German Language Schools and Courses - Learn German in Germany

Situated at the very heart of Europe, Germany's diversity astounds the visitor. Learn German in Germany and discover fairytale castles, picturesque villages, crystal-clear lakes and snow-capped mountains, the mystical Black Forest, stunning Rhine River cruises, traditional Christmas markets and of course the world-famous Oktoberfest. Germany's elegant cities, including the hip and stylish capital city of Berlin, are vibrant cultural and historical centers and their sidewalk cafés are the perfect place to sit down, relax and watch the world go by. Join us at our German language schools and Courses in Germany and experience this beautiful and historic country in its entire splendor.

Immerse yourself in the German language, culture and art, and indulge in the country's historically significant music, prose, fine art and architecture.

Nowhere else will you find as many distinctive sites of natural and cultural interest situated so closely together. Thirty two of them have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites of "extraordinary universal interest" and have been placed under the protection of international conventions.

German History

German history begins with the birth of the nation from Ancient Roman times to the 8th century, and then continues into the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation dating from the 9th century until 1806. At its largest extent, the territory of this empire included what today is Germany, Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, western Poland, the Low Countries, eastern France, Switzerland and most of northern Italy. After the mid 15th century, it was known as the " Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation".

The German Confederation of 1815-1866, the German Empire of 1871-1918, and the Weimar Republic of 1919-1933 followed this. Then came Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany (or "Third Reich", his proclaimed successor of the large medieval Empire or "Reich") of 1933-1945 and the devastations of World War II. The post-war Federal Republic of Germany ( West Germany ) and the German Democratic Republic ( East Germany ) existed from 1945 to 1990.

English Language Courses Germany - Geography

Germany has an area of 356,959 square kilometers. Extending 853 kilometers from its northern border with Denmark to the Alps in the south, it is the sixth largest country in Europe. At it's widest, Germany measures approximately 650 kilometers from the Belgian-German border in the west to the Polish frontier in the east.

The territory of former East Germany accounts for almost one-third of united Germany's territory and one-fifth of its population. After a close vote, in 1993 the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany's parliament, voted to transfer the capital from Bonn in the west to Berlin, a city-state in the east surrounded by the Land of Brandenburg. The relocation process is expected to be concluded by about the year 2000, following the transfer of the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, the Chancellory, and ten of the eighteen federal ministries.

English Language Schools Germany - Economy

Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy - the fifth largest in the world - has become one of the slowest growing economies in the Euro zone. A quick turnaround is not in the offing in the near future. Growth in 2001-03 fell short of 1%, rising to 1.7% in 2004 before falling back to 0.9% in 2005. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $70 billion. Structural rigidities in the labor market - including strict regulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages on a national basis - have made unemployment a chronic problem. Corporate restructuring and growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could allow Germany to meet the long-term challenges of European economic integration and globalization, particularly if labor market rigidities are further addressed. In the short run, however, the fall in government revenues and the rise in expenditures have raised the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit.

German Food

Breakfast (Frühstück) commonly consists of bread, toast, and/or bread rolls (Brötchen, Semmeln, Broodje, Schrippen, Wecken or Rundstücke) with jam, marmalade or honey, eggs, and strong coffee or tea (milk or cocoa for children). Deli meats, such as ham, salted meats and salami, are also commonly eaten on bread in the morning, as are various cheeses. A variety of meat-based spreads such as Leberwurst (literally liver-sausage) can be found during breakfast as well. Cereals such as cornflakes and muesli are also popular.

Traditionally, the main meal of the day has been lunch (Mittagessen), eaten around noon. Dinner (Abendessen or Abendbrot) was always a smaller meal, sometimes consisting only of sandwiches. However, in Germany, as in other parts of Europe, dining habits have changed quite radically over the last 50 years. Today, most people eat only a small meal for lunch and enjoy a larger meal in the evening. Breakfast is still a very popular meal in Germany with friends often invited as guests.

Learn German in Germany - Climate

Although Germany lies closer to the Arctic Circle than the equator, the climate is moderate without extreme cold or hot periods. Most of Germany is located in the moderately cool west wind zone with moist westerly winds from the North Sea. The climate in northwest and northern Germany is oceanic with rainfall all year round. The winters there are generally mild and the summers fairly cool. Eastern Germany contains all of the characteristics of a continental climate. Winters are characterized by long cold periods while summers can be very warm. The region is also frequently affected by long periods of dry weather. Temperatures are highest in July and lowest in January. The lowlands of northern Germany have an average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius in July. The sunnier areas of southern Germany reach average temperatures of 19.4 degrees Celsius.

German Interesting Facts

• Germany is the most populous European country (apart from Russia ), with a population of 81 million.
• Germany's land area was over 50% larger during the Second Reich (1871-1918) and included most of present-day Poland and parts of Lithuania.
• German people are the second biggest consumers of beer in the world (after the Irish), with an average of 119 liters per person per year (or 0.32 l per day).
• The German language was once the main language of central, eastern and northern Europe, and continues to be the language with the most native speakers in Europe.
• 15 million people in Germany are of non-German descent (first and second generation), i.e. 18.5% of the population. Almost half of them are foreign residents, not German citizens.
• Germany has about 700 zoological gardens, wildlife parks, aquariums, bird parks, animal reserves, or safari parks, including 414 zoos. Berlin's Zoologischer Garten is the largest zoo in the world, both in terms of number of species (1,500) and animal population (14,000).
• The world's youngest billionaire is the German Prince Albert II von Thurn und Taxis, whose net worth is estimated at around $1.9 billion (USD) as of 2006.
• German athletes have won a total of1548 Olympic medal (summer and winter combined) falling behind only the US in most medals received.
• Classical music has been widely ruled by German-speaking composers including Bach, Händel, Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Wagner and R. Strauss.
• Some of the world's greatest philosophers were German: Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Heidegger.
• The Germans can be credited for the invention of the clarinet, the pocket watch, the automated calculator, the light bulb, television (partly), petrol/gasoline & Diesel engines, the automobile (as well as the engine, differential gear and other important devices), the motorcycle, the jet engine, the LCD screen and the Walkman.
• Germany was the first country in the world to adopt Daylight saving time in 1916, in the midst of WWI.
• Germany is one of the last remaining Western European countries to not have banned smoking in workplaces, and restaurants. One of the political reasons for this is that the Nazi officially frowned on smoking, and post-war German legislators have been afraid of imitating Nazi regulations.
• Germany the world's second producer of cars (after Japan ) and motor vehicle in general (after the USA ).
• The largest train station in Europe opened in Berlin in 2006.
• DELAG, (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft, translating as "German Airship Transport Corporation") was the world's first airline. It was founded in Frankfurt on 16 November 1909.

Learn German in Germany - Advice

At our German schools and courses in Germany our advice can really be summed up with one simple word - practice! What kind of study materials you use is not quite as important as how or how often you use them. Your hard work and determination will be one of the biggest factors in successful language learning.

The German school and course you choose in Germany is going to be the core of your German study, so make sure you choose a German language course that gives you structured lessons and lots of opportunity to practice your new language skills. Our German courses at our German schools in Germany, will give you the perfect opportunity to study, learn, and practice German in a supportive, well planned and friendly environments.

You must work at your new German language skills every day. Ideally, you should study German an extra hour or more every day. If you can get at least an extra half-hour of study time, that's pretty good too. Try to at least get a little review and study, learn and practice German every single day.

If you attend one of our German courses in Germany and you learn German everyday, you will have a good basic knowledge of the German language in a reasonable amount of time. Your knowledge and ability will increase and improve depending upon what other tools you use and what kind of experiences you have using the German language.

Grammar book. A good old-fashioned grammar book may be boring but they are a great way to really get to grips with the details of the language.

Phrase Book

These are extremely helpful books that you can carry with you. They can be useful for practicing pronunciation, or for quickly finding a lot of more commonly used phrases, words and idioms. Phrase books are always a nice supplement to learn German and they are convenient and cheap.

Dictionary. Absolutely necessary in the long run. You must have a dictionary if you wish to expand your vocabulary, and you will need one in order to take full advantage of many of the German language learning tips set out here. Make sure you get one that translates both ways e.g. Spanish to German AND German to Spanish. It is also helpful to find a dictionary that contains idioms - the phrases particular to the language which you are studying - as well as phrases that are commonly used in the German language, but may be difficult to translate.

Flashcards

A simple German language learning tip, but a very effective way to review, refresh your memory and expand your vocabulary. There are pre-made flashcards that can be purchased, or for extra help, you can create your own. Keep them with you at all times, in your pocket or in your car, and look at them for a quick review or language lesson at every opportunity. They are very convenient.

Talk to yourself

It may be obvious, but the best way to learn German in Germany is to speak German in Germany ! This convenient method can be use at all times, as you can even talk to yourself. Even if you are in public and don't feel comfortable talking to yourself out loud, you can make it your habit to practice German by thinking German. Throughout the day, think of the German words for everything you pass - objects in your house, things you pass when you are traveling, things you use at work or school, etc. Learn basic German phrases like - ‘it is cold today' or ‘it is sunny today' and use whichever is appropriate when you first look out the window. By putting this tip into use on a regular basis, the vocabulary and phrases will become more routine and automatic.

Practice with friends

Taking it even further than talking to yourself, you can practice with your friends. Even if they don't speak German, talk to the people you know by using your new language. Warn them in advance that you are practicing your new knowledge and they'll know what's coming. Even a simple 'good morning' or'see you later' in German will make those phrases more natural to you. Your friends may even begin to learn a few words and join in the fun too!

Listen to music

Listen to German music. You'll hear the German language used in a real context and this will help you pick out the rhythm and pronunciation even better. This method will also give you a further understanding of, and appreciation for, the culture and customs of the people. Music in German might be easier to find than others, but Amazon or eBay and many other global websites will enable you to find music in German and many different languages.