In statements, the initial conjugated verb is always the second element. All other words appear in the following sequence: Time + Manner + Place Time: “tomorrow” or “Wednesday of next week.” Manner: how something is carried out “with my sister” or “on foot.” Place: can refer to any location “Toronto” or “in the garden.” Option A: (Time) + (verb) + […]
Read more 06 Jun 2018
Grammar Tips: German Word Order
01 Nov 2017
Common German Idioms
Idioms can be fun and a challenge to learn in a foreign language. Here are some great ones in German!
Read more 09 Sep 2017
Grammar Terms for German Students
Last night I had the pleasure of watching the German film the Woman with the Five Elephants. Filmed in 2010, this documentary showcases the life of the famous Russian to German translator Svetlana Geier. It is predominately in German with English subtitles with the small portion in Russian occurring when she finally returns to her place of birth some 60 years after she was forced to flee during the second world war.
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What is a language?
A language is a system of communication used by a specific community. Nearly everyone speaks (or signs) at least one language. Speaking only one language, or monolingualism, is common in many parts of the English-speaking world such as North America, the UK and Australia. However, a much larger number of the world’s population live in countries where multiple languages are spoken throughout the day.
Read more 14 Mar 2016
Grammar Tips – What are Idioms?
It seems that nothing frustrates learners of a foreign language more than idioms. Idioms are those phrases that cannot be translated directly from one language to another. They often involve turns of phrase, animals, colors or emotions in strange combinations!
Read more 02 Feb 2016
Grammar Tips: Uses of Werden
Students new to German will repeatedly encounter the verb werden. As it has three distinct functions it often proves confusing. Here we will outline the three main functions with example sentences.
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I have been experimenting in the last year with bringing my language teaching methods to a wider audience. Offering face-to-face lessons in the Vancouver area has been extremely rewarding for me over the last 12 years. That said, as more people than ever wish to expand their horizons I have started offering some new and exciting options for my clients further afield.
Read more 10 Dec 2014
Community Events: Christmas Markets
The practice of holding a Christmas market or Weinachstmarkt in Germany, Austria and Switzerland among other countries dates back to the Middle Ages. Markets are held in accordance with Advent traditions, namely opening on the Sunday four weeks before Christmas. These markets are traditionally held in the main plaza of the city or town and spill out into adjacent streets. The size of the market depends on the size of the town. Some of the more famous markets are held in the cities of Nuremberg, Dresden, Berlin and Munich.
Read more 16 Oct 2014
Further Learning: What is fluency?
I’m often asked by potential clients how long it will take them to become “fluent” in their target language. I always ask in return what it means to them to be fluent. People have varying ideas about what it means to be fluent in a foreign language. Some people perceive it as being able to communicate on a very basic level without much difficulty while others view it as being equivalent to a native speaker and everything in between.
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