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- Category: German culture and food
Before there were German supermodels and the first woman Chancellor of Germany, there was Hildegard von Bingen. Hildegard was what the Germans now call das Multitalent, someone with multiple talents; she was a nun, magistra (meaning she ran the convent), herbalist, writer, composer, singer, and the list goes on and on.
in front of Eibingen Abbey.
Photo by Danae Ashley.
Many musicians had known about Hildegard von Bingen's music even 25 years ago, however that was still fairly obscure information. In 2008 I (Frau Warner) went to Bingen to visit the State Garden Show (Landesgartenschau (Rheinland-Pfalz) Bingen 2008), and was mightily impressed with the gardens, the flowers, and how often Hildegard von Bingen was represented there. It helped that the weather was stunningly beautiful and the Rhine flows past directly next to the grounds. Since then Hildegard has continued to crop up in my life--an article here, a mention there, a musical piece on the radio on WPR, etc.
A couple of years ago friend and client, the Rev. Danae Ashley, a Multitalent herself, took the Hildegard Pilgrimage in Germany, which opened up a whole new avenue in her life. Danae then began learning German because she was going to give a presentation on Hildegard von Bingen in Germany, and she has even now written a book on Hildegard von Bingen and Alfred Adler. Ausgezeichnet! The book will be available as of March 19, 2026! So this is the perfect time to bring information on Hildegard to all of you reading this post.
Viel Spaß!
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- Category: Listening to German
You get a mind-opening podcast called The Hansel and Gretel Code, by Curtis Cates, MD.
(However as usual, there are no swear words in this post.)
During the dark days during the Plague of 2020, a guy contacted me about another podcast I had been on, and then he started a podcast. It was the story of Hansel and Gretel through the lens of Jungian Psychoanalysis. Carl Jung was a Swiss Psychologist who gave us Jungian Psychoanalysis. (He's like Freud's healthy cousin, 'cuz Freud had some ISSUES.) Jungian Psychoanalysis is fascinating and when you take a fresh look at the context of Hansel & Gretel, with alllll the additional context, quotes, and information provided by Cates, you get a fresh take on all of it.
Fairy tales are fodder for the spirit, and this is no exception.
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- Category: German grammar
"Why is this word der?!"
"How am I supposed to remember that that word is die?! There is nothing feminine about a coffee cup (die Tasse) and nothing masculine about a table (der Tisch)!"
"Gah! I'll never get this right! Why does German have three articles for the word the?!?!"
Yes, I know, remember I've learned all of this, and I've been there and I feel your pain!! Learning der-die-das is really important in the beginning of learning German, and it only becomes even more important later on when you learn the Akkusative and the Dative.
In the video which follows you will learn the concept of why it is that der-die-das is so darn important in German! It's the first video in the new video lesson How to learn der-die-das without losing your mind!
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- Category: German learning methods
In a German class about 15 years ago a student said he started German to meet new people because he never met new people. I sure was glad he started the class, because he had a stressful job and, as we later discovered, a terrible roommate. Class gave him some new connections and a really wholesome activity to enjoy.
People who talk about the loneliness epidemic (it's real!) never make suggestions like "Take a German class!" If you're lonely, take a German class! Clients in my German classes have begun to relate to one another in a really beautiful way: they remember things about one another from week to week and ask how things went. They ask about each others' weekends and how projects are going. There is a real sense of holding the other German learners in positive regard.
One of my students in an in-person class I teach here in Milwaukee is putting in an order at his local bakery for the most traditional German baked good they can bake because he wants to celebrate the end of our class together. Das ist so lieb!
Last week in the online Kurs A1 several people asked about a client who stopped attending due to scheduling reasons; I saw this client at GermanFest and I told her, so we took a photo together for me to share with the clients in the Kurs A1. Das ist so süß!
Those are only a few examples of how everyone feels connected to one another. Here are 7 ways a German class (really does) help you connect with other people, and by doing so, it helps stave off loneliness.
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- Category: Speaking German
Edward Jones Financial Advisor Anja Gribhofer-Decker
Anja is a German-speaking Financial Advisor based in Elgin, IL. She is a native German speaker and is fluent in English.
Edward Jones is a different kind of investment firm. To us, face time and think time make sense. We meet with you to learn your individual needs so we can develop a strategy to help you achieve your long-term financial goals. So, whether you want to plan for retirement, save for college, reduce your tax bills or ensure you have income to cover your expenses, you can expect personalized service and long-term investing strategies instead of the latest investment fads. Join the nearly 7 million investors who know. Contact me today to help develop an investment strategy that makes sense for you.
View her Edward Jones profile here: www.edwardjones.com/anja-decker. Contact Anja at
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