German-speakers are very often considered to be “rude” and “aggressive”. Aside from the historical evidence of the “German nature,” there is a problem in the language construction that makes us come across as “aggressive”. I know from many painful intercultural encounters how sorry I was in the past whenever someone considered me to be rude or aggressive because that is the last thing I want to be. And I want to share this with you as I honestly believe that (despite the occasional slip when I am in a bad mood) I have learned to be more polite in the international sense of the word and also moving to Switzerland has changed the way I speak “German” now. After 16 […]

By Sean Patrick Hopwood Riddled with quirky traits and poetic descriptions, the German language is a fascinating one. But why is Germany called “Das Land der Dichter und Denker”? In this article, we take a look at some fantastic and fun facts about one of the world’s most intriguing languages to explore why it’s considered the language of writers and thinkers! Das Land der Dichter und Denker The German phrase translates to ‘The Land of Poets and Thinkers,’ and it’s a common nickname for Germany. German culture ran through the veins of many famous minds that influenced the way the rest of the world reads and interacts with each other. From Goethe and Schiller to Heine, Mozart, Beethoven, Fred, Klimt, […]

The German language or “Deutsch” is the world’s 15th most spoken language according to Ethnologue’s latest data. The German language is spoken in 28 countries, and 76 million people worldwide speak it as their mother tongue. Globally, there are 132.1 million German language speakers. As of 2016, Germany is home to 82.67 million, 95% of whom speak German as their first language. Status of the German language German is the official language in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. In Switzerland, it is one of the country’s four official languages. German, which belongs to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, shares some of the characteristics with its co-branch members, English, Dutch, and Frisian languages. It is […]

Returning to your home country after living abroad can be an exhilarating yet overwhelming experience. If you are repatriating from the USA or other countries to Germany (or Switzerland), you might have forgotten how real life in Germany is. You also will have to acknowledge that the country and culture have changed a lot since you left over twenty years ago.  The Emotional Challenges of Repatriation Repatriation can bring a wave of mixed emotions. After spending a significant amount of time in a different country, it’s common to feel a sense of disorientation upon returning home. You may experience a range of emotions, from excitement and happiness to sadness and loss. It’s important to acknowledge and accept these emotions as […]