Listado de la etiqueta: German classes

Winter school Berlino Schule

Winter School! Study German at Berlino Schule for 2 weeks, while enjoying the magic Christmas markets

Berlino Schule’s Winter school: study German for 2 weeks, 230 €, 8 extra activities, Christmas markets and lots of fun! Is there anything better than drinking a cup of hot chocolate while enjoying the magic Christmas atmosphere in Berlin? Would you like to spend some days in Berlin during the winter? Although the weather may […]

German classes

German Classes from 192 € per month. Study at Berlino Schule. New classes start next week

Summer is coming and social life is growing! That is why Berlino Schule has come up with new German courses: intensive, evening, private and Skype classes. Don’t skip any of these opportunities!

It is your first time in Berlin, or you have been living in Berlin for quite a lot of time, but you still have the feeling you cannot speak German fluently? Don’t worry. You are neither the first nor the last to experience this. This is why it is extremely important to rely on the right school. Berlino Schule provides you with qualified teachers, who have been teaching German for lots of years. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn “this (not) impossible” language in an international environment!

Berlino Schule has the best quality-price ratio: it can provide you with a proper language education, with qualified and German native teachers from just 4€/hour. Moreover, whether you are in need of an accomodation, we can help you find the right one for you.

Berlino Schule provides students with three kinds of German course: intensive (morning and afternoon), extensive (evening) and private lessons.

Our German intensive courses

Our intensive courses are held in the morning. Classes will take place 4 times a week, from 8.45 to 11.15 or from 11.40 to 14.20. The course will last four weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours.

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our German intensive courses – May

A1.1 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A1.2 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.2 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.2 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.2 30 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

Our German intensive courses – June

A1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A1.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

A2.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A2.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

B1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

B2.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

C1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

Our German intensive courses – July

A1.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – August – 3 weeks

A1.1 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

A1.2 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 11:40-14:20)

A2.1 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

A2.2 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 11:40-14:20)

B1.1 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

B1.2 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 11:40-14:20)

B2.1 22 JULY – 9 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

Our German intensive courses – August – 3 weeks

A1.1 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 11:40-14:20)

A1.2 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

A2.1 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 11:40-14:20)

A2.2 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

B1.1 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 11:40-14:20)

B2.1 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

B2.2 12 AUGUST – 30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri 8:45-11:25)

Our German intensive courses – September

A1.1 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

C1.1 3 SEPTEMBER – 27 SEPTEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – October

A1.1 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.1 1 OCTOBER – 25 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – November

A1.1 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.2 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B2.1 29 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – December

A1.1 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 26 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Look at our calendar to find out our German intensive courses! 

Our German afternoon courses

Our afternoon courses are held in the afternoon. Classes will take place 4 times a week, from 14.30 to 17. The course will last four weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours.

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our next German afternoon courses

A1.1 30 April – 24 May (Tue-Fri, 14:30-17:00)

Look at our calendar to find out our German afternoon courses! 

Our German evening courses

Evening German courses last 8 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes take place twice a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday), 3 hours per day, from 19.15 to 21.40.

Price: 240 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our German evening courses – May/June

A1.1 6 MAY – 26 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A1.2 7 MAY – 27 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 6 MAY – 26 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 7 MAY – 27 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 7 MAY – 27 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.2 6 MAY – 26 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

Our German evening courses – July/August

A1.1 2 JULY – 22 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 1 JULY – 21 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 2 JULY – 22 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 1 JULY – 21 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.1 2 JULY – 22 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.1 1 JULY – 21 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Our German evening courses – August/October

A1.1 26 AUGUST – 16 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 27 AUGUST – 17 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 26 AUGUST – 16 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 27 AUGUST – 17 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.2 27 AUGUST – 17 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.2 26 AUGUST – 16 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Our German evening courses – October/December

A1.1 22 OCTOBER – 12 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 21 OCTOBER – 11 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 22 OCTOBER – 12 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 21 OCTOBER – 11 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.1 22 OCTOBER – 12 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

C1.1 21 OCTOBER – 11 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Look at our calendar to find out our German evening courses!

Conversation course

24 April – 22 May (once a week, every Wednesday, 18.30 – 20.45)

Price: 230 euro

Our German super-intensive courses (Summer School)

Do you want to give a boost to your summer? Would you take advantage of the summer holidays to improve your German, a language which is getting more and more important in the labour market? Are you looking forward to coming to Berlin, a city full of culture, art and nightlife?

Summer School of Berlino Schule is the study trip you are looking for. If you choose to enroll to our classes, you will have the possibility to attend super intensive courses of 5 hours per day (from Monday to Friday) for 2 weeks, in a lively and international district of Friedrichshain.

That’s not all! Students attending the courses at Berlino Schule will be offered the chance to join in afternoon activities, related to the German language (i.e. cineforum, walking tours, museums, conversation activities, etc) for a total amount of 8 hours per week.

When. Summer School courses will be held from the 8th of July to the 30th of August and will be every 2 weeks: 8-19 July, 22 July-2 August, 5-16 August, 19-30 August, every day, from 14:30 to 18:45.

Accomodation. Mission impossible? No panic! Berlino Schule has established some agreements with some landlords to make your studying holiday as easier as possible. If you are interested, you can contact the school and we will provide you with a list containing all the info you need.

Price: 230 euro

Wanna book the whole package? You would like to attend a super-intensive course, but it is rather difficult for you to find an accomodation? We can provide you with an a single room in some hotels just nearby Berlino Schule (15 nights) and you can have the chance to get 2 weekly tickets (AB zone). Ask for a price quotation!

Our German super-intensive courses – July

A1.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

A2.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B2.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – July/August

A1.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

A2.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B2.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – August

A1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

C1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – August

A1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

C1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Look at our calendar to find out our German super-intensive courses 

Skype/private classes

We want learning to be accessible to everyone, even if you don’t live in Germany or don’t have the time to come to our school. Our individual and Skype classes are made up for beginners (A1.1) and advanced learners (C1). An attendance certificate will be given to you at the end of your eLearning classes. If you want to take individual classes, no previous knowledge is required. Our flexible schedule will meet your specific linguistic needs and working hours. The attendance will be define with the school. The price is 28 € per hour (45 minutes).

Our teachers

The courses are held by teachers with certified experience in the language teaching field. At the end of the course a certificate of attendance will be released on demand.

Info and registration

Send an email to info@berlinoschule.com and we will reply with all the information you need. Check also our website to know more about Berlino Schule.

Berlino Schule

Gryphiusstraße 23, 10245 Berlin

030 36465765

info@berlinoschule.com

Morning, super-intensive, evening, private and Skype classes: Berlino Schule’s German courses – Calendar for the year 2019

Life is not too short to learn German. At least, if you attend Berlino Schule’s German courses

It is your first time in Berlin, or you have been living in Berlin for quite a lot of time, but you still have the feeling you cannot speak German fluently? Don’t worry. You are neither the first nor the last to experience this. This is why it is extremely important to rely on the right school. Berlino Schule provides you with qualified teachers, who have been teaching German for lots of years. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn “this (not) impossible” language in an international environment!

Berlino Schule has the best quality-price ratio: it can provide you with a proper language education, with qualified and German native teachers from just 4€/hour*. Moreover, whether you are in need of an accomodation, we can help you find the right one for you.

Berlino Schule provides students with four kinds of German course: intensive (morning), extensive (evening), super-intensive (Summer School) and private lessons.

Our German intensive courses

Our intensive courses are held in the morning. Classes will take place 4 times a week, from 8.45 to 11.15 or from 11.40 to 14.20. The course will last four weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours.

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our German intensive courses – January

A1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A1.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

C1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

SPECIAL OFFER FOR JANUARY 2019 COURSES! IF YOU BOOK AND PAY WITHIN DECEMBER THE 20th; YOU WILL GET 10 EUROS DISCOUNT!

Our German intensive courses – February

A1.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A2.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

Our German intensive courses – March

A1.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A1.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B2.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

Our German intensive courses – April

A1.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

Our German intensive courses – May

A1.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A1.2 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.2 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.2 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

Our German intensive courses – June

A1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A1.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

A2.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A2.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

B1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

B1.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

B2.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45-11.15)

Our German intensive courses – July

A1.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – August

A1.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST(Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST(Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.2 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B2.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – September/October

A1.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

C1.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – October/November

A1.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – November/December

A1.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.2 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B2.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Look at our calendar to find out our German intensive courses 

Our German evening courses

Evening German courses last 8 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes take place twice a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday), 3 hours per day, from 19.15 to 21.40.

Price: 240 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our German evening courses – January/February

A1.1 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (MON and WED 19.15  – 21.40)

A1.2 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (TUE and THU 19.15h  – 21.40)

A2.1 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (TUE and THU 19.15h  – 21.40)

C1.1 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

SPECIAL OFFER FOR JANUARY 2019 COURSES! IF YOU BOOK AND PAY WITHIN DECEMBER THE 20th; YOU WILL GET 10 EUROS DISCOUNT!

Our German evening courses – March/April

A1.1 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (TUE and THU 19.15  – 21.40)

A1.2 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.2 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

Our German evening courses – May/June

A1.1 29 APRIL – 19 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A1.2 30 APRIL – 20 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 29 APRIL – 19 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 30 APRIL – 20 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.2 29 APRIL – 19 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B2.1 30 APRIL – 20 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

Our German evening courses – July/August

A1.1 25 JUNE – 15 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 24 JUNE – 14 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 25 JUNE – 15 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 24 JUNE – 14 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.1 25 JUNE – 15 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.1 24 JUNE – 14 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Our German evening courses – August/October

A1.1 19 AUGUST – 9 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 2o AUGUST – 10 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 19 AUGUST – 9 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 2o AUGUST – 10 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.2 2o AUGUST – 10 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.2 19 AUGUST – 9 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Our German evening courses – October/December

A1.1 15 OCTOBER – 5 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 14 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 15 OCTOBER – 5 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 14 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.1 15 OCTOBER – 5 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

C1.1 14 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Look at our calendar to find out our German evening courses 

Our German super-intensive courses (Summer School)

Do you want to give a boost to your summer? Would you take advantage of the summer holidays to improve your German, a language which is getting more and more important in the labour market? Are you looking forward to coming to Berlin, a city full of culture, art and nightlife?

Summer School of Berlino Schule is the study trip you are looking for. If you choose to enroll to our classes, you will have the possibility to attend super intensive courses of 5 hours per day (from Monday to Friday) for 2 weeks, in a lively and international district of Friedrichshain.

That’s not all! Students attending the courses at Berlino Schule will be offered the chance to join in afternoon activities, related to the German language (i.e. cineforum, walking tours, museums, conversation activities, etc) for a total amount of 8 hours per week.

When. Summer School courses will be held from the 8th of July to the 30th of August and will be every 2 weeks: 8-19 July, 22 July-2 August, 5-16 August, 19-30 August, every day, from 14:30 to 18:45.

Price: 230 euro

Our German super-intensive courses – July

A1.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

A2.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B2.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – July/August

A1.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

A2.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B2.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – August

A1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

C1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – August

A1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

C1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Look at our calendar to find out our German super-intensive courses 

Skype/private classes

We want learning to be accessible to everyone, even if you don’t live in Germany or don’t have the time to come to our school. Our individual and Skype classes are made up for beginners (A1.1) and advanced learners (C1). An attendance certificate will be given to you at the end of your eLearning classes. If you want to take individual classes, no previous knowledge is required. Our flexible schedule will meet your specific linguistic needs and working hours. The attendance will be define with the school.The price is 28 € per hour (45 minutes).

Our teachers

The courses are held by teachers with certified experience in the language teaching field. At the end of the course a certificate of attendance will be released on demand.

Info and registration

Send an email to info@berlinoschule.com and we will reply with all the information you need. Check also our website to know more about Berlino Schule.

Berlino Schule

Gryphiusstraße 23, 10245 Berlin

030 36465765

info@berlinoschule.com

 

 

100 German books that you can download for free on Amazon. Here’s how.

Do you want to read books in German without paying or risking of spending money on texts that you can’t fully understand because the language is too complicated?? Amazon allows you to download for free a list of books written or translated in German for Kindle (eBook).

From “Ein Koffer voller Vorurteile” by Loki Miller to “Notting Hill Blues” by Tania Kindersley passing through “Made in Nature” by Atlant Bier. They are about a hundred and the reviews of readers varies between 5 and 3 stars. There are some very interesting books and you can rely on either the readers’ reviews or by looking for other reviews online. You can read through the list by clicking here!

Enjoy the reading!

Photo: © goXunuReviews CC BY SA 2.0


Are you starting to learn German or wish to perfect your knowledge of the language? Then take a look at the courses that Berlin Schule organizes by clicking here!

5 TV series that can help you perfect your German

When deciding to learn a new language, the first thing that comes to mind is to find an adequate language course that can ideally fit in our everyday schedule. But what about a good TV series?

Lessons are undoubtedly a fundamental point for departure when learning a language, but at times it might not be enough. Learning a new language means accessing to a new way of thinking, opening our mind to a new culture. Essentially, learning a language implies not only knowledge of the grammatical rules and the lexical, but also knowledge of the so-called pragmatic language, everyday expressions and spoken terms. If one doesn’t have much contact with native speakers, watching TV series in the original language can be a very useful means through which one can learn new expression. Terms that we would otherwise not know of through a strictly theoretical study. For this reason we would like to propose a few German TV series, very different from one another, that might help you further your knowledge of German.

 

1. Türkish für Anfänger

“Kebab for breakfast” is one of the most notorious German productions. The series, which lasted for 3 seasons, it set in Berlin, the German city with the highest concentration of Turkish citizens. The storyline is about an enlarged family made up of a Turkish man and German woman, both with adolescent kids. It is a funny series, that opens a window on Berlin’s multiethnic social fabric. It is suitable both for young people and adults. In 2007 it won the Civis Media Prize in the entertainment category for having promoted the integration of family that have a foreign background.

 

2. Stromberg

Stromberg is one of the most appreciated German TV series. Five seasons that tell the story of Stromberg, a manager of an insurance firm by the name of “Capitol Versicherung AG”. It is the German version of the American series The Office, portraying life in the office in a funny way. This series, however, is not advisable for beginners due to the fact that a lot of the irony derives from word games. It remains nonetheless a rich source of everyday expressions.

 

3. Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten

It is a German soap opera of 1992 that had a 6 million audience count. The story is set in an imaginary neighbourhood in Berlin and it recalls the Australian series The Restless Years. Unlike other soap operas that portray the life of families belonging to a high social background, this one focuses on the life of young people and for this reason it is very appreciated by a younger audience.

 

4. Tatort

Tatort is a police genre TV series. It is the longest one as it has been broadcasted since 1970. The commissioners are at the center of each episode, lasting about 90 minutes. The episodes are quite plausible and, unlike other police series, the various regional broadcasters of ARD are responsible for their territorial spheres and their investigative theme. The series is shot in different cities in Germany. Berlin, Munich, but also in other countries, in Vienna and Lucerne. For this peculiarity it is very useful to learn different accents, to know more of the city and to get an idea of German speaking countries.

 

5. Die Sendung mit der Maus

Der Sendung mit der Maus is one of Germany’s most famous animated series. It was first aired in 1971 and it is intended specifically to a young audience, between 4 and 9 years of age. Following it is also very useful for who doesn’t really know the language and finds more comfort in linear stories. This TV series has been recalled “the school of the nation” precisely due to the way it helps its audience to learn and assimilate the fundamental lexicon in different settings, from history to science.

Cover photo: © Youtube
————————————–
Do you wish to learn German or perfect your knowledge? Then take a look at the German courses that Berlino Schule organizes in Berlin here!

Berlinerisch, a small dictionary of the Berliner language

If it is true that in order to understand the culture of a place you have to know the language, it is essential to understand the dialect spoken in our beloved city: the Berlinerisch.

 

This folkloristic dialect, known for its sarcastic and often rude tones, is loved by many in Germany. Adored by the Berliners, it is a blend of old spoken dialects in urban centers, which in the past formed the city of Berlin. It also comes from the Berliner Schnauze, the typical berlin doc character.

 

The Berliner language

Some polls reveal that the Berliner language is very much in vogue among the new generations and is even turning out to be one of the most talked about in the city. So if you want to keep up with the times and understand what your interlocutor is talking about, here are some examples of Berlinerisch:

ich: ick / ikke (me)

aber: aba (or)

auch: ooch (also)

auf: uff (above)

etwas / was: wat (something)

ein: een (indefinite article, masculine, singular)

gehen: jehen (go)

gucken: kiek’n (watch)

klein: kleen (small)

laufen: loofen (walking)

nein: woman / nee (no)

nichts: nüscht / nichs / nix (nothing)

Schnauze: Schnute (1. mouth, 2. face / animal face)

das: dit / det (1. determinate article, neutral, singular 2. this)

 

The most common linguistic tendencies are to transform the «s» into «t» (was> wat, das> det, alles> allet) and the «g» in «j» (gut> jut, gehen> jehen, genau> jenau)

As for the ways of saying:

Allet comes! (Alles gut!) = Everything is alright

Moin! (Guten Morgen!) = Good morning

Du Alta! (Du Alter) = Hey you!

Eyh, jeh ma nich uff’n Keks! (Lass mich in Ruhe!) = Don’t annoy me, leave me alone! (literally «do not stay on biscuits»)

Is aba warm heute, huh? (… nicht wahr?)=  It’s hot today, right? (At the end of the sentence, it means «true»)

 

One of the main features of this slang is the linguistic register, such as eating letters in the middle of words or dropping the final part

ist> is (is),

komm mal> komm ma (come)!

 

Some of Berlin’s typical particularities are the acronyms:

j.w.d. > janz weit draussen = a far away place. Could be translated «in the midst of nothing / the wolves»

Kotti, Alex, Rosi, Schlesi =  Kottbusser Tor, Alexander Platz, Rosenthaler Platz, Schlesisches Tor.

Vokuhila > vorne-kurz-hinten-lang = short in the front and long in the back. One of the most popular hair cuts in Germany between 1982 and 1987, also in the most punk «Volahiku» version (long in the front and short in the back).

 

Cover photo: © Daniela Spoto


Are you living in Berlin and wish to perfect your knowledge of German? Take a look at the courses that Berlino Schule organizes!

8 German compound words that have a surprising meaning whether you speak German or not

Compound words? They are a classic of the German language. These however have a very unpredictable meaning

When learning German, one of the most common obstacles encountered by students lies in the difficulty of memorizing a very large lexicon of which one often struggles to remember the meaning, especially due to the difficulty in recognizing the root of the word. One advantage of German is, however, the tendency to make extensive use of compound nouns and verbs. Learning the meaning of suffixes and prefixes is therefore very useful to construct the meaning of a compound verb of which we know the primary meaning. During this meticulous process of destruction and composition of the language (evidenced by the German correspondent Wortzusammensetzung), which is becoming more and more pleasing to those who wish to know German and master it better, it is also possible that German will make us smile, giving us words that have an unusual meaning longing to a remote past.

Here are just a few German words that have an unexpected meaning.

Klobrille

When you first arrive in Germany and hear speaking of “toilette glasses” it might be quite disorientating. After asking to repeat the question we discover that, yet, klobrille is actually a word, and it is simply the toilet seat!

Brustwarze

This word is composed by two terms, wart and breast, that blended together might create a not so pleasant image. In reality it does not refer to strange anatomical blemishes, but to a part of the body that Germans, perhaps for the analogy of the form, call warts: nipples! When you will find yourself talking about nipples in German, be sure that this part of the body will have lost all of its charm.

There is no need to change zone then to find out that the most intriguing female garment, the bra, in German has a name similar to that of a posture corrector tutor, Büstenhalter, «breast-sustainer».

Eselsbrücke

If you think that this term, which literally means «donkey bridge» is a German invention to further confuse non-native speakers, you are mistaken. Nowadays the term is used in German to indicate a method, a word or phrase that allows you to remember something better. The question is: what do donkeys have to do with this?

The answer is sought in the past and in the latin location of pons asinorum, used in philosophy to indicate figures that allow less experienced subjects to understand a more complex concept, and in mathematics it is used in reference to the difficulty of understanding the fifth Euclide theorem on the isosceles triangle. It has thus an ambivalent meaning, on the one hand, of a device that facilitates understanding for the less learned, on the other, it indicates a «dormant» donkey backbone difficult to overcome.

Durchfall

Even if this term might seem hard to grasp, the English correspondent diarrhoea presents a morfology deriving from the Greek δια+ρρέω (dia+rrheo) “to scroll through”. If you unpack the German word, the Greek influence becomes apparent.

Donnerstag

Thursday in German is the day of thunder. Translated in English, the German correspondent Donners-tag would be Thunder-day, an analogy that shows the link amid these two languages. After all also in Italian (Giovedì), French (Jeudi) and Spanish (Jueves), the reference to Jupiter becomes clear. The fourth day of the week is thus dedicated to more than one nation to the god of thunder!

Mutterkuchen

When they talk about “mom’s cake” Germans don’t refer to a dessert to have for breakfast but to something very different. Mutterkuchen means placenta, but also this compound word doesn’t come out of nothing. The term placenta derives from Greek πλακοῦς (plakous), an adjective that indicates something with “crushed form”. The adjective then passed through latin with the meaning of flatbread. Why call flatbread this vascular organ? Because the placenta has a crushed form and through it the fetus can be fed, just like a flatbread.

Fernseher

To understand why in German television is referred to with a term that literally means «distant observer», it is enough to trace the etymology of the word. The prefix comes from Greek and means «far away», so it indicates a vision from afar, just like that of images projected from the screen of a TV. In German, the correspondent of ‘tele’ is fern.

Flusspferd

Even for this last example, before we put our hands between the hair of despair and blaming Germans for being incomprehensible, we should think of the origin of the corresponding term in English. Flusspferd, literally «river horse», in English means hippopotamus. This term from a somewhat funny sound comes from Greek where hippos means horse and potamos river, so the German language copied the same structure of the word, using the terms of its own idiom.  

In conclusion, to have some explanation about some creative composite words, we should ask the direct people concerned, that is, our ancestors who created them!

—————————-

Is German stating to intrigue you? Then take a look at the German courses that Berlino Schule organizes!

10 unequivocal signs that German, for you, will always remain a mystery

Deutsche Sprache schwere Sprache, goes the saying. You might have known it prior to embarking on learning the language. But you love challenges, and you didn’t get discouraged: “How hard can it be? Six months, maximum one year of hard work and German will have no more secrets for me”. You enrolled in countless courses, you’ve climbed across levels, bought books and newspapers, listened with devotion the Deutsche Welle, harrased all sort of Tandempartners and passersby just to get a chance to practice your pronunciation.

But to your great astonishment, a few years have passed since you moved to Germany and you still struggle with a German that, although acceptable, can’t be defined as fluent and impeccable. You then start to feel a bit silly, asking yourself whether in your brain there is a specific zone whose task is to annul your efforts and delete all those notions that you constantly try to repeat by heart. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. We have identified 10 unequivocal signs that prove that German will remain to many a half mystery to many of us. In the name of reason we could say that no one has ever died out of not being a perfect mother tongue; likewise it can’t be used as an excuse: constancy, method and good teachers make more than satisfactory results even to the most refractory of minds to this impatient idiom.

Der, die or das?

It is one of the first things that you learn in school and, after all, learning the declination is not that hard. The real tough part is learning how to use the masculine, feminine and neutral: it’s true, there are some rules that allow us to understand the gender of a noun, but there are also several exceptions. Moreover, have you seen how many terms German has? Confronted with these challenges there are only 3 possible solutions: a) Renounce completely the article (several Berlin immigrants have opted for this option and have lived happily for decades), b) try to guess, c) mumble and try to trick your interlocutor. Neither option is one to be proud of…


Photo © Youtube

To decline correctly the adjective: maybe in another life?

The adjective, in German, is declined concurring to the gender, number and case. As if it wasn’t enough, there are three different forms of declinations according to the term that precedes it (determinative or indeterminative article or absence of the term). Such a combination requires for an indepth memory study. But the real challenge is when it comes to talking: you have to be able to coordinate article, adjective and noun, and prior to that, determine the gender of the noun, the operation upon which the whole mission depends on. The whole as trying to structure the whole architecture of the sentence. Headache? Kein Problem, the three suggested solutions before remain valid…

Photo © Deutschlernerblog.de

The verb at the end of the subordinates.

In German the infinite and the past participle go to the end in the main sentences, while in the subordinates there is also the verb to the indefinite form. The situation is even more appealing when, in Nebensatz, there is a modal verb and an infinite or, worse, a modal verb with the consequent, infamous rule of double infinity. Here too, with a lot of application, you can study the rule and apply it correctly when writing (quickly: let’s say in a fifteen to twenty minutes). Okay, but when are you in the middle of a speech? You let your beloved, old syntactic English structure take control and think “Who cares, I’ll sound weird but they’ll understand me the same”.

Photo © slideshare.net

The preposition lottery.

Place, time, cause, medium, purpose, adversity: German prepositions are infinite, can hold one or more cases and can express a myriad of different nuances. And, as if it weren’t enough, present countless exceptions. You know auf? Literally, it would mean “up”, when there is no contact with the underlyining surface (otherwise you would use über, clearly). An, on the other hand indicates proximity: “Sara ist an Fenster”, Sarah is at the window. Then again, to say “I’m at the postoffice”, why is it “ich bin auf der Post”? It is better not to question further.

Photo © memegen

Movies and songs in German.

At school they told you that looking at movies and series, alongside listening to songs is a great exercise. If possible, it would be even better without subtitles, this way you can train your ear. All true. However, most of the times, in class they propose you classics of German rock and pop, from Rammstein to the Ärzte (which are indeed more approachable also for students at an intermediate level), all the way to Bushido, one of Germany’s most notorious rappers. Heavy metal, punk, rap: but a good song-writer that pronounces everything clearly without screaming, without dialects and without guitars covering everything, is just not thinkable? We admit it with no problem: during these hearings we all cheated with subtitles every time we could.


rapper Bushido © YouTube

Wie bitte?

Staying on the topic of oral understanding: you exercise as much as you can with radio, CDs from your manual, TV series, newscasts. But when on the bus they ask you simply to pass through, or in a cafè they ask you if you want another lemon and ginger juice, you panic and you always find yourself asking your interlocutor: “Wie bitte?” asking to repeat the sentence not one, not twice, but as much as three times in a row. If you haven’t formed a wax cap, the only plausible explanation is that your auditory device is not calibrated to tune in the teutonic frequency.


Photo © memegen.de

Job interviews.

Blessed those times you despaired to prepare a university exam, which in retrospect weren’t that hard, and more importantly in your mother tongue. Now you find yourself facing an hypercompetitive market, you are facing an exigent recruiter and you have to invent a narration that is capable of selling of your capabilities. All of this in German. In the end you get out of the job interview completely exhausted, you aren’t sure about what you said and neither if you have good chances of being selected, but at least you can proudly say that you got out of it alive.

Photo © Karrierebibel

The bureaucracy.

Anmeldung, Krankenkasse, taxes, insurances to implode a 20mq flat: German bureaucracy is meticulous and relentless, the technical lexicon is as sympathetic as mononucleosis, the employees (not always: some, by experience, are nice and available) frustrated by years of kafkian grey. Days of farsighted preparation for the bureau meeting might not save you from the term that you had forgot or misunderstood, making the wake up alarm of 6am that you had to go through on that morning completely useless.


Photo © euklidnetwork

The slang.

The so-called Umgangssprache is the spoken language, the slang, the one you almost never learn in school and on books. When you start to familiarizing with it you feel cool and wish you could use it everywhere, calling Kumpel even the President of the Federal Republic and using Redewendungen and Sprichwörter in any context. However the slang is broad and tied to the local dialects. So there will always be an expression you never heard of before, that you will misunderstand within a conversation and cause for a moment of embarrassment. It will happen, it’s mathematic.

Photo © deutschlernenblog.de

The calling nightmare.

Simple operations as ordering a burger at home and reserving a table in a pizza restaurant may reveal to be intensively complicated if there isn’t the chance to read lips to understand what one is trying to say. So even here, even though you have meticulously prepared the phone call, the first unexpected response from the other head of the handset, pronounced at supersonic speed, will force you to propose a «Ja, natürlich» even though you have no idea what he or she it is talking about. In a matter of a second you’ll find your sandwich the much detested coriander.

Photo © YouTube
Cover photo © Study in De

——————————-

Wish to perfect you German in a vibrant environment? Or is German starting to intrigue you? Then take a look at the German courses that Berlino Schule organizes in the heart of Berlin! 

10 beautiful and memorable German words

Learning German is a life exercise because it is an idiom that tests us on a daily basis. Even Mark Twain, the american writer known for his troubled relation with German, a language that he didn’t particularly love but found very stimulating, said: “on the basis of my philology studies I came to the conclusion that a person prone to languages will be able to learn English (excluding the grammar and pronunciation) in 30 hours, French in 30 days and German in 30 years. It is obvious that the German language needs to be remodelled and repaired. If it were to remain as it is, it should be shelved, with gentleness and reverence, amid the dead languages, because only the dead have enough time to learn it”.

As follows we would like to propose 10 beautiful German words that have a very special meaning and that are unique in their own way to the German culture. Each of these words not only will help you expand your vocabulary, but will deepen your knowledge of this new world.

1. Sehnsucht

Amid different definitions, which vary from yearning, desire and/or craving, Sehnsucht is a feeling of longing for something unknown and indefinite. Who studied or is studying literature and in particular German Romanticism will surely have encountered this word whose roots reside in high German, meaning “illness of the painful whim”.

2. Weltschmerz

Translated as the “pain of the world” or “world-weariness”, Weltschmerz is the feeling of deep insatisfaction and pain which derives from the realization that the physical world can’t fully comfort the desires of the mind. The term was firstly coined by German Romantic author Jean Paul.

3. Torschlusspanik

The literal meaning would be the panic deriving from a closed door, but in everyday language it describes the anxiety felt when being close to a deadline. In English in fact Torschulsspanik could be translated as «last minute panic», or the awareness that time passes by inexorably and that one has to act quickly. The door closing conveys a missed decision or action that we then might regret.

4. Fernweh

How to translate this word? Dictionaries talk about «having itchy feet» or a «wanderlust desire», however the similar Heimach talks about homesickness and nostalgia. The root of the word in fact indicates a sense of nostalgia projected not towards our home, but towards a different place, whether known or not. Fernweh is about the longing feeling to pack a bag and depart to the discovery of a place to always bring in our heart.

5. Zweisamkeit

When we talk of solitude in English we think about a person that is alone, isolated from others. In German it’s not really the same thing. Robert Musil, in the novel “The confusions of Young Törless” when talking about life in a couple says “being in two is no more than doubled solitude”. Even spending time with our loved one, isolated from the world, mens living in solitude, however the two elements of Zweisamkeit don’t complain, because they feel perfectly complete.

6. Backpfeifengesicht

The meaning of this word is far more familiar than what you might think. Do you know those kind of people whose face is enough to make you want to slap them? Well, from today you could also call them with the German word, instead of “punching-bag face”.

7. Feierabend

If you have just arrived in Germany and recently found a job, you will often hear your colleagues say “ich mache Feierabend” and ask yourself why and how every night they are going out to party (without inviting you, by the way) whereas you are always heading home dead-tired. Feierabend actually doesn’t refer to any party, but indicates that moment of the day dedicated to unwinding and to anything that is not work related.

8. Reisefieber

To have Reisefieber is literally to have a “travel fever”, and indicates that state of compulsive anxiety that manifests itself before a trip, usually but not only tied to the preparation of the luggages and necessary documents. Not everybody suffers it, but each of us know that someone affected by Reisefieber, whom will come to the airport 3 hours prior to departure, after having weighed at least 10 times the luggage and repeatedly checked to have all the documents in their backpack.

9. Vorfreude

Awaiting for pleasure is itself pleasure” said Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, and with Vorfreude the allusion is precisely to the anticipation of a pleasure yet to come: it is the enjoying of a dream and expectation that we have.

10. Waldeinsamkeit

We talk about the “solitude of the forest”, that feeling you get when you are walking in a forest on your own. Waldeinsamkeit is a very dear term to the tradition of ascetic monasticism and to the movement of German romance, which promoted the rapprochement of Man to Nature.

—————————-

Is German stating to intrigue you? Then take a look at the German courses that Berlino Schule organizes! 

Cover photo © pixabay.com CC BY SA 2.0

Deutsch, we love you. But why are there 15 different ways to say meatball?

To aim to become bilingual or at least fluent in German requires for a lot of patience and acceptance of the fact that there are different words that have the same meaning.

It’s a struggle, but nobody said it was easy. Not only is the German language more complex compared to others due to its syntactic structure and vast lexicon, there is also the context-specific meaning of a certain term that varies concurring to when it is employed. German words in fact vary according to the language register or the region. So to avoid feeling like a stranger in a multiethnic nation as Germany, it would be advised to know, if not all, at least some of these variations. We have selected the ones referring to the culinary tradition – which, as we all know very well, is the meeting place of different cultures.

Pancake


Pancake – Tabeajaichhalt CC0

If in Berlin you order Pfannkuchen, you won’t find yourself in front of some pancakes as in the rest of Germany, but doughnuts! In German there are exactly 12 different words whose meaning is pancake. So in Berlin we would have to ask for “Eierkuchen”, whereas in western Germany and at the borders with Switzerland we would have to order “das Omelett”, as similar to the French die Omelette. Around the area of Lipsia and the confine with Poland pancakes have yet a different word, and that would be “Plinse” or “Plinz”, whereas in Austria we might even meet someone that calls them “Pataschinke”.

Gingerbread man

gingerbread men – Gaetan Lee – CC BY 2.0

12 seems to be the lucky German number, for there are 12 different ways even to address Gingerbread men! Typically they would be called “Lebkuchenmann”, which appears to be the most common term also in Munich, Berlin and Hannover. In the south-western region however they prefer to call them “Weckmann” or “Weckmännchen” whereas in the north-west they would be “Stutenkerl”. In Austria gingerbread men are called Krampus and they represent a legendary creature, the punisher of children that misbehaved during the Christmas time. Around Stuttgart and Karlsruhe we would instead call it Dambedei. Our famous Gingerbread man may also be called in a different way according to the ingredients used to spice the cookie – a very common term even in Berlin would be Spekulatius, which derives from the belgian Speculoos (typical cinnamon Christmas cookies).

Meatballs

meatballs -SLT-A33 CC0

When moving to Germany one of the first things that stands out is the prevalence of meat in the menus, from sausages to meatballs. The most diffused term would be “Fleischkloß”, but in total there would be 15 different words that refer to meatballs! “Frikadelle” is very common in the centre and north-west areas of Germany, whereas “Fleischküchle” would be more common in the south-eastern region. In the areas of Leipzig and Dresden they would instead call them “Klops” or “Kloß”. A proper “berlinerisch” term would instead be “Bulette” or “Boulette” (again, the resonance with French is quite striking), whereas in Austria they would be “Fleischaiberl”.

“The heel” of the breadloaf

Breadloaf – pixel1 CC0

In english it is an ongoing debate: how to call the last (and first) bits of a breadloaf? “The butt”, “the heel”, the “devil’s elbow” or “duck bread” are variations, but Germans have more than 50 different terms! Here are some of the ones used in Germany: Kanten, Anschnitt, Kipf, Ranft/ Ränftchen, Knorze, Knust, Rankl, Krust, Kirshte and several others. In Switzerland they use a lot Anhau, Scherz, Mürggu, Mutsch, Chäppi, Houdi and Scherzerl is used also in Austria and in the south of Germany.

Hiccup

Mouth – RobinHiggins CC0

When you or friend will get caught by a hiccup, you can choose out of 25 words to address it! The first one that comes to mind is “Schluckauf” or even “Schluchzer”. In the regions bordering French and in the southern part of Germany they would prefer “Hädscher” instead. In Austria, “Schnackler” and in Switzerland “Hitzgi”.

Slippers

Slippers – Didgeman CC0

With “Hausschuhe” you can play it safe, for it literally means “house shoes”. But there are well over 10 different variations! “Pantoffeln” is common in Berlin and Hannover, whereas “Schluffen” is common in Rheinland and Frankfurt. “Bambuschen” is more common in eastern Germany, in Switzerland, instead, you may hear oftenly “Finken”.

Currently, Spiegel Online is taking an online survey on the use of the language variations in Germany. By taking this online test you too can contribute to the mapping of German variations in your region!

Cover picture:  © Weisswurst – Thomas S. Pubblic domain


Are you getting intrigued by the German language or wish to refine your vocabulary? Then take a look at the German courses that Berlino Schule organizes!