This advice is not for those who know no German at all, nor for those who speak fluently. So… for those in the middle:
in general, Sie is used for everyone except close friends, relatives and children up to 16-18.
The European is not as quick to assume a close relationship as the English/American. Thus, where an American very often uses the first name with anyone he has known for a short time, the European will more rarely use the first name, and most certainly never the Du form.

Colleagues and co-workers in an office will call each other Sie for months even though they see each other very often. If you are not totally right which for to use, just ask your German friend or… use the excuse that you are Auslander!

In many occasions the Du form is used extensively, such as Fasching-parties, sport gatherings and many other forms of social entertainment.

Filippo

Hi all,

German Vocabulary is usually accounted to be tough and difficult to learn… in particular those like me that come from a latin-language background (spanish, italian, french, portuguese), might have a hard time in trying to memorize german words and verbs that have a totally different root than our “latin counterparts”.

Learn how to pronounce the beer here is more important than ever, even if you are having an hard time in going beyond “Servus” or “Grüss Gott”…

Never, but never say “LOWENBRAU” for that famous brand of beer!
Bräu is actually pronounced “BROY” and the whole thing – as repeated by a giant beer-frinking lion at the Oktoberfest – is “LERVENBROY”.

Ah, by the way, since you are in the city of BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), be aware not to call it “BEE-AM-DOUBLE U”… here in München that’s “BE-EM-FAU” !!

filippo

Do you have a favourite fountain? There are over 500 fountains sprinkled (and sprinkling) around Munich, and almost everyone has a special significance.

The Richard Strauß fountain on the mall on Neuhauserstrasse stands near Strauß’ birthplace and the streams of water reminds the Dance of the Seven Veils in his opera “Salome”.
Two cows and bulls at the Rindermarkt recall the former livestock market which stood there.

The Schlange (snake) in front of the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Munich (Königinstrasse) has been wearing at various times a bowler hat, a cigar and even a bra!

filippo

Letzes Woche haben wir im Unterricht ein Film angeschaut: Goodbye, Lenin.

“Nach einem Herzinfarkt fällt die DDR-Bürgerin Christiane Kerner im Oktober 1989 ins Koma. Als sie acht Monate später wieder zu sich kommt, existiert die DDR nicht mehr. Um die todkranke Mutter nicht aufzuregen, sorgt der Sohn dafür, dass ihr die Wende verschwiegen wird und gaukelt ihr die alten Verhältnisse vor. Dabei ist das Umfüllen von Westprodukten in alte DDR-Verpackungen noch das einfachste …”

Der Film “Good bye, Lenin!” (2003) beschreibt das Leben einer Familie in Ost-Berlin kurz nach der Deutschen Wiedervereinigung. Den Trailer (die Vorschau zum Film) kann man auf verschiedenen Internet-Seiten kostenlos ansehen:

https://www.kino.de/film/good-bye-lenin-2003/

One of the trickiest features of german language I’ve experienced so far is the Trennbare Verben.
German verbs can have separable prefixes. These prefixes change the meaning of the original verb, and make a new word. In the present tense, separable prefixes are separated from the verb and placed at the end of the sentence bracket. The separation rule also applies in the imperative. When used in the infinitive, however (e.g. with a modal auxiliary), separable prefix verbs are not divided. As you will shortly learn, the participle forms in the past tense are also combined.

Common separable prefixes. Remember that this list is only a rough guide to the meanings of prefixes, since their use is highly idiomatic.

filippo

Fasching ist Münchens Karnaval. Der Spitze des Faschings ist am Wochenende vor “Mardi Gras”. Fasching ist die perfekte Zeit für Musik, Tänze und die verrückteste Kostüme! Man kann billigen Klamotten in der Faschingsartikel-shops oder in der Einkaufzentren finden.

Das Herz des Faschings geht von Karlsplatz bis zu Marienplatz. Viktualienmarkt is auch eine bunte und laute Ort. Zu Fasching man musst NUR gesunde Krapfen und Wurst essen!

filippo

This is the famuos quote from the speech by President J.F.Kennedy during a visit to West Berlin in 1963

In Berlin you can travel around the world in a day. The only condition is that you have to like walking. Few cities have seen as many changes over recent years as Berlin. The two separate entities that existed before the Wall came down have become one again. There’s hardly a trace left of the former east-west division. The new architecture on Potsdamer Platz and in the government quarter forms a fascinating contrast to the late 19th century buildings of Charlottenburg. One minute you’re on an elegant boulevard, the next you’re in one of the city’s more alternative neighbourhoods. But the city is not only renowned for its architectural monuments; it also has museums, green oases and nightlife galore.
Definitely it s worth to spend a weekend there, to have a feel of the controversies that flood the capital of Germany.

To try:
– Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap: best döner in town
– East Side Gallery: walk along 1.3 km of Berliner Mauer, painted by some of the most famous graffiti artists.
– Deutsches Museen of History
– Prenzlauerberg quarter: vibrant collection of pubs bars clubs
– Curry 36: best currywurst in town!

filippo

DeutschAkademie is not only found in Munich, Bavaria. Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg, Bratislava are cities where you can learn German at DeutschAkademie.

Here’s a list of the locations and contact details of all the DeustschAkademie Schools

https://www.facebook.com/DeutschAkademie?sk=wall

Reinhold Messner

– 17. September 1944 ist er geboren in Brixen, Südtirol, Italien
– Er ist ins Schule in Bozen gegangen
– In Padua hat er ein Studium gemacht über Hoch- und Tiefsbaus
– Bergtouren: etwa 100 Erstbesteigungen
– Er hat alle 14 Achttausander bestiegen
– Er ist der ersten Mann, der ohne künstlichem Sauerstoff die Gipfel des Everests erreichen hat.
– Er ist zu fuß durch di Antarktis, Grönland, Tibet und die Wüste Takla Makan gegangen.

filippo