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9 German expressions you will never be taught at school

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Ready to start talking to native German speakers? Then, you should learn nine typical German expressions

If you think you are ready to do the big step after spending years in language centres for high-priced lessons – that is to start to live among native speakers – this is not the case when it comes to German. You may be disappointed with your own knowledge when trying to get through an ordinary day in a German-speaking country. Most of us are used to both speaking and listening to English slang, but it does not occur when talking about German. At school you do not get to learn the most frequently used German expressions, like the ones listed below. Once you get the hang of it, you will feel like a real German.

 

NA?

 

While getting to know Germans you will notice that even some expressions that at first  sounded easy to you are actually totally different from what people say in their everyday life, such as Wie geht’s dir? Na?  (How are you doing?), frequently used with someone you are really close to.

 

NAJA

 

Do not confuse Na? with Naja, which expresses doubt and puzzlement, just like “well,..” or “meh”.

 

QUATSCH!

 

It is a frequently used expression which sounds like “Bullshit!” and can be used in a sentence such as Das ist totaler Quatsch!, to say that something is completely nonsense.

 

MACH’S GUT!

 

People usually use mach’s gut!  in place of the most common Tschüß when saying goodbye to someone. Mach’s gut literally means “do it well” but it is normally translated as “take care!”.

 

QUASI, SOZUSAGEN, HALT

 

“Kinda”, “like”, “sort of”, are massively used by youngsters and common people in their everyday life, as well as in Italian, English and German. These expressions make any conversation more informal but be careful to not exaggerate!

 

KRASS

 

It is an expression for astonishment and has both a positive and negative connotation. The English equivalent would be “cool”, “great”, “sick”.

 

GEIL

 

Once you have got the meaning of this word you will not stop using it or listening to it on the streets to describe something that is “awesome”, “cool”, “rad”, “dope”, or even supergeil, as Friedrich Liechtenstein sings in a popular Edeka’s commercial . Be aware that this word has originally a different meaning conveying a sexual connotation, like “horny”, reason why you should avoid using it in any formal context.

 

JEIN

 

Jein renders the idea of uncertainty and is made of ja+nein. So, in case you are on the fence or hesitating, just say “jein!”.

 

AUF JEDEN FALL

 

German native speakers make a massive use of it, also in place of natürlich to utter “of course!”.

Would you like to learn a new language? Then, you should start at the age of 10

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Whether you want to speak a foreign language as perfectly as native speakers do, you should start at the age of 10

New studies suggest: if you wish to speak a foreign language without any accent, you should start when you are very young, at least at the age of 10. Of course, there might be exceptions, however, this is exactly what researchers and professors claim. In fact, according to some new studies (some of them led by the University of Boston and published on The Economist), there is a significant drop-off on our ability to learn languages after the age of 17. Therefore, if you were thinking of learning a new language, you should start as soon as possible, as the age affects considerably our linguistic flexibility.

But, why? Some posit that it depends on biological factors: in fact, children brain is extremely pliant. On the other hand, some scientists claim that kids’ flexibility has nothing to do with better biological predisposition. Strong motivation and ability to communicate are the main factors. Children are able to comprehend the surrondings and not afraid of making mistakes. 

Why do kids learn languages better than adults do?

Scientists mostly agree with the fact that children are particularly predisposed to learning new languages, but they cannot explain the reason. Steven Pinker, psychologist at Harvard University, considers the evolution to be responsible for that. In fact, our language-learning instinct fades as we get older. Other studies suggest that learning new languages stimulates critic thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills, especially on kids. Moreover, the younger you are, the easier the reproduction of sounds is. Consequently, our capability to reproduce the correct pronunciation gets worse and worse as we get older. 

According to a recent study led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), based on a more than 600 thousand people sample, only those who start learning languages within the first 10 years of life, may ever achieve a native level of knowledge of it.

Benefits for everyone, regardless the age

Learning a new language is a great exercise for sharpening the brain: it requires in fact constant practice  to memorize vocabulary and grammar rules. Moreover, if you speak more than one language, you can easily get a job. However, benefits are not to be found only on the professional side. By learning new languages, we create direct connections to other countries and cultures, and by communicating through them, we benefit in terms of self-esteem and personal satisfaction. Starting during the childhood might be the best choice. Yet, we never get too old for a new language.

 

Morning, super-intensive, evening, private and Skype classes: Berlino Schule’s German courses – Calendar for the year 2019

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Life is not too short to learn German. At least, if you attend Berlino Schule’s German courses

It is your first time in Berlin, or you have been living in Berlin for quite a lot of time, but you still have the feeling you cannot speak German fluently? Don’t worry. You are neither the first nor the last to experience this. This is why it is extremely important to rely on the right school. Berlino Schule provides you with qualified teachers, who have been teaching German for lots of years. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn “this (not) impossible” language in an international environment!

Berlino Schule has the best quality-price ratio: it can provide you with a proper language education, with qualified and German native teachers from just 4€/hour*. Moreover, whether you are in need of an accomodation, we can help you find the right one for you.

Berlino Schule provides students with four kinds of German course: intensive (morning), extensive (evening), super-intensive (Summer School) and private lessons.

Our German intensive courses

Our intensive courses are held in the morning. Classes will take place 4 times a week, from 8.45 to 11.15 or from 11.40 to 14.20. The course will last four weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours.

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our German intensive courses – January

A1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A1.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

C1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

SPECIAL OFFER FOR JANUARY 2019 COURSES! IF YOU BOOK AND PAY WITHIN DECEMBER THE 20th; YOU WILL GET 10 EUROS DISCOUNT!

Our German intensive courses – February

A1.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A2.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

Our German intensive courses – March

A1.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A1.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B2.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

Our German intensive courses – April

A1.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 2 APRIL – 26 APRIL (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

Our German intensive courses – May

A1.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A1.2 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.2 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.2 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 29 APRIL – 24 MAY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

Our German intensive courses – June

A1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A1.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

A2.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A2.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

B1.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

B1.2 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

B2.1 28 MAY – 21 JUNE (Tue-Fri 8.45-11.15)

Our German intensive courses – July

A1.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 25 JUNE – 19 JULY (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – August

A1.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST(Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST(Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.2 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B2.1 23 JULY – 16 AUGUST (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – September/October

A1.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

C1.1 17 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – October/November

A1.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.2 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.1 15 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Our German intensive courses – November/December

A1.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A1.2 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.2 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B1.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.2 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 11:40-14:10)

B2.1 12 NOVEMBER – 6 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri 8:45-11:15)

Look at our calendar to find out our German intensive courses 

Our German evening courses

Evening German courses last 8 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes take place twice a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday), 3 hours per day, from 19.15 to 21.40.

Price: 240 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our German evening courses – January/February

A1.1 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (MON and WED 19.15  – 21.40)

A1.2 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (TUE and THU 19.15h  – 21.40)

A2.1 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (TUE and THU 19.15h  – 21.40)

C1.1 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

SPECIAL OFFER FOR JANUARY 2019 COURSES! IF YOU BOOK AND PAY WITHIN DECEMBER THE 20th; YOU WILL GET 10 EUROS DISCOUNT!

Our German evening courses – March/April

A1.1 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (TUE and THU 19.15  – 21.40)

A1.2 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.2 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

Our German evening courses – May/June

A1.1 29 APRIL – 19 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A1.2 30 APRIL – 20 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 29 APRIL – 19 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 30 APRIL – 20 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.2 29 APRIL – 19 JUNE (MON and WED 19.15 – 21.40)

B2.1 30 APRIL – 20 JUNE (TUE and THU 19.15 – 21.40)

Our German evening courses – July/August

A1.1 25 JUNE – 15 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 24 JUNE – 14 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 25 JUNE – 15 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 24 JUNE – 14 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.1 25 JUNE – 15 AUGUST (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.1 24 JUNE – 14 AUGUST (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Our German evening courses – August/October

A1.1 19 AUGUST – 9 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 2o AUGUST – 10 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 19 AUGUST – 9 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 2o AUGUST – 10 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.2 2o AUGUST – 10 OCTOBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.2 19 AUGUST – 9 OCTOBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Our German evening courses – October/December

A1.1 15 OCTOBER – 5 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 14 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.1 15 OCTOBER – 5 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

A2.2 14 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.1 15 OCTOBER – 5 DECEMBER (TUE and THU 19:15 – 21:40)

C1.1 14 OCTOBER – 4 DECEMBER (MON and WED 19:15 – 21:40)

Look at our calendar to find out our German evening courses 

Our German super-intensive courses (Summer School)

Do you want to give a boost to your summer? Would you take advantage of the summer holidays to improve your German, a language which is getting more and more important in the labour market? Are you looking forward to coming to Berlin, a city full of culture, art and nightlife?

Summer School of Berlino Schule is the study trip you are looking for. If you choose to enroll to our classes, you will have the possibility to attend super intensive courses of 5 hours per day (from Monday to Friday) for 2 weeks, in a lively and international district of Friedrichshain.

That’s not all! Students attending the courses at Berlino Schule will be offered the chance to join in afternoon activities, related to the German language (i.e. cineforum, walking tours, museums, conversation activities, etc) for a total amount of 8 hours per week.

When. Summer School courses will be held from the 8th of July to the 30th of August and will be every 2 weeks: 8-19 July, 22 July-2 August, 5-16 August, 19-30 August, every day, from 14:30 to 18:45.

Price: 230 euro

Our German super-intensive courses – July

A1.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

A2.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B2.1: 8 JULY-19 JULY (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – July/August

A1.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

A2.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B2.2: 22 JULY-2 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – August

A1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

C1.1: 5 AUGUST-16 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Our German super-intensive courses – August

A1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

B1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

C1.2: 19 AUGUST-30 AUGUST (Mon-Fri, 14:30-18:45)

Look at our calendar to find out our German super-intensive courses 

Skype/private classes

We want learning to be accessible to everyone, even if you don’t live in Germany or don’t have the time to come to our school. Our individual and Skype classes are made up for beginners (A1.1) and advanced learners (C1). An attendance certificate will be given to you at the end of your eLearning classes. If you want to take individual classes, no previous knowledge is required. Our flexible schedule will meet your specific linguistic needs and working hours. The attendance will be define with the school.The price is 28 € per hour (45 minutes).

Our teachers

The courses are held by teachers with certified experience in the language teaching field. At the end of the course a certificate of attendance will be released on demand.

Info and registration

Send an email to info@berlinoschule.com and we will reply with all the information you need. Check also our website to know more about Berlino Schule.

Berlino Schule

Gryphiusstraße 23, 10245 Berlin

030 36465765

info@berlinoschule.com

 

 

10 German words that even native speakers fail to write

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When it comes to German, native speakers make mistakes as well as foreign people

Learning German is no easy task. Students often claim ironically: “Life is too short to learn German”. It can be true, in some ways. In fact, even Germans have troubles with their own idiom, and this may comfort us. In this connection, the popular magazine “Die Welt” has created a quick Quiz-test, with ten German words that even native speakers fail to write. 

1. Margerite

The meaning of this word is easy to understand: the daisy, (indeed!). The correct orthography of the word is Margerite; yet, Germans often write Margarite, Margharite, or Margarithe. As an interpretation, we may assume that they confuse the above-metioned word with real names, such us Margarete and Margarethe.

2. Mieze

Germans use this word to refer to little and cute cats (“kitty” in English) as well as to young women. As the diphthong “ie” is pronounced as a long i, and the Phoneme “tz” sounds like a z  in German, native speakers often end up with writing Mitze, Mize, Mietze.

3. Um Himmels Willen

Um Himmels Willen matches the English version “For God’s sake!”and raises doubts among native speakers, as well as among German language learners. Considering the fact that German has loads of compound words, it might happen to misunderstand two distinct words: Himmel willen and the single word Himmelswillen. The other issue is whether willen, which means to will, has to be capitalized like a normal substantive. 

4. Raffinesse

Raffinesse means both refinement and cunning/shrewdness. Perhaps beacause of its French origins, the word might put native speakers in trouble, overlooking one or even both the doubles.

5. Delinquent

The word, which is also an English term, has a Latin origin and this is probably the reason why German native speakers tend to fail writing it, by mistaking K and Q sounds, and adding a H.

6. Abwegig

Abwegig means “wrong, misleading”. German people often write this word with a Ä, which sounds like an open A. 

7. Algorithmus

It might happen Germans to substitute the I with an Y, Algorythmus. The mistake is perhaps due to the word Rhytmus (“rhythm” in English), which actually sounds similar.

8. Gefeit

Gefeit means “immune, invulnerable”. Native German speakers sometimes write it incorrect, by adding letters: gefeiht, geffeiht, or geffeitt.

9. Gemanagt

Gemanagt, which means to be organized and managed, is the past participle form of the verb managen. The past participle form of German regular verbs is formed by adding a -t at the end of the verb stem. However, managen comes from the English to manage and this derivation is what actually leads native speakers to confusion. In particular, the issue is whether to respect German language rules and consider it as a German verb, or to simply add the ending –ed to the verb stem, hence to preserve the English version.

10. Eigenbrötler

This word has a curious origin: it comes from an old dialect of the South-West of Germany. Eigenbrötler means literally, “who makes the bread himself”. It contains in fact the word Brot, which means bread. With this term, Germans used to indicate those people, living in nursing centers, as well as unmarried men taking care of themselves. The word has then assumed the meaning of “misanthrope, maverick, loner”. Commons mistakes? Wrong versions such as Eigenbrödler or Eigenbröthler.

Would you rather avoid mistakes whilst writing in German? Why don’t you attend one of our courses? Here you can find all the information you need!

 

Intensive, afternoon, evening, private and Skype classes: Berlino Schule’s German courses – Fall 2018

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Life is not too short to learn German

Is it your first time in Berlin, or you have been living in Berlin for quite a lot of time now, but you still have the feeling you cannot speak German fluently? Don’t worry. You are neither the first nor the last to experience this. That’s why it is extremely important to rely on the right school. Berlino Schule has the best quality-price ratio: it can provide you with a proper language education, with qualified and German native teachers from just 4€/hour*. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn “this (not) impossible” language in an international environment!

Berlino Schule provides students with three kinds of German course: intensive (morning and afternoon), extensive (evening) and private lessons.

Our German intensive courses

Intensive German courses at Berlino Schule last 4 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes take place 4 days a week (from Tuesday to Friday), 3 hours per day, from 8.45 to 11.15 or from 11.40 to 14.10. Therefore, a new afternoon intensive courses will be starting on 27th November and will then last till 21st December (from Tuesday to Friday, 14:45-17:15).

Our next German intensive morning courses

A1.1 6 NOVEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 6 NOVEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.1 6 NOVEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 6 NOVEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 6 NOVEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B2.1 6 NOVEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER (Fue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

Our next German afternoon intensive course

A1.1 27 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Tue-Fri, 14:45-17:15)

Our German evening courses 

Evening German courses are starting on 5th November at Berlino Schule and they will last 8 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes will take place 2 days a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday), 3 hours per day, from 19.15 to 21.40. Price: 240 + 20 euro registration fee (valid for one year).

Our next German evening courses

A1.1 6 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

A1.2 5 NOVEMBER – 19 DECEMBER (Mon and Wed 19.15  – 21.40)

A2.1 5 NOVEMBER – 19 DECEMBER (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 6 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

B2.2 5 NOVEMBER – 20 DECEMBER (Mon and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

C1.1 5 NOVEMBER – 19 DECEMBER (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

Skype/private classes

We want learning to be accessible to everyone, even if you don’t live in Germany or don’t have the time to come to our school. Our individual and Skype classes are made up for beginners (A1.1) and advanced learners (C1). An attendance certificate will be given to you at the end of your eLearning classes. If you want to take individual classes, no previous knowledge is required. Our flexible schedule will meet your specific linguistic needs and working hours. The attendance will be define with the school.The price is 28 € per hour (45 minutes).

Berlino Schule’s whole calendar from December to March

German intensive courses starting from December (3 weeks, 2h40 per day)

A1.1 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 11.40 – 14.20)

A1.2 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 8.45 -11.25)

A2.1 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 11.40 -14.20)

A2.2 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 8.45 -11.25)

B1.1 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 11.40 -14.20)

B1.2 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 8.45 -11.25)

B2.2 3 DECEMBER – 21 DECEMBER (Mon-Fri 8.45 -11.25)

German intensive courses starting from January

A1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A2.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

 C1.1 8 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

German evening courses starting from January

A1.1 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (Mon and Wed 19.15  – 21.40)

A1.2 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (Tue and Thu 19.15h  – 21.40h)

A2.1 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 7 JANUARY – 27 FEBRUARY (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (Tue and Thu 19.15h  – 21.40h)

C1.1 8 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

German intensive courses starting from February

A1.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A1.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40 -14.10)

A2.2 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B2.1 5 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

German intensive courses starting from March

A1.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A1.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

A2.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

A2.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

B1.1 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 8.45 -11.15)

B1.2 5 MARCH – 29 MARCH (Tue-Fri 11.40-14.10)

German evening courses starting from March

A1.1 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (Tue and Thu 19.15  – 21.40)

A1.2 7 MARCH – 24 APRIL (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.2 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 4 MARCH – 24 APRIL (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.2 5 MARCH – 25 APRIL (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

Our teachers and method

The courses are held by teachers with certified experience in the language teaching field. Each class will be held in the target language so that students can learn more effectively. At the end of the course a certificate of attendance will be released on demand.

Info and registration

Send an email to info@berlinoschule.com or contact us at: 030 36465765 and we will reply with all the information you need. Check also our website to know more about Berlino Schule.

Where we are

Gryphiusstraße 23, 10245 Berlin

next stops: Samariterstraße, Ostkreuz

classe Berlino Schule

Intensive, evening, conversation and Skype classes: Berlino Schule’s German courses from September 2018

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Life is not too short to learn German. At least, if you attend Berlino Schule’s German courses

It is your first time in Berlin, or you have been living in Berlin for quite a lot of time, but you still have the feeling you cannot speak German fluently? Don’t worry. You are neither the first nor the last to experience this. This is why it is extremely important to rely on the right school. Berlino Schule provides you with qualified teachers, who have been teaching German for a lot of years. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn “this (not) impossible” language in an international environment!

German intensive courses starting from September

Intensive German courses are starting on 11th September at Berlino Schule and they will last 4 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes will take place 4 days a week (from Tuesday to Friday), 3 hours per day, from 8.45 to 11.15 or from 11.40 to 14.10.

A1.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A1.2 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 11.40 – 14.10)

A2.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

A2.2 From 11th September (Tue, Wed, Fri 14.30 – 18.00)

B1.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

B2.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Look at our calendar to find out our intensive German courses 

German evening courses starting from September

Evening German courses are starting on 10th September at Berlino Schule and they will last 8 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes will take place 2 days a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday), 3 hours per day, from 19.15 to 21.40.

A1.1 10th September – 31st October (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

A1.2 10th September – 31st October (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

A2.1 11th September – 31st October (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

B1.1 10th September – 31st October (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)

B2.1 11th September – 31st October (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

Price: 240 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Look at our calendar to find out our evening German courses 

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German intensive courses starting from October/November

Intensive German courses are starting on 9th October at Berlino Schule and they will last 4 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes will take place 4 days a week (from Tuesday to Friday), 3 hours per day, from 8.45 to 11.15 or from 11.40 to 14.10.

A1.1 9 October – 2 November (Tue – Fri 11:40-14:10)

A1.2 9 October – 2 November (Tue – Fri 8:45-11:15)

A2.1 9 October – 2 November (Tue – Fri 11:40-14:10)

A2.2 9 October – 2 November (Tue – Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.1 6 November – 30 November (Tue – Fri 8:45-11:15)

B1.2 9 October – 2 November (Tue – Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.1 6 November – 30 November (Tue – Fri 8:45-11:15)

B2.2 9 October – 2 November (Tue – Fri 8:45-11:15)

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Look at our calendar to find out our intensive German courses 

German evening courses starting from November

Evening German courses are starting on 5th November at Berlino Schule and they will last 8 weeks, for a total amount of 48 hours: classes will take place 2 days a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday), 3 hours per day, from 19.15 to 21.40.

A1.1 6 November – 20 December (Tue and Thu 19:15 – 21:40)

A1.2 5 November – 19 December (Mon and Wed 19:15 – 21:40)

B1.2 5 November – 19 December (Mon and Wed 19:15 – 21:40)

B2.2 6 November – 20 December (Tue and Thu 19:15 – 21:40)

C1.1 5 November – 19 December (Mon and Wed 19:15 – 21:40)

Price: 240 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Look at our calendar to find out our evening German courses

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German conversation course

You can write German, but you cannot speak it fluently. We have the right solution for you! The German conversation course starts on 1st October, and it takes place every Monday from 17 to 18.30, for a total of 9 classes. Each class is composed by 2 units (each unit: 45 minutes, according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Skype/private classes

We want learning to be accessible to everyone, even if you don’t live in Germany or don’t have the time to come to our school. Our individual and Skype classes are made up for beginners (A1.1) and advanced learners (C1). An attendance certificate will be given to you at the end of your eLearning classes. If you want to take individual classes, no previous knowledge is required. Our flexible schedule will meet your specific linguistic needs and working hours. The attendance will be define with the school.The price is 28 € per hour (45 minutes).

Our teachers

The courses are held by teachers with certified experience in the language teaching field. At the end of the course a certificate of attendance will be released on demand.

Info and registration

Send an email to info@berlinoschule.com and we will reply with all the information you need. Check also our website to know more about Berlino Schule.

Berlino Schule

Gryphiusstraße 23, 10245 Berlin

030 36465765

info@berlinoschule.com

Berlino Schule

A day of Free trial German classes at Berlino Schule

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For anyone who is not sure about his/her level of German, and for those who wish to check out Berlino Schule’s teaching method, on the 6th September there will be a full day of free trial lessons at different times according to your level

For anyone who is looking for a great German school in Berlin, on the 6th September 2018 Berlino Schule will be hosting a full day of free trial lessons, of 35 min each to promote its German classes starting in September and introduce its teaching method.

Program of the Free trial classes (6th of September)
A1.1: 11.00 – 11.35
A1.2: 11.40 – 12.15
A2.1: 12.20 – 12.55
A2.2: 13.00 – 13.35
B1.1: 13.40 – 14.15

To reserve your spot send an email to: info@berlinoschule.com by specifying the level you are interested in.

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Upcoming German courses at Berlino Schule
INTENSIVE COURSES:
Our intensive courses are made up of 3 teaching hours per day, 4 days a week. Total amount of hours: 48 hours.

A1.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)
A1.2 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 11.40 – 14.10)
A2.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)
A2.2 From 11th September (Tue, Wed, Fri 14.30 – 18.00)
B1.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)
B2.1 11th September – 5th October (Tue – Fri 8.45 – 11.15)

Price: 192 euro + 20 euro registration fee

EVENING COURSES:
Our evening courses take place twice a week for 8 weeks. Three hours per lesson.

A1.1 10th September – 31st October (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)
A1.2 10th September – 31st October (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)
A2.1 11th September – 31st October (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)
B1.1 10th September – 31st October (Mon and Wed 19.15 – 21.40)
B2.1 11th September – 31st October (Tue and Thu 19.15 – 21.40)

Price: 240 euro + 20 euro registration fee

Our teachers
The courses are held by teachers with certified experience in the language teaching field. At the end of the course a certificate of attendance will be released on demand.

Info and registration
Send an email to info@berlinoschule.com and we’ll reply with all the information you need. Check also our website to know more about Berlino Schule.

Mille Grazie! The Italian courses of Berlino Schule starting from September

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Pizza, Ciao bella! Amore, capito, buongiorno, Spaghetti … would you rather learn the basics of one of the most beautiful languages in the world?

If you really want to speak this beautiful language as perfectly as Dante Alighieri, why don’t you attend the Italian language courses offered by Berlino Schule? From September you will get the opportunity to choose between Mille Grazie I (A1) and Mille Grazie II (A2).

Italian classes in Berlin

Italian classes in Berlin

The teacher

Both courses will be held by Giuseppe R., extremely professional Italian teacher with the DITALS certification, a professional qualification offered by Unistrasi (Università per Stranieri di Siena).

OUR ITALIAN COURSES STARTING IN SEPTEMBER

Mille Grazie I – Italian language course A1

Mille Grazie I starts on 12th September. The whole course is composed by 16 classes of 3 units each for a total of 48 units.

Every Wednesday, from 19 to 21.30

Price: 240 €

Mille Grazie II – Italian language course A2

Mille Grazie II starts on 11th September. The whole course is composed by 19 classes of 2,5 units each for a total of 48 units.

Every Tuesday, from 19 to 21.00

Price: 240 €

Where: Berlino Schule – Gryphiusstr. 23 – 10245 Berlin

Info and registration

You can send us an email to: info@berlinoschule.com. Object: “Mille Grazie”.

Where

At Berlino Schule, Gryphiusstrasse 23 – 10245 Berlin (Friedrichshain, Ostkreuz/Samariterstrasse/Warschuaerstrasse metro station).

Learn German in Berlin

Studying Italian in Berlin in July and September: MILLE GRAZIE evening courses are about to start!

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This summer you will have the opportunity to learn Italian in a friendly international atmosphere in Berlin!

Our students continue to come back to Berlino Schule time and time again and this is evident through the excellent five star reviews we have received (see Facebook and Google). These positive reviews are due to the consistent quality of our teaching and our competitively low prices. In fact, our students claim to have been positively stimulated by our international, young and dynamic atmosphere. Find our latest offers below which are all available in the upcoming months.

Our teaching method

Every course is taught in the target language, i.e. our teachers constantly speak the language that our students want to learn when delivering lessons or explaining concepts. Our method relies on the belief that a total immersion in the language is the most effective way to improve one’s level. Our teachers have regular meetings to ensure the consistency of our method, regardless of the level of each course.

Upcoming courses

In July

A1.1 Italian for beginners – MILLE GRAZIE I will begin on Tuesday 17th July and last until Friday 7th September. It will take place twice per week (Tuesdays and Fridays), from 18:00 to 20:30. Total amount of hours*: 48 (3h* x 16 classes)

B1.1 MILLE GRAZIE IV will begin on Monday 16th July and last until Monday 29th October. The classes will take place once per week, always on Mondays, from 18:00 to 20:30. Total amount of hours*: 48 (3h* x 16 classes)

In September

A1.1 Italian for beginners – MILLE GRAZIE I will begin on Wednesday 12th September and last until Wednesday 9th January. This course will take place once per week, every Wednesday, from 19:00 to 21:30. Total amount of hours*: 48 (3h* x 16 classes)

A1.2  MILLE GRAZIE II will begin on Tuesday 11th September and last until Tuesday 29th January. This course will take place every Tuesday, from 19:00 to 21:00. Total amount of hours*: 48 (2.5h* x 19 classes)

A2.1 MILLE GRAZIE III will begin on Friday 14th of September and last until Friday 4th January. The lessons will take place once per week, always on Friday, from 19:00 to 21:30. Total amount of hours*: 48 (3h* x 16 classes)

Prices

Each course costs €240.

Info & Registration

Should you need further information or want to register for one of the above-mentioned courses, feel free to contact us at info@berlinoschule.com !

Where

At Berlino Schule, in Gryphiusstr. 23, in Friedrichshain, one of the best, safest and most lively areas in Berlin. Moreover, the school is within walking distance of the East Side Gallery (the longest segment of the Berlin Wall still standing), one of the main touristic attractions of the capital city.

 *As defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and applied to all language schools, one hour of lesson consists of 45 minutes.

 

 

You cannot live in Germany if you don’t understand the importance of the word “Bitte”

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German is notoriously not one of the simplest languages around. Some words, though, are more important than others to live in Germany.

Among articles, cases, separable verbs and extremely long words it is hard for those who either need or simply want to learn it (it’s been proved the latter are 0,01% of the world population). Most people give up immediately, without even really starting, standing up from the Volkhochschule (VHS) chairs right after learning that together with a noun they need to memorize also the correct article. Even more give up after learning that there are no proper rules to know if a noun is feminine, masculine or neuter.

 

Approaches vary.

Some manage to overcome the first obstacles and they are content with a very limited vocabulary sufficient to survive without losing their mind. A rare few are brave enough (and to them my admiration!) to try and assimilate everything they can of this multi-faceted language. Nevertheless, there are such direct and common words that it is impossible not to learn them even just by walking among Germans for a few hours. The most famous of them is without any doubt the word “Bitte”.

Now I will describe you a common scene. A mother and her child enter a café and go to the counter. You are there, with your hot and sweet coffee, waiting to finish it, get out and have a smoke, when the child, encouraged by an over-excited mother, asks the barista, “Could I have a glass of water?”

A reasonable barista would just take a glass, fill it with water and pass it to the child, dismissing him in ten seconds. Considering that baristas are not always reasonable, this specific one exclaims, “What is the magic word?”

Disaster!

 

The child is dumbstruck. He really doesn’t know the magic word. He looks around, speechless and disoriented. His mother is tomato-red from the embarrassment. She knows the magic word, but she cannot give him a hint so she stays silent.

Recognizing the awkwardness of the situation, the barista tries to help him, “Pl…?”

Faced by this insistence and inability to prepare a glass of water without asking weird questions, shyer kids would tearfully close themselves off, give up drinking for the next few years and regret the good old days when attaching themselves to their mother’s breast was sufficient to quench their thirst. The bolder ones would maybe try to make a joke, to tease and make fun of the barista.

In both situations, the barista could do nothing but raise the white flag and say with an endearingly fake smile, “Please! The magic word is please!”

 

A scene like this one would be unheard of in Germany.

If you were to tell it to a German they would say you are delusional or maybe simply too cynical.
German kids understand the use of the word “Bitte” even before they are born. It’s one of the first genetic upgrades to happen in the belly. So natural that when first the nurse spanks the newborn baby, he glares at her with an implicit dry “Bitte?!”. When a German child asks for an ice-cream or a glass of water he adds his nice “Bitte” automatically. He does not realize that he is using a “magic word” that could create tension, embarrassment and guilt in mothers concerned with the right way to educate their children.

A multipurpose word…

 

“Bitte” can be translated with both “please” and “you are welcome” and it is this important double translation that makes it one of the first words we learn, together with the frequency of its use.

One of those useless American universities between Massachussets and Alberobello did an even more useless study on German practices. According to it, the use of the word “Bitte” is the third most common practice after drinking Apfelschorle and ringing the bicycle bell, standing at a solid 87.5%. I heard personally someone using the “Bitte” before starting a violent fight, complete of kicks and punches. I cannot imagine the same thing happening in my city of birth, Neaples, and the mere idea of someone starting a fight with the equivalent of “Bitte” makes me laugh.

…and with many variations

Very important for Germans is not only the use of the word “Bitte”, but also of its most common variations: “Bitte schön” and “Bitte sehr”.

Cashiers are definitely professionals of the use of the word “Bitte”. They are so used to it that it is likely that they are all having therapy for excessive politeness. Even their voice tone is such that the “Bitte” always comes out the same with every client. Last week a LIDL cashier managed to repeat it one thousand times in one shift and as a reward they received a new conveyor belt on which the shopping slides wonderfully.

Servers are instead specialists of the “Bitte schön”. It is often used together with its big brother “Danke schön” with which clients thank them for the service. At this point, a dialogue ensues, which resemble closely the tweeting of birds in love one can find in Tiergarten. This is part of living I Germany and it is not rare to find servers so experienced that they can express different emotions just by lengthening the “ö” and transforming it in something resembling a “Bitteschööööööön”.

Last but not least is “Bitte sehr”, a slightly more refined, elegant variation, fitting of a Mitte habitué or a gentleman who gives his seat to women on buses. Usually foreigners use it when they want to show they have at least a B1.1 in German.

One can never go wrong by using the “Bitte”.

 

It’s one of those wild cards like “ganz” that you can use freely without looking completely inept. The way one abuses this word is the same of such words as “genau” or “super!” or weird expressions like “Keine Anhung” or “auf jeden Fall”. You will find yourself using them when you expect it the least. And in the end, it doesn’t matter if you cannot get the intonation or the sentence structure wrong. The only thing is, whatever you do, you always remember to use “Bitte”.

FOTO © FRECH – Family – CC BY-SA 2.0