I'd always aspired to be fluent in German. And then the more fluent I became, the more I realised there was another linguistic challenge waiting round the corner. There was always something else I could improve on. The Oxford Dictionary defines fluent as "able to speak, read or write a language, especially a foreign language,... Continue Reading →
I'll never forget how confused I was when, at 14 years old, my German exchange partner asked me "Can I use your handy?" I had no idea what she was on about and I'm pretty sure she thought I was stupid when I couldn't answer her. She even said "But it's an English word!" And... Continue Reading →
There's no better way to learn a language than from the locals themselves. As someone who has lived in two different countries to improve their languages skills, I've found different locals tend to have different approaches towards your language efforts.. Here's a few of the personalities I've come across: The Understanding Local Us foreign language learners... Continue Reading →
Imagine being hungry, like really hungry and instead of offering you a nice, filling, savoury meal, someone asks you if you want slice of cake. Noooo, I don't want cake, I'm starving, I want real food! I recently went to a cafe with a group of friends (German and non-German) and given that it was... Continue Reading →
I definitely had an advantage when I moved to Germany. In hindsight being able to speak German before I got here was actually a huge advantage and I wasn't quite aware of how much my German language skills contributed to the ease of settling in in Frankfurt. Yes, there were times when I needed to look... Continue Reading →
Being sick is a weak excuse in the London office. Unless everyone can see that you have dragged yourself to work that morning, are looking extra rough, tried to act as if you’re not ill, but still ended up nearly fainting at your desk, you’re either completely faking it, exaggerating or running out of annual... Continue Reading →
Essential organisation is required for the brutal 3 minute procedure of having your food practically chucked at you after being scanned, whilst you’re expected to pack, swipe your points card, sign after using your debit card (because apparently a PIN just isn’t good enough) and then maybe you’ll get a "tschüß" if you’re lucky as... Continue Reading →
Friend in Frankfurt: Once you've been here for a while, you'll realise that your English begins to change. Me: No chance! I couldn't have been more wrong. 21 months later and I often catch myself saying odd things in English that I never would have crossed my mind before I moved abroad. Of course, the... Continue Reading →
One of the beauties of speaking another language is that it allows you to express yourself through different words and concepts that don't exist in your native tongue. Never did I think though, that it could make me (loud, outgoing and laughs all day Alisa) appear to be shy and reserved. Why is it so... Continue Reading →
So you're at a social event and there are a few friends of friends who you've not yet met. As usual, you introduce yourself and oh.. err.. this suddenly becomes seriously awkward as you dive in for a hug whilst the other person politely offers their hand. “What!? Have I missed something?” Nope, this isn’t... Continue Reading →
“Memorise the definite article table!” Yes, everyone says that, but the question is how? At first, I avoided learning the ridiculous number of definite articles in the hope that I’d just pick it up over time, but I soon gave in when I realised that my optimism wasn’t getting me anywhere! 15 years of speaking... Continue Reading →
A few weeks of avoidance, finding the most convenient inconvenient time and getting to work late, all to be elevated back in a fancy chair and have random metal tools prodded around your mouth. Does anyone actually like going to the dentist? No, me neither, especially not when I'm abroad but I thought it was... Continue Reading →
To answer simply - yes. But what I actually find interesting is how I dream in German. I work in a bilingual environment, meaning there are some words that I only really use in German and others that I only really use in English, depending on what I am speaking about. Sometimes I even have to... Continue Reading →
Put simply, yes. Would it have been so easy? Probably not. But it all depends where you go and what you actually want from the experience. Maybe languages aren't your thing? Remember my first night out when I arrived in Frankfurt, the one I went to on my own? It was an English speaking event... Continue Reading →
