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Heads-up: this is a rant post.

A long time ago I used a German book for both classes and lessons that wasn’t a good fit for either population. I didn’t like the layout, I didn’t like the cartoons, the instructions weren’t always clear, and sometimes the workbook exercises differed from what was in the chapter.

That made teaching with this book difficult, and it created an excessive amount of prep work, which caused me a lot of stress, because it also didn’t answer my students’ many questions....

"Geheiratet." Nein. "Verheiratet." Ich weiss es nicht!

I know how it goes, these two can be really tricky, however they are similar enough to English that you can learn a couple of associations to help you keep them apart in your mind.

Sometimes you simply need rote memorization, and sometimes you need a way of remembering which one is which. Sometimes this is an Eselsbrücke (a "donkey-bridge" or a mnemonic device), sometimes you need an association, and sometimes you need a picture in your...

When you're at the A1 level, "Verkehr" and "Stau" can be tough to differentiate. Most people say "It has something to do with cars!!" If you said that, you're correct! But what's the difference?

The difference is essentially the same as in English, but one use of "Verkehr" might trip you up.

Read on to learn the difference and how not to get tripped up by the one use of "Verkehr"!

Was bedeutet "Verkehr"?

Verkehr is simply the word for traffic. You can have multiple types ofVerkehr:

• viel...

I've never forgotten important dates like my best friend's birthday, but this year I started forgetting a few things.

One of those things I forgot? The 6-year anniversary of this business. July 1, 2019 was the SIXTH year anniversary of GermanWithNicole.com!

Ausgezeichnet!

When I began, I had no idea what this might turn into. I started teaching one client online and then within a relatively short period of time, I had enough clients that it turned into a real, part-time job (and I was working...

If you learned German in college, chances are you learned both “woher” and “wohin” at the same time.

Do you ever drive in reverse and forwards at the same time? I didn't think so.

Why so many US textbook authors think this is a good idea is beyond me.

In drivers education, first you learn to drive forwards, you get a feel for the car, and then you learn to drive in reverse.

It's not that hard, textbook authors!

*Nicole facepalms and sighs with exasperation.*

...

"Zu..." no. "Nach..."

Wait! Which one do I use? GAH!

Have you said that before? I bet you have, as I’ve heard it from every beginning German learner I’ve worked with. And a lot of intermediate level speakers, too.

The difference is: with “zu” and “nach,” size makes a difference. But not how you might think.

When do I use “zu”?

“Zu” is used for places like

• die Bäckerei
• die Post
• your friend Michael’s house
• die Arbeit
• die Bushaltestelle

These are, in fact, all smaller places. A bakery is...

Taking a German proficiency test, like the ones offered at the Goethe Institute, is a big deal. I've helped several clients prepare for their tests and I'm so excited to tell you that another client has taken and passed the B1 test!

Juhu! Hurra!

This is a source of frustration for so many German learners. "Wann" and "wenn" are too similar and as a result, lots of people mix them up. They both mean when, however when you use them is completely different.

Are you ready to learn which word to use when? And do you want to remember how to use it in the future?

Ja, super!

Fertig? Los geht’s!

Which “when” is “when”?

First you need to clearly differentiate the two words “wann” and “wenn.”

Herzlich Willkommen zurück to “Secret Benefits to Learning German!”

This is the third and final installation in a three-part series on what I think are benefits to learning German that you might not have heard of or thought of yourself.

Up until now I’ve only shared these ideas with clients, so this is a look behind the curtain…and I think you'll like this one in particular.

Secret #3: Make More Money

Can learning a foreign language, specifically German, help you make more money?

This article...

Herzlich Willkommen zurück to “Secret Benefits to Learning German!”

This is the second installation in a three-part series on what I think are benefits to learning German that you might not have heard of or thought of yourself.

Up until now I’ve only shared these ideas with clients, so this is a look behind the curtain…

Secret #2: Learn to Plan.

There is no swaying my thoughts on this: I whole-heartedly believe that learning German can help you learn how to plan better.

This is a...