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A lot of what you might read on the internet on how to learn German vocabulary words is really a lot of hot air & hooey.

In this episode we'll bust 5 myths on vocabulary learning and give you a clearer picture of why vocabulary learning is important.

After all, if you don't know what the words mean...you'll be up a creek without a paddle.

The 5 Myths:

1. You only need to learn 3,000 words to truly speak German!

2. Vocabulary isn't as important as grammar.

3. Learning vocabulary is as bo…

What did we cover in German in 2021?

Really a lot!

From the podcast episodes to blog posts, and in each week of the Weekly German Practice, we covered a huge amount of material this year!

It's good to take a step back from time to time and to 'zoom out' so you can see the big picture.

Once you do that, you'll see exactly how much progress you've made this year, and I hope this episode is helpful.

PLUS you'll hear a run-down of all the countries that listeners to this podcast live in.

It's …

Visiting a German Christmas Market is a true feast for the senses. It may forever change your expectations of the holiday season.

In this episode you'll learn about:

• the main point of the Weihnachtsmarkt

• who to go with

• the various beverages available

• what you can eat there

• what you can shop for there

The link to read more about the Adventskaffee and German Holiday Puzzles Booklet has been removed, as it is no longer for sale. Instead, feel free to sign up for the E…

Holidays mean greetings.

In Germany that means many holiday greetings. For different people.

When do you say what to whom?

Learn in this episode of the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast:

• How to wish someone a nice Advent in German

• How to say Happy Hannukah in German

• How to say Good Yule in German

• How to say Happy Holidays in German

• How to say Merry Christmas in German

• How to say Happy New Year in German

• and a couple more.

AND you'll learn when to say which g…

Learning to say thank you and you're welcome in German is really important, as it's part of good manners in German culture and it's also really easy to learn.

Danke. = Thank you.

Bitte. = You're welcome.

But do you hesitate to say them?

I used to hesitate, too, until I attended a soccer game (Schalke 04 - Glück auf!) and the crowd taught me the importance of "Danke" and "Bitte."

Ein Fußballspiel, eine Bratwurst, danke und bitte.

Los geht's!

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no…

You probably enjoy those lists of German words that can't be translated into English as much as I do.

They go around the internet again and again, but have you noticed they're usually the same words?

This word, schräg, never shows up on one, and it deserves to be on every list.

In this episode you'll learn all about the word schräg.

You'll learn what it means, how to pronounce it, and how to use the word schräg.

Und machen Sie Ihre Hausaufgaben! (Do your German homework.)

N.B. While the …

How do you tell your friend you're going to see her soon in German?

There are so many choices, and in German they're not direct translations.

In fact, so many German learners get this wrong, I use this topic as a barometer to tell me how well someone speaks German.

Today we'll break down and put together the many forms of:

• Bis bald!

• Bis später!

• Bis nachher!

• Bis Samstag!/Bis um 11 Uhr!

You'll hear your homework for this week, too, natürlich.

N.B. While the GermanWit…

Frequently, very frequently I find myself confused by living in the US again.

The culture is simply so different from German culture, which is where I began my post-grad school life.

I couldn't put words to all of it, but then a friend of mine asked me recently, "Of all the places you've been, where did you have the most culture shock?"

It took me weeks to sort out my answer.

After considering the 21 countries and perhaps 18 states I've visited, I've finally got my answer.

In this episode w…

It's a 'scary' time of year and to go along with it, here is your Brothers Grimm fairy tale in a video.

You might not know Der Kobold in der Mühle, however it's every bit as eery as the other fairy tales.

What does Kobold mean?

A Kobold is a "house spirit," a German folk being who takes care of household tasks and sometimes causes mischief.

Britannica.com has a fantastic description of a Kobold that includes this important information:

"...mischievous household spirit who usually helps wi…

German table manners and etiquette might be like what you know, or they might be very different.

In German this is called Esskultur is the culture of food, dining, and manners.

For most Germans, Esskultur begins when they are in high chairs and their parents teach them to eat when the adults are eating, to wait until the adults are finished to be excused from the table, how to use a napkin, and how to use their eating utensils.

In the US, manners vary widely and the manners you learn depends …