False Friends - Part Two Did you love our post last week about false friends in German and English! Then just for you, here's part two. If you missed out, find part one here! And in case you need a little catching up as to what false friends are, they're words in languages that look the same, but have different meanings.   If you're looking to expand your language knowledge, here are six more English/German false friends and their meanings!   Wonder / sich wundern Do you wonder about differences between German and English? Could it be the difference between wonder [...]

False Friends - Not Just People One of the most confusing things when you're learning a new language is a false friend. No, they're not people who only pretend to be your friend. “False friends” refers to words in two languages that look similar, but have different meanings.   Here you'll find some of the most pesky English/German false friends and their meanings. Read on and improve your skills (in both languages)!   Become/ bekommen Become and bekommen are two of the most easily confused words between German and English. Become (or werden in German) means to start to be something, [...]

If you loved last week's post on English idioms and were eager to know more, here are 7 more amazing  idioms that you should know along your path to fluency!     For a song If you're working on your next project and are able to purchase something you need for a song, it will definitely help you stay under budget!   The idiom "for a song" means that you can get something for very cheap or almost free...as if you only had to pay for it by singing or playing a song.     Shoot the breeze If you "shoot [...]

7 English Idioms You Should Know Idioms are one of the best indicators of your path to fluency in a language. It can be extremely confusing when you hear an idiom for the first time, as the words seem to have nothing to do with each other at all.   Don't get stuck in language limbo! Here are 7 common English idioms that you may hear in the boardroom or on the street:   Bite the bullet Don't worry, this doesn't involve weapons at all, although it used to. If you "bite the bullet", it means you endure something that might [...]

The Joys of German Directness One of the biggest stereotypes that Americans have about Germans is that they're very direct. And I've gotta say, since I moved to Germany, it's become one of my favorite things about Germans. I think that many Americans are so used to beating around the bush and hiding behind politeness, that true directness can be seen as rude. But there is definitely a case for being direct and saying what you think. Here's why I love German directness, and why Americans should start taking on this trait: You Know Where You Stand My German friends [...]