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In this episode of the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast you'll discover when a good time is to start reading Harry Potter in German.

You'll also hear why that's a good time to start it.

We'll break down only the first two sentences of the book, both in English and in the German translation, to support this, and we'll have some fun along the way.

Think of this episode like a special map for German learning. ;-)

Giving credit where credit is due:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Page 5 © …

In Part 1, we explored the three most problematic approaches to learning German.

In Part 2 here today, we'll explore solutions to those three problematic approaches. They're all easier than you think, easily actionable, and will get you further in German than you might have thought possible.

If you're frustrated with German, if you haven't made progress like you wanted, and you just don't know what to do differently, this episode is for you.

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no lo…

Consider your strategy and overall approach to German.

If you have been working on German for a while and are only treading water, this episode will help you figure out which parts of your learning approach are getting in your way.

You'll hear three of the most common, problematic approaches I've seen in the last 11 years of teaching German and 18 years of teaching a foreign language.

This is part 1 of 2 because part 2 will then guide you into more constructive territory for German learning. …

«Erst Ordnung schaffen.»

the stylist proclaimed as she clipped a section of my hair to the side and combed the section she was about to cut.

Erst Ordnung schaffen.

First, create order.

At that moment the hairstylist probably had no clue what an impact she would have on my life.

Her comment was my official introduction to the German sense of order.

In this first episode of the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast you'll hear how one of my private lesson clients created order and how it has chan…

N.B. While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. The audios are available on the blog posts published between August 1, 2021 and October 1, 2024. Viel Spaß beim Hören!

Ihre Aufgabe:

Your task is to listen to the audio below and to note which dates the first three episodes will be released (auf Deutsch, natürlich) and then how often new episodes will be published after that.

All of these numbers are under 20. You'll need to…

October 2024:

While the GermanWithNicole.com Podcast no longer exists, you can still hear all of the audios here on the blog. Here is what used to be the trailer:

The audios are available on the blog posts published between August 1, 2021 and October 1, 2024.

Viel Spaß beim Hören!

If you're looking for listening practice at your level of German, you can now find it in Stube Radio, real German news audios (real German news, but only on pleasant topics) made personally by Frau Warner. There is a PDF transcript for you to download and keep (if you like).

What Stube Radio ISN'T

The most important thing for you to understand is that Stube Radio ISN'T news articles based on the horror-show of the day. It's not some super bored dude reading off the news at a very slow tempo wh…

"Jein" is definitely one of the best words in the German language.

It's one word for both yes and no.

ja + nein = jein

Knowing the word "jein" in German opens up a whole new world for German learners and their eyes get really big and their ears perk the first time they hear the word.

"Jein" also has several uses; for starters, "jein" allows you to give two simultaneous answers to one question: ja und nein - yes and no.

This is perfect for difficult answers.

When it's impossible to give a s…

The difference between "zu Hause" vs. "nach Hause" easily trips up German learners, but it doesn't have to trip you up if you use the tips below.

1. "zu Hause" = (at) home

"zu" is usually used as a preposition, so it would stand by itself and you might think that "zu Hause" means "to home."

This is an exception.

When you say "zu Hause," you're really using it as one block of language.

Think of the sentence "Ich bin zu Hause" and picture it like three wooden blocks:

[Ich]    [bin]    [zu Ha…

Erfolg hat drei Buchstaben: t u n ![1]

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Success has two letters: do!

To be successful at speaking German, you need to speak, and trying to speak without any form or specific goal makes it more difficult. It’s important to give yourself a specific task or framework for speaking.

Most people simply try to talk about everything all the time. That won't help you. Why? Because you know a TON of English/whatever your native language is, however in a foreign language …