All tagged German
Random strangers correcting each other is just a part of the everyday in Germany. Unsolicited advice on all manner of topics can be surprising, especially for more indirect cultures, like the British. What drives the German society of auto-correction?
Language learning has dropped throughout the UK, but many still hold on to the belief that “Everyone speaks English”. Is this really true in Germany? If so, why do so many Germans find English native-speakers so hard to understand?
Learning German can be difficult and rewarding in equal measure, but dispiriting interactions can sap any language learners confidence. How can native speakers help learners improve, and why might switching to English be insulting?
A recent Business Insider article took aim at Germany, suggesting it's not all that welcoming. There's truth to this, but it also annoyed many who call Deutschland home. What happens when romance meets reality, and why is Germany worth the effort?
For another year running, Germany has been labelled as unwelcoming to expats. While some may dislike the results, Germans will surely recognise the issues mentioned. How useful are the opinions of expats, and is it possible for Germany to change?
English speakers often assume their politeness rules are as global as their language, but this is not the case. Politeness is not uniform from country to country, Germany has different ideas of what is or isn’t polite. What happens when these rules clash?
According to surveys, it’s hard to settle in Germany and difficult to make friends here. How is German unfriendliness measured and why might it be so difficult for migrants to make friends?
After so long living in Germany, the differences seem totally normal. However, I can still find examples of things you only find in Germany all around the house. Why are German coffee filters different and why are windows a serious topic of conversation?
Formality in any culture is a minefield. In Germany they have rules that make things easier, but only if you can deprogram your own native culture. What’s different about formality in Germany and why might British humour create more trouble than laughs?
Language learning has dropped throughout the UK, but many still hold on to the belief that “Everyone speaks English”. Is this really true in Germany? If so, why do so many Germans find English native-speakers so hard to understand?
Random strangers correcting each other is just a part of the everyday in Germany. Unsolicited advice on all manner of topics can be surprising, especially for more indirect cultures, like the British. What drives the German society of auto-correction?
Shopping in Germany is rarely described as convenient. Supermarkets are hard to navigate, payment methods aren’t uniform and customer service is disinterested. Is Germany a land of inconvenience culture and could that actually be a good thing?
After so long living in Germany, the differences seem totally normal. However, I can still find examples of things you only find in Germany all around the house. Why are German coffee filters different and why are windows a serious topic of conversation?
There are many native English speakers in Germany who find the liberal use of English swear words by Germans both surprising and disturbing. Why might Germans find English swear words so appealing?
Language learning has dropped throughout the UK, but many still hold on to the belief that “Everyone speaks English”. Is this really true in Germany? If so, why do so many Germans find English native-speakers so hard to understand?
I’ve often admired the German ability to separate private lives from work lives. Speaking English seems to change this cultural rule, opening up conversations and allowing people to speak frankly. However, is this honesty always refreshing?
In some countries, the build up to an election can start years in advance. In Germany, some people only know an election is coming when the streets are suddenly covered in political posters. Are political posters really so important or is this just another example of low-tech Germany?
Making decisions can be difficult, especially if we have too many choices. Germany might have the answer to decision fatigue, at least for consumer products, in the form of the consumer guide Stiftung Warentest. Can one company be trusted to give objective product recommendations or are the Germans incredibly naive?
“Der Kater” or “the cat” is how Germans lovingly refer to a hangover. Germany has many suggestions for how to rid yourself of the feline presence from a traditional breakfast to a certain type of fish, but is the best answer simply good old pragmatism?
A new child is reason to celebrate…except in #Germany. Here I'm not ‘Dad’ I'm ‘Papa’. It's fine for a character in Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but I've no intention of kicking in the doors of a gingerbread house. What do you do when you're forcibly rebranded?
