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German Pens, Pencils, and Markers

german-pens-pencils-markers
Most of my clients love pens and pencils, and while I urge you all to have a single “home” for your German learning materials, I also urge you to have pens and pencils dedicated to your German learning. 

That may be why my clients recently received three Stabilo Stifte (writing utensils, in this case felt-tip pens) and a Staedler Bleistift (pencil) from me for the 10th anniversary of the business.

Ich liebe die deutsche Sprache und ich liebe Schreibstifte aus Deutschland!
Ich liebe die de…

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schief gehen

schief gehen

schief gehen

to go wrong, to go awry, to go pear-shaped

schief gehen

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts published between August 1, 2021 and October 1, 2024. Viel Spaß beim Hören!

Heute ist einiges schief gegangen. Das Programm hat nicht funktioniert. Dann hat das Video nicht funktioniert. Das Mikrophon war nicht richtig angeschlossen und dann hat das P…

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Zehn lustige Dinge, die meine Kunden gesagt haben

zehn-lustige-Dinge-Deutsch

Hier sind zehn lustige Dinge, die meine Kunden gesagt haben.

Here are 10 funny things my clients have said.

  1. der Wasserhahn
  2. sein = to be. sein = his
  3. ADUSO
  4. sich verlieben in + Akk
  5. Drogen oder Medikamente?!
  6. Kichererbsen
  7. der Schmetterling
  8. etwas gebacken kriegen
  9. der Öko-Spießer (use with caution!)
  10. not Schwiegereltern, but...

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts …

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Johannes Brahms: A German Requiem with the Bel Canto Chorus

Brahms-Requiem-Cover

For those of you who don't know yet, I (Frau Warner) am also a classical singer and I love the Germanic repertoire. The Bel Canto Chorus here in Milwaukee, along with the Kettle Moraine Symphony, is performing Johannes Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) on May 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm.

If you're unfamiliar with the text, or would simply like to enjoy getting to know the text before the concert (or maybe you simply love music, like I do?!), these videos are for you!

In each video, one …

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B1 Review and B1 Test Prep

I am Frau Warner and I am a B1 test proctor, which means I am qualified to give this exam with the Goethe-Institut.

The B1 class I teach, which meets on Monday evenings, just had their first of two practice tests, and they all did so very well! Ich bin sehr stolz auf sie! Ich bin sehr stolz auf sie! I'm very proud of them! Ich bin sehr stolz auf sie!

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available o…

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What is a Stammtisch?

what-is-a-Stammtisch

der Stammtisch

der Stammtisch – an inadequate translation is “group of regulars.”

der Stammtisch

Today you'll learn:

  • what a Stammtisch is in Germany and how it differs in the US,
  • what you need to know before you go,
  • how often to expect to attend a Stammtisch,
  • where they take place,
  • and something called Einmal ist keinmal.

Sind Sie bereit? Los geht's!

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios ar…

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How and How Much to Tip in Germany

how-how-much-tip-Germany

Giving a tip in German is ein Trinkgeld geben or simply Trinkgeld geben.

It's different from the US, and in this episode you'll learn:

  • how much to tip for a coffee
  • how much to tip for an inexpensive, sit-down lunch
  • how much to tip for a nicer dinner out

And you'll learn what to say when you give the tip.

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts published between Augu…

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11 Interesting and Important Facts About Austria

interesting-important-facts-about-Austria

This month clients in the group classes and private lessons are learning about Austria. They have access to an online lesson with typical Austrian phrases and expressions and we also had a Konversationskurs, a Conversation Class, all about Austria.

Here you get to learn some of what my clients have learned about Austria this month, including how to pronounce Österreich.

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The au…

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How do you "Tell your folks I says hi" in German?

how-tell-folks-i-says-hi-German

Ope! Almost forgot to tell you this important thing about greetings in the Germanic cultures.

Although we have loads of people with German heritage in Wisconsin, and Charlie Berens has taught us the brilliance of the phrase "Tell your folks I says hi," here, this custom doesn't require as many elements as in the Germanic countries.

There, in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, it's different. And it's important. It's an important cultural custom that gets overlooked frequently if you don't know…

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Which German Dictionaries are Good for Learners: Books, Websites, and Apps

german-dictionaries-for-learners-book-website-app

Learning how to use a German-English dictionary effectively is one of the single skills which can really help support you in your German learning adventure.

German learners frequently ask: Which German-English dictionary should I buy? Is it worth buying the big one? How do I know which dictionary will be right for me? Are the online German dictionaries better?

In this blog post/podcast episode, I'll guide you step-by-step through which dictionary you can/should use as a beginner through the el…

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