably, at some point, need to attend meetings and spend time in the offices of your German colleagues. To avoid making faux pas, you should familiarise yourself with the business etiquette in Germany. Speaking German Most important is to have a working knowledge of the language, particularly in […]

It is a great idea to learn German if you intend to spend time in Germany, and we offer German courses here in London in the comfort of your workplace or home. But could it have been that you might have needed to speak German when travelling to America? The German language in America A myth persists […]

It is a little-known fact that actor Bruce Willis is German. He was born Walter Bruce Willis in 1955 in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany and although his father was an American soldier serving in Germany, his mother, Marlene, was German. His father, David, moved the family to New Jersey, America, on his discharge from the army […]

Unbeknown to many, a German served as the 56th Secretary of State from 1973-1977 – Henry Kissinger. Although he became a well-known face in politics, he came from humble beginnings in Bavaria, Germany. His father was a teacher, and his mother was a homemaker. They were German Jews and, in 1938, had to flee to the […]

Almost 40,000 Germans are living in London. More than Winston Churchill would ever have envisaged. In contrast to other nationalities, Germans living in London keep a low profile; they do not dominate the high street with schnitzel restaurants or sausage shops. Instead of finances permitting, many young professionals opt to live in Wimbledon, Chelsea, Kensington, Highgate, […]

Russia-German is a term describing Germans who migrated to Russia from the start of the 13th century to the end of the 19th century. They are also known as German Russians or Soviet Germans. Tsarina Catherine II, herself of German descent, introduced an open immigration policy for Russia. Many Germans used the opportunity to leave […]

What do Germans really understand when the English talk to them? The English language has many subtleties that do not exist in German. The German language is very literal, and & as a result, Germans may come across as rude or off-hand to the English speaker. Of course, Germans are not rude at all. When […]

Although in some regions of Germany, the start of the Christmas season is heralded as early as 11 November on St Martin’s Day, it officially begins on the first Sunday of Advent, which this year fell on 1 December. German children, like British ones, open the first window on their Adventskalender on this day. Still, […]

Saint Nicholas Day, Nickolaus Tag, celebrated just three weeks before Christmas, has to be one of the most joyful events in the German calendar. This festival for the patron saint of children falls on 6 December, when he is said to have performed many miracles. Children write letters on the day before the festival and leave […]

Continuing our series of blogs on influential Germans this week, we look at the life and work of the poet, historian, philosopher and playwright Friedrich Schiller.  Schiller was born in November 1759 and received his early grounding in language through the Greek and Latin tuition he received as a boy. He is considered Germany’s most […]

In our last blog, we looked at the work of the Goethe Institute in promoting the study of German worldwide. This week, we explore something of the life and work of the man after whom the institute is named, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe was a hugely influential writer, philosopher and politician. Born in 1749, […]

Germans are proud of ”made in Germany” as a synonym for quality and reliability. In business meetings, Germans are relatively formal, detail-oriented and direct. They tend to say exactly what they want and mean. They are decision-making and problem-solving oriented, although these processes can take quite some time to complete, especially considering some German companies’ […]

I often get asked during German lessons what the proper business etiquette in Germany is. Here is a little synopsis about meeting German business partners for the first time: When meeting with business partners for the first time, ensure you are on time, dressed appropriately and armed with ample business cards. Your business partner will probably […]

One of the first things you will learn in your German language classes is numbers. It will help you say what floor you need in a lift, on a railway concourse, or in an office block. It will also enable you to tell the time. Timekeeping, for all German people, is essential. Arriving late for […]

How should you address business associates in Germany? As a newcomer to German, one of the first topics you’re likely to cover is the personal pronouns: ich, du, er, sie, es, meaning I, you, he, she, it and so on. Suppose you’ve already started learning the language. In that case, you’ll know that there are […]

So you have been taking German lessons for a while? Or even an intensive German course? And now you would like to go further and experience German outside your classes? Because language learning is not all about grammar or vocabulary, sometimes it just helps to get a taste of Germany to achieve fluency and proficiency in the German […]