Archive for the year 2012
The German verb “kommen” Posted by Sandra Rösner on Jun 6, 2012
When you get in contact with strangers you would certainly like to find out more about them. Among other things, you would probably like know where a person does come from. In order to ask someone in German where a person is from you need to know the German verb “kommen” (to come). In order…
Starting a conversation in German Posted by Sandra Rösner on Jun 5, 2012
The best way to learn German, or any other language, is using it in communicative situations, i.e. face-to-face situations. So, do not wait to speak German until you have learned some more grammar, but use every opportunity to speak German to test you newly acquired language skills. Formal Greetings and Salutations German Pronunciation English…
Pfingsten in Deutschland – Pentecost/Whitsun in Germany Posted by Sandra Rösner on May 28, 2012
It’s holiday these days in Germany. We celebrate Pfingsten (Pentecost). Pentecost or Pfingsten is a Christian holiday, which is celebrated on the 50th day of the Osterfestkreis (Easter season), that is, the 49 days after Ostersonntag (Easter Sundsay). Pentecost is also called ‘the birthday of the Church’. So, it is a kirchliches (ecclesial) holiday and…
Key: Easy ways to ask questions in German – And how to answer them Posted by Sandra Rösner on May 24, 2012
In my last post I told you how you can form yes/no-questions easily in German. In order to give you the chance to practice your German I gave you an exercise of which I would like to give you the key now. In addition to the correct questions I also provide the positive and negative…
Easy ways to ask questions in German Posted by Sandra Rösner on May 21, 2012
In order to be able to ask questions in German it is not necessary that you know a particular sentence structure for questions. There are several easy ways to start off your question formation. I. Intonation One way of asking questions in German easily is intonation. Just like in English, and probably in many…
Der Maibaum (maypole) Posted by jan on May 19, 2012
Today I want to introduce a German tradition to you, that takes place in May. I´m talking about the so called Maibaum (maypole). A Maibaum is a decorated tree or at least stock of tree that is usually aufgerichtet (erected) on May the 1st. In some regions it is already put up on the eve…
German poetry: Spuren im Sand – Footprints in the Sand Posted by Sandra Rösner on May 18, 2012
I have just come across a very nice poem and it made me almost cry because I find it is such a soothing piece of work. Every one of us will sooner or later find him- or herself in a difficult situation where we feel alone, and maybe this poem will let you know that…