In a new series, I’m interviewing clients and friends who moved to either Germany or Hungary and had to immerse themselves into language and culture all of a sudden. I ask them about their experiences, how long it took them to feel at home and learn the language, what challenges they faced and how they…… Continue reading Don’t kill yourself trying to find the difference between der, die, das because it will simply NEVER HAPPEN … – An interview
Tag: German
Nothing sucks like Electrolux
This is the short story of a famous marketing blunder / urban myth in the 1970s. It can teach us a lot about the importance of cultural sensitivity and the dos and don’ts when doing business internationally … First of all, the actual story: Swedish vacuum manufacturer Electrolux sold products successfully in the UK using the slogan “Nothing…… Continue reading Nothing sucks like Electrolux
The true cost of not learning a language
Trouble getting from A to B, not knowing how to politely apologise for an inconvenience, not understanding what other people are saying around you, afraid of being misunderstood … Just a few of the practical problems my clients articulate when signing up for a language coaching programme. But the underlying problem is much more complex:…… Continue reading The true cost of not learning a language
The secret to staying committed – especially when you’re not seeing the results
Have you ever struggled with staying motivated and remaining dedicated when it comes to learning a foreign language or in fact, learning anything? Have you ever been in a situation where you set yourself a specific goal that you wanted to achieve, but it felt like you didn’t make much progress? If so, then this…… Continue reading The secret to staying committed – especially when you’re not seeing the results
Language studies & making mistakes: How to deal with being corrected all the time …
Have you ever come across someone, a native speaker who you wanted to talk to in their language, and they kept interrupting you every single time you made a mistake, or they just reverted back to English whenever you took a little more time to gather your thoughts, not letting you express yourself and practice…… Continue reading Language studies & making mistakes: How to deal with being corrected all the time …
What to expect from a 20-hour language training programme
Thinking about signing up for a language training programme? Most language schools offer 20-hour courses. 20 seems to be a magic number when it comes to language studies indeed. Why? In 20 hours, you can indeed achieve certain short-term goals, it’s a relatively low-cost initial investment and it will also help you get a feel…… Continue reading What to expect from a 20-hour language training programme
How to find time to practise between lessons (or learn something new)
This is the most common problem my students face … how to find time to practise between their German or Hungarian lessons. And I bet that’s a common dilemma for all of us, no matter what we’re learning. Honestly, I totally get it! We all work an extreme lot, running multiple projects at times, our…… Continue reading How to find time to practise between lessons (or learn something new)
Gabriella Ferenczi 