Moving to Germany from the UK: do you need to speak German?
Moving to Germany from the UK? What German you need for work, the visa and your first weeks, and how to prepare in London before you go.
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Can AI teach you German? Where a tutor still matters
Can AI teach you German? I have started using it myself to create exercises, so this is not an article warning you…
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Why saying less works better in German
English speakers learning German arrive with a set of verbal habits that have served them well their whole lives. Softening a request….
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Sie or du? How not to put your foot in it in German
There are two words for you in German, and choosing between them worries learners more than any table of case endings. The…
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Is German grammar difficult? A realistic view for adult learners
German grammar arrives with a reputation that frightens off more adult learners than it should. The compound nouns, the four cases, the…
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How long does it take to learn German?
It is the first question many people ask before committing to lessons, and it is a fair one to ask. Time is…
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Nicht vs kein: negating nouns in German
In our previous article on negation with nicht, we looked at how nicht works in German sentences: where it goes, what it negates, and…
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Where does “nicht” go in German?
One of the most common questions German learners ask is: where does nicht go? English speakers usually negate the verb and use stress to…
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German passive voice: structure, usage and professional context
The German passive is common in reports, contracts and formal emails. Forming it is simple. Choosing the right auxiliary is where English…
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German emails may sound ‘blunt’: how to read them
Many professionals working with German-speaking colleagues or clients have had this experience: they read an email, understand every word, and still feel…
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Should’ve learned German: how to say ‘would have’ and ‘could have’ in German
Should’ve learned German. Many learners think it at some point, looking back at a missed opportunity or a conversation that went wrong….
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Konjunktiv II in German business emails: how to sound polite and professional
Writing a polite email in German can be surprisingly challenging, even for learners who already speak the language well. Many English speakers…
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German lessons at work: a guide for busy professionals
Most adults who learn German alongside a full-time job run into the same problem: the time exists in principle, but rarely at…
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Article use for country names in German
Most countries in German have no article. A small group always takes one, and that changes the preposition too. Compare: Which countries…
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German and its neighbours
Germany has shaped its neighbours as much as they have shaped it. This applies not only to culture and technology but also…
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The pros and cons of one-to-one German tuition
Interrogating our approach For nearly two decades, German Language Coach has focused on delivering one-to-one German lessons in London to professionals, and…
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German-speaking spots in London: practise German outside the classroom
Why practising outside the classroom matters Learning German requires tenacity and commitment. Many learn to communicate with friends, family, and professional contacts…
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Mal vs. Zeit
English uses time for two ideas: duration and occasions. German has a word for each: Zeit for duration, Mal for an occasion….
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German false friends that trick the language learner
What are false friends in language learning? A “false friend” is a concept in foreign language learning wherein a word in one…
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Gern and gerne: how to say what you like doing in German
Gern is one of the first words English speakers need, and one of the first they use wrongly. Here is how to…
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The mysterious German word doch
Are you seeking a professional German course? We specialise in bespoke German lessons and courses designed to help individuals and businesses master…
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Eine ewige Hochzeitsfeier ist das Oktoberfest
Warum eigentlich feiern die Bayern sowie Menschen in anderen Regionen und sogar in fernen Ländern seit über 200 Jahren die Hochzeit von…
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German idioms explained: 5 phrases and what they mean
German idioms rarely translate word for word, which is what makes them useful. Get one right in a meeting and you sound…
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German compound nouns: a linguistic marathon
Some German words seem to go on forever. They are compound nouns: several words joined into one, a habit of the language…
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Expressing likes and dislikes in German
English uses like for everything. German chooses between four words, depending on what you like: gern, mögen, schmecken and gefallen. Activities: gern…
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Weathering the German language storm
As spring approaches, the shifting weather patterns offer a unique insight into the German language. As in many other cultures, proverbs about…
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If only German didn’t have two words for ‘only’
On your journey of learning German, you inevitably encounter a situation that requires you to express something limited to an amount, some…
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Plurals in German
There are several different ways to form plurals in German. It can be difficult to predict plural endings with complete certainty, and…
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B1 German course and exam
B1 is the third of the six CEFR levels, A1 to C2, and the first intermediate level. At B1 you understand the…
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Das Jugendwort des Jahres 2023
Hallo liebe Lernende, herzlich willkommen zur nunmehr 32. Episode unseres Podcasts. Sollte euch dieser Podcast gefallen, dann bewertet ihn doch bitte und…
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German youth word 2023
People of all ages learn German, many of them through private German lessons in London. Because Germany is only an hour’s flight…
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Ways to learn German: courses, tutors and beyond
It might have taken you some time to decide to learn German. Seldom do we decide on a whim to learn a…
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Redewendungen
Hallo liebe Lernende! Während sich der Mensch in der Bautechnik erst seit der Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts der Fertigbauweise bedient, verwendet er…
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Hats off! German idioms about clothes
German idioms are part of everyday language use and a good way to say something that a hundred plain words would not…
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Monkey business: German idioms about animals and food
Prefabricated components in building are relatively new. In language they have been in use for centuries, in the form of idioms and…
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The uniqueness of Swiss German
Communicating in Switzerland presents unique challenges. Among other things, Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The largest language…
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Minority languages in Germany
Germany is home to many minority languages still spoken by different ethnic communities across the country. These languages are an important part…
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German for UK businesses after Brexit
Leaving the European Union changed how British companies trade with the Continent, but not who they trade with. Germany remains one of…
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Gender-neutral language in German
Inspired by a recent question from one of their freelance translators about inclusive/gender-neutral language in German (below; feel free to skip past…
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Der König
Willkommen zu unserem Podcast. Um mehr über die Podcaster zu erfahren, schaut nach unter www.languagecoach.co.uk. Ein König ist ziemlich oft im Spiel….
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Which businesses engage a German tutor?
Businesses find that having German-speaking staff generates more success when transacting in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. You may wonder what type of…
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Opera singers, AGMs and the Bundestag: my working week
Preparation on both sides is critical in making or breaking a successful German lesson. My lesson planning may involve following the syllabus…
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German verb conjugation: the present tense
During German lessons, you notice how German verb endings change depending on the subject they accompany. English verbs do the same but…
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Lack of foreign languages and the economic costs
Shortage of language skills A shortage of language skills has been identified as a barrier to trade. A recent British Chambers of…
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Was ist gendern?
Hallo liebe SchülerInnen, Herzlich willkommen zu unserem Podcast. Neulich wurde ich gefragt: “Genderst du?”. “Ich mache was bitte?” war meine Antwort und…
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A take on learning German
My German language journey and the lessons I have learnt Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. This simple but effective…
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Sprint or marathon? Learning German as an adult
When I wrote this short note in 2022, the question I was asked most often was whether learning German is more like…
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Get comfortable writing in German
Writing emails to colleagues, WhatsApp messages to friends or posting on social media is part of using your German language skills. It…
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To say in German: I do not understand
After a few private German lessons, you will want to say: I do not understand. Saying it in German is even better….
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Neujahrsvorsätze
Hallo liebe Zuhörerinnen und Zuhörer. Ich bin Malte, der unbezahlte Praktikant bei German Language Coach und mache mit großer Freude den Podcast.Heute…
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Wer hat das Fußballspiel erfunden?
Hallo liebe SchülerInnen, Herzlich willkommen zu unserem Podcast, in dem es um Fussball geht. Momentan wird ja die Europameisterschaft ausgetragen. Ich will…
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Neue deutsche Wörter
Herzlich willkommen zu unserem Podcast. In Europa wütet ja nun schon seit einem Jahr diese Pandemie und momentan ist da wohl leider…
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Leben in Deutschland nach dem Brexit
Hallo, liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler! Herzlich Willkommen zu unserer neuesten Podcast-Episode. Das Vereinigte Königreich verließ ja, wie euch sicherlich bekannt ist, am…
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Pandemie und Präpositionen
Hallo liebe Deutschlernerinnen und Deutschlerner, herzlich willkommen zu unserem vierundzwanzigsten Podcast. Es ist euch sicherlich nicht entgangen, dass wir uns inmitten einer…
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BER, TXL, SXF?
Hallo liebe Passagiere, herzlich willkommen zu unsem Podcast. Halt, Moment mal. Sagte ich eben Passagiere? Ja schon, denn nach Berlin Reisende werden…
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The German prepositions ‘zu’ and ‘nach’
Whilst learning German, grammatical queries do come up. I want to use this opportunity to illustrate another topic that students ask me…
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Helikoptereltern helikoptern
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und liebe Schüler, Herzlich willkommen zu unserem Podcast. In die 28. Dudenauflage von 2020 wurde ein neues Wort aufgenommen:…
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Langeweile kommt auf
Hallo liebe DeutschlernerInnen! Willkommen zu unserem Podcast. Wenn ihr mehr erfahren wollt, was ich tagsüber mache, dann schaut es euch an auf…
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German modal verbs
Studying German, learners come across modal verbs expressing desire, ability, obligation or probability. In German, we conjugate the modal verb, which retains…
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Learn German online
Upskill by learning German Many people now work from home for at least part of the week, which frees up the time…
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Genug von Netflix und essen mit Chopstix
Hallo Liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler, Herzlich willkommen zu unserem neuesten Podcast vom 27. April 2020. Sicher wundert ihr euch, was das für…
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The steroids for language learners
Google Translate appears to be a handy tool when you learn German. A word or phrase in English often produces the desired…
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Die Zuhörer
Hallo, liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler, Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem Podcast, in dem es um euch, meine Zuhörer, gehen soll. Wieso um die…
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Warum Silvester?
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler, Willkommen zu unserem Podcast. Heute ist der 23. Dezember und das Jahr neigt sich dem Ende entgegen….
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Der Weihnachtsbaum
Hallo, liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler! Es ist mal wieder soweit: die Tage werden kürzer, es ist kalt in Nordeuropa, in den Bergen…
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Ein namenloser Bube
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler, Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem Podcast! Das heutige Thema: Ein namenloser Bube. Warum namenloser Bube und um welchen…
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In German: is a Beemer he, she or it?
A Beemer, or BMW, made by the famous German car manufacturer Bayerische Motoren Werke in Munich, is a popular accessory for many…
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der BMW oder die BMW?
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler, herzlich willkommen zu unserem Podcast. Beim Deutschlernen befindet ihr euch sicherlich manchmal in der Zwickmühle, weil ihr…
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Äh, was geht ab, Alda?
Über deutsche Jugendsprache: Beispiele, Wie, Warum
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Ist die britische Königin deutsch?
Hallo und herzlich willkommen! Heute ist der 6. Januar 2019. Das Jahr ist 6 Tage alt und es ist ja noch angebracht,…
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German grammar terminology explained
Being able to understand grammar terminology is crucial, but many people learning German find it challenging to get to grips with it….
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The perfect tense in German
The perfect tense (das Perfekt) is the past tense that German speakers most often use when describing events that have been completed….
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Der Adventskranz
Hallo und willkommen zu unserem zwölften Podcast, in dem es um den Adventskranz geht. An den vier Wochenenden vor Weihnachen wird in…
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Do German nouns have gender identity issues?
Sometimes, while teaching German, students ask why German nouns change genders. It is ‘die Tür’, a feminine noun, and suddenly somewhere mid-sentence,…
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Die Sommerzeit
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler. Willkommen zu unserem 11. Podcast. Das Thema ist: Sommerzeit Ihr werdet euch fragen, warum ich inmitten des…
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Brexit, Dexit, Grexit, Frexit, Itexit
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler! Willkommen zu unserem 10. Podcast. Heute geht es um ein Thema, das Europa seit fast 3 Jahren beschäftigt….
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Versprochen ist versprochen
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler! Herzlich willkommen zu unserem neunten Podcast. Das Thema heute: Versprochen ist versprochen Ihr werdet euch sicherlich an unseren…
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Faule Ausreden
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler! Herzlich willkommen zu unserem achten Podcast. Das Thema heute ist: Faule Ausreden Ihr werdet euch sicherlich an unseren…
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The new Duden has been published
The Duden is the authoritative source for correct spelling, grammar and pronunciation in German. It is what the Oxford English Dictionary is…
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German idioms and what they mean in English
Every language has expressions that resist translation, and that make little sense even once translated. When you learn German, these are not…
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ß or ss? When to use the German sharp s
In lessons, questions about ß, called Eszett or scharfes S, come in the same order: when do I use it, can I…
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Indo-Aryan and Austronesian in the German language
Often during German lessons, I get asked if there are words in German that are of Indo-Aryan or Austronesian origin. Many words covering…
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Gallicisms in the German language?
Do you know what Gallicisms are? Gallicisms are words from French that have found use in another language. When learning German, you…
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German words of Russian origin
When taking German lessons or attending a German course, you’ll come across many German words of foreign origin. German, like other languages,…
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How many people speak German?
Close to 100 million people speak German as their mother tongue, and around 50 to 60 million more speak it as a…
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German inventions
Many world-changing innovations originated in Germany, some widely known but others less so. The printing press Most of us take books for…
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German business etiquette
When doing business in Germany, you will probably, at some point, need to attend meetings and spend time in the offices of…
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Germany’s most liveable cities
There are many reasons for visiting Germany. Taking German lessons before you go can only enhance your experience. And there has never…
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The Muhlenberg legend
It is a great idea to learn German if you intend to spend time in Germany, and we offer German courses in the comfort…
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Levi Strauss: a famous German
The German founder of Levi Strauss learned English at a young age, which helped him transition to doing business in America. Similarly,…
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Cologne carnival
The English often consider Germans relatively staid people; efficient, punctual, officious, meticulous, but devoid of humour and party spirit. However, if you…
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Germany: most positively rated
An annual survey conducted by Globescan on behalf of the BBC World Service has shown that Germany is the most positively rated…
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Willkommen in Deutschland
More students are choosing to further their education in Germany, and they are welcomed with open arms. With low or, in some…
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Famous Germans: Bruce Willis
It is a little-known fact that actor Bruce Willis is German. He was born Walter Bruce Willis in 1955 in Idar-Oberstein, West…
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Who learns German, and why?
We often get asked whether there is a market for learning German, and who learns German and why. Yes, there is a large market…
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Famous Germans: Henry Kissinger
Unbeknown to many, a German served as the 56th Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 – Henry Kissinger. Although he became…
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Tips for learning German
It can be exciting to learn a new language; it gives you new opportunities, helps you learn more about another culture and…
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Das Sommerloch
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler. Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem nunmehr siebten Podcast. In diesem Podcast geht es um das Sommerloch. Im Duden wird das Sommerloch als besonders…
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Getting your German confused
German is a very useful language to learn, but you might confuse some words for others, especially when they sound very similar,…
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German loan words in English
English has been steadily adopting words from German for several centuries. Here are a few: the tip of the iceberg, so to…
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Muttivation
If you’re a World Cup fan, you’ll inevitably have seen, or at least heard of, Germany’s epic opening match where they walked…
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Die Deutsche Bundeskanzlerin
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler. Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem sechsten Podcast. Und diesem Podcast geht es um die Deutsche Bundeskanzlerin. Der Bundeskanzler oder die Bundeskanzlerin leitet…
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Die Lieblingsinsel der Deutschen
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler. Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem fünften Podcast! Ihr werdet euch sicherlich wundern, warum ich am Telefon bin. Der…
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Der Anglizismus des Jahres
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler! Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem 4. Podcast. Und in diesem Podcast geht es um den Anglizismus des Jahres. Was ist überhaupt ein Anglizismus? Ein…
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Die Fußballweltmeisterschaft
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler. Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem 3. Podcast. Heute ist der 2. Juni 2014. Es sind noch knapp 2…
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Wer spricht alles Deutsch?
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler. Herzlich Willkommen zu unserem zweiten Podcast! Ich habe kürzlich gelesen, dass nur 1,57% der Weltbevölkerung Deutsch spricht….
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Der, die oder das Podcast?
Hallo liebe Schülerinnen und Schüler und herzlich Willkommen zu unserem ersten Podcast. Und in diesem ersten Podcast geht es auch gleich um das Wort Podcast….
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Reasons to learn German
It is never too late to start a language. A little steady effort pays off quickly: one day you follow the gist…
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German expatriates in London
More than 50,000 people born in Germany live in London, according to the 2021 Census. More than Winston Churchill would ever have…
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British expats in Germany
Over the years, Germany has had a large British expatriate community, mainly through military personnel stationed there since 1945. Then, there was…
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Fighting ‘Denglisch’
‘Denglisch’ is a combination of Deutsch (German) and English. Introduced to Germany by the American way of life, it has crept into…
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Plautdietsch: Low German
What is Plautdietsch (Plattdeutsch), and do people worldwide speak that language variant? Plautdietsch or Mennonite Low German is a Low Prussian dialect….
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What is a Russia-German?
Russia-German is a term describing Germans who migrated to Russia from the start of the 13th century to the end of the…
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German anglicism of the year
Each year, Germany votes for the Anglicism of the year. The Anglicism has to be an English word that was widely used…
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German industries
As we mentioned in our previous blog, Germany has a thriving job market. However, it also has an ageing population, leading to…
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Silvester: New Year’s Eve in German
Germans, like many others worldwide, celebrate the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one with festivities and…
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The hairy wife and German reflexive verbs
When learning German, you will have come across reflexive verbs. Reflexive verbs also exist in English and can sometimes be translated as…
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German Christmas traditions
Although in some regions of Germany, the start of the Christmas season is heralded as early as 11 November on St Martin’s…
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Saint Nicholas Day
Saint Nicholas Day, Nikolaustag, celebrated just three weeks before Christmas, has to be one of the most joyful events in the German calendar….
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Friedrich Schiller
Continuing our series of blogs on influential Germans this week, we look at the life and work of the poet, historian, philosopher…
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In our last blog, we looked at the work of the Goethe Institute in promoting the study of German worldwide. This week,…
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The power of language
The Goethe Institute is a German cultural organisation that, for over 50 years, has been promoting interest in and the study of the…
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Martin Luther and the German language
Few people can be unfamiliar with Martin Luther, the German theologian and instigator of the Reformation. The story of Luther posting his…
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The brothers Grimm and the German dictionary
The brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are, of course, famed for fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin and Cinderella, known…
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The past perfect in German: using the Plusquamperfekt
During my German lessons students tend to meet the Perfekt, grow comfortable with it, and then run into a sentence that places…
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Konrad Duden and German orthography
Since 1880 one name has stood for the correct spelling of German words: Duden. It is to German what the OED is…
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Council for German Orthography
There is an official body regulating the German language, just as there is for many other languages. These institutions are often called…
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Das Oktoberfest: the story and the German you need
One of the most famous gems of German culture known worldwide is the Oktoberfest, a 16-day beer festival held annually in Munich,…
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German words of Arabic origin
Like many languages, German has evolved to include words that originate from other languages; many of these surprisingly derive from Arabic. Arabic…
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Irregular German verbs: present tense and simple past
Irregular verbs, sometimes called strong verbs, have irregularities in the present tense indicative, the simple past indicative and the past participle. This…
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Anglicisms in the German language
In our previous blog, we have been looking at German words used in English and now we would like to introduce you…
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An vs auf in German: when to use which
I see students struggle with the German prepositions ‘an’ and ‘auf’ during my lessons. Both describe locations and require either the Accusative…
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German word frequency: the words worth learning first
You must have come across words that you never seem to be able to remember. Why is it that you remember some…
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Position of the finite verb
During my German lessons, I see many students placing the finite verb in the 3rd position, as they would in their mother…
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Accusative and dative in German
When I teach German, students often ask me what the accusative and the dative are. The four German cases German has four…
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The gender of nouns in German
In my previous blog post, I wrote about the declension of adjectives, and I summed up the blog by stressing the importance…
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The present perfect continuous in German
During many years of teaching German to English speakers, I found that many students struggle with the same aspects of German due…
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The evolution of the German language
During my German lessons, students often ask how the German language as we speak it today came about. The modern German language,…
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Practice makes perfect
One of the things learners of any language frequently lament is the lack of opportunities outside of their lessons to practise what…
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Addressing German business associates
How should you address business associates in Germany? As a newcomer to German, one of the first topics you’re likely to cover…
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Learning German on a business trip
If you’ve taken a German language course to improve your business German, a trip to the country to meet clients or colleagues…
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Swiss German
Have you ever taken a plane to Zurich or Basel, expecting upon arrival that people would sound like your friends or colleagues…
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Measuring German language levels: what A1 to C2 mean in practice
You may have heard of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR for short. It is quite a mouthful,…
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Communicating with Germans
What do Germans really understand when the English talk to them? The English language has many subtleties that do not exist in…
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German in the office
Are you planning to relocate to Germany for professional reasons? Or perhaps you are working with Germans regularly? The following words are…
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German sausage feasts in London
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…