Online German Taster Session
Join us for our free Beginner German taster session to learn a few useful phrases to introduce yourself and have the chance to meet one of our native speaking teachers! […]
Could you pass me my Handy, please? How Denglish influences modern German language
Let’s jump right in: The term „Handy“ causes plenty of confusion between Germans and native English speakers. The German word for mobile phone sounds so very English that it’s hard […]
Why it always rains in England: Your food defines the weather ;-)
“Iss auf. Sonst regnet es morgen.” German kids know this sentence when growing up: Empty your plate, or it will rain the next day. Quite a few of my German […]
Verflucht und zugenäht – The art of swearing in German
Trigger warning: Bad words and naughty language ahead. Admittedly the author enjoys swearing quite a lot (probably even more since moving to England 10 years ago), so there is literally […]
Can you say „Schnuckiputzi“? (Or maybe try “Mausibärchi”)
Tongue twisted? Not for Germans. When it comes to pet names, Germans are amazingly creative – as opposed to given names, where the authorities still apply strict rules in comparison […]
Don’t slip, but slide: Getting into the New Year, German style
Already made up your New Year’s resolutions? Do you actually believe in them? Let me go out on a limb: Probably not. And neither do Germans. Despite their reputation as […]
Colourful worlds of education and fun: German Children’s books
Believing the teachers of my six year old daughter and my own intuition, reading is the most important skill for young children. Schools in England put huge effort in motivating […]
Your fork is female, your spoon is male: Gender is a big issue in German language and culture
When the news broke that Germany now officially recognizes a third gender in official documents, many people were surprised to see this kind of breakthrough in a country as focused […]
Is this German!? A patchwork of dialects mirrors Germany’s colourful history
When we moved to England, one of our first experiences with local dialects was Liverpudlian. Our life in Britain has been an exploration of local lingo ever since, with various […]
You can say you to me: Formal language is serious business in Germany
„You can say you to me“ – legend has it that German chancellor Helmut Kohl made this generous offer to US president Ronald Reagan during the negotiations of Germany’s reunification. […]
Why Kids should Learn a Second Language
We teach our children to count and to read from an early age. Today many parents even conduct explosive kitchen experiments with their pre schoolers as they attempt to give […]
Learning German Outside
Our German lessons with Antje from the Deutsch Centre are the highlight of the week for my children. My 7 year old enjoys being a bit of a know-it-all with […]