Often people tout the benefits of learning another language in very valuable, albeit very general ways. Learning a foreign language helps us view things from another person's perspective. True.

Becoming familiar with another culture helps us grow as people when we step outside our comfort zone and try something new. Definitely true.

But could there be more benefits to learning a foreign language?

Something we might not have considered?

Dienstag Abend war es so weit! Und es hat so viel Spaß gemacht.

Tuesday evening was it! And it was so fun!

This was the first Sprechseminar (speaking seminar) and it was a blast! If you're thinking about joining us for a future Sprechseminar, this will give you a behind-the-scenes look that I hope will inspire you to join us in the future.

First we talked about the vocab we already know for "die Liebe." Words like die Rose, Süßer, das Herz and schmusen came up.

Then we got to the Kosenamen, the pet names. That. was. epic.

"Alte Liebe rostet nicht" say the Germans. Old love doesn't rust.

Neither does new love!

So how do you say you're in love in German? Germans don't fall in love. (Because who wants to fall, anyway?! Ouch.)

Here are a few standard ways of saying you're in love with someone as well as a couple of slang ways of saying it.

If you're not quite ready for die Liebe, no worries--check out #3 below for some "like" language. ;-)

This year a bunch of you set a new goal for 2018 in terms of German learning. This is your final check-in. Juhu!

So go find that dusty goal sheet that you printed out and that got lost under another pile of papers...and let's get some perspective.

How German Changed My Life: Dr. Janice D., Alberta, Canada

Nicole’s note: This is an email that I received from a client this summer after she had her Swiss Citizenship Interview. In addition to practicing speaking in German, we spent several lessons discussing the Swiss governmental system and how to prepare mentally for such an exam. Our final lesson before her interview was a practice interview. Here’s what she had to say.

Remember back in January, when I shows you how to Royally Screw Up Your German Learning this year?

This is your mid-year check-in.

So go find that dusty goal sheet that you printed out and that got lost under another pile of papers...

...and, if need be, get out your German book(s) and notebook. Find your folders, stuffed full of papers, and let's do an honest-and-yet compassionate assessment of where you are now.

You are entering a guilt-free, self-bullying free zone.

Whether you've been nailing your goal or you can already tell you're way off track, this is the post to help you get your German on (again). Los geht's!