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?
All tagged English
A Work in Progress
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?
Formal Like the Germans, Informal Like the British
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?
Don’t worry, everyone speaks English
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?
English for Beamte
In a country that has wrestled with its acceptance of migrants, one thing all sides of the political spectrum have agreed on is that migrants to Germany should learn to speak German. However, a recent FDP proposal may well see English become the an official bureaucratic language. Will this really make things easier for migrants and how difficult will it be to achieve?
The Language Gatekeepers
English language proficiency can be used to assert power or simply humiliate in Germany. Whether you work in an office or happen to a be a minister of state, you will still face trial by language gatekeepers. How has English been weaponised in daily life and why are some praised and others criticised?
Don’t worry, everyone speaks English
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?
Safe Spaces
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?
Don't Call Me Papa
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?
Formal Like the Germans, Informal Like the British
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?
Negativity, Feedback and "The German Disease"
Receiving feedback in Germany is an extreme sport, especially if you’re not prepared for the unvarnished truth. Are Germans refreshingly honest or simply lacking in tact?
Expats, Migrants and the Germans
Most of the time in Germany, people don’t consider me a migrant. Some will even complain about migrants in front of me. Is there a hierarchy of “good migrants”and why would some rather label me an expat?
Clarity and the Germans: Ja oder Nein?
In Germany they say order is essential, which can sound restrictive, but does create clarity. How does the German desire for order effect daily life and why does it often create conflict with native-English speakers?
Confusing the Germans
It's easy to get confused in Germany, but it’s often just as easy to cause the confusion. Why might saying thanks to the bis driver seem odd and how did ordering chips in a restaurant lead to a minor international incident?
Communicating with the Germans: Part 2
Denglisch and grammar mistakes are not the only causes of miscommunication in Germany, communication culture plays a massive part too. In part 2, we see why, for the British, “sorry” really isn’t the hardest word and how a simple question about a pop song can lead to serious embarrassment.
Communicating with the Germans: Part 1
Language learning and mistakes go hand in hand, it’s a big part of the learning process. With the rise of English as a global language, and hybrid language like Denglisch, the mistakes can become more fantastic. In the part 1 of 2 blogs, we look at some of the lesser known examples of German to English mistakes.
Fasching: Nothing is Forbidden
Fasching is a favorite time of year for many Germans, with a long tradition going back to the medieval period. Although primarily a celebration, the costumes worn by some have come under scrutiny due to accusations of racism and cultural stereotyping. Can a costume be racist even if worn in celebration and is ignorance ever a defence?
The German Newspaper: Death Proof?
The German print market is the largest in Europe, but does that make the average German better informed? What’s prevented German newspapers from failing as in other countries, and how long can it last?
Stop Stealing our Words!
Language theft is on the rise in Germany, but it isn't always being used correctly. Luckily we are here to correct them.