Posts under Culture

May 1st

Posted by Yohann
May
3
2009

I have a reading passage for you. I’d say it’s in the intermediate to upper intermediate range. The English translation is supplied right after the German. Try and see if you can figure out what the German sentences mean without peeking at the English. If you had a little trouble understanding this level of German, you might be around the lower intermediate to higher beginner range. If you understood this level of German, you might be around the lower advanced level. I’ll write some beginner and advanced level passages in the future and that may help you accurately gauge your level. For now, it’s a good start to begin with the intermediate passages so that you can ball park your level.

Der 1. Mai ist ein Feiertag in Deutschland

(The first of May is a holiday in Germany)

Den man bis früh in den Morgen feiert, um den neuen Monat zu begrüßen.

(People party until the next morning to bid welcome to the new month)

Ein traditionelles Getränk im Mai ist die so genannte Maibowle

(A traditional drink in May is the so called May punch

Sie besteht aus Weißwein, Rose, Sekt und Zucker

(It consists of white wine, rose and sparkling wine)

Gewerkschaften organisieren an diesem Tag Demonstrationen

(Trade unions organize demonstrations on this day)

Mehrere Anti-Konfliktteams der Polizei waren am Vortag des 1. Mai unterwegs

(Several ani-conflict teams of police were on their way before May 1st)

Die Polizei hielt sich zunächst zurück, dann wurden einzelne Randalierer aus der Ansammlung gegriffen und weggeführt

(The police held itself back first, then individual rioters were assessed and led away)

Der 1. Mai ist eine verrückte Zeit in Deutschland!

(May 1st is a crazy time in Germany!)

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Bundes… Words

Posted by Yohann
Apr
29
2009

We’re gonna take a look at some German words that begin with Bundes-. A lot of words have to do with politics and government. See if you can guess what they are in English without looking them up. You can post the answers in the comment section.

der Bundeskanzler : also known as the head of government. The current head of government is Angela Merkel. Since she’s a female, it might be better to call her die Bundeskanzlerin. She has executive powers.

der Bundespräsident : is the head of state. The current head of state is Horst Köhler. He has representative powers. He also has some extensive experience as an economist and has spent his entire childhood as a Polish refugee fleeing from the Germans.

die Bundesversammlung : is a special convention that elects the der Bundespräsident. This particular body convenes every May 23rd, which is the day considered to be the founding of the republic of Germany.

der Bundestag : the current president is Norbet Lammert. This body is a legislative body. The members are elected directly by German citizens.

der Bundesrat : is like the Senate in the U.S. This governing body can vote on particular bills, but its sphere of influence is limited. Der Bundestag has more legislative power.

Alright, I’ll be waiting for the answers in the comments section

 
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German Fairy Tales

Posted by Yohann
Apr
27
2009

One of the best ways to get a hold of the German language is to read fairy tales in German. You know what’s going to happen, so I’ll give you some idea of whether you’re comprehension in German is on the right track. Here are some fairy tales in German:

(Rumpelstilzchen) : Rumpelstiltskin

(Schneewittchen) : Snow White

(Aschenputtel) : Cinderella

(Hänsel und Gretel) : Hansel and Gretel

(Rotkäppchen) : Red Riding Hood

(Dornröschen) : Sleeping Beauty

Now here is a list of German fairy tales that you might not be familar with. These may pose challenges to your comprehension because you have no idea how the story ends.

(Der goldene Schlüssel) : The Golden Key

(Der Meisterdieb) : The Master Thief

(Die zertanzten Schuhe) : The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces

(Die kluge Bauerntochter) : The Peasant’s Wise Daughter

(Der König vom goldenen Berg) : The King of the Gold Mountain

(Die zwölf Jäger) : The Tweleve Huntsmen

(Erstes Märchen) : The Elves and the Shoemaker

(Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) : The Town Musicians of Breman

 
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Berliner

Posted by Yohann
Apr
21
2009

Guten Abend! (Good Evening). I am the new blogger for the German blog. My name is Yohann. If you haven’t guessed already, I’m a dude. Lol, not that’s it’s necessary for you to know that, but just in case you were wondering whether I’m a Frau (Mrs.) or Fräulein (Miss), I am a Herr (Mr.).

Gender aside, I went to Dunkin Donuts to get a couple of jelly doughnuts. Eating those doughnuts made me feel nostalgic for the Berliners I had back in Germany. In places like Berlin, it’s called Pfannkuchen. (Yeah, it’s a mouthful, but the p and f are pronounced together) In Austria it’s known Krapfen.

I don’t have anything against Dunkin Donuts, but the Berliners in Germany are really mouth watering. They take a syringe and fill the inside of the doughnut with jelly, sometimes chocolate and sometimes custard. Usually, the top is coated with a confectionary type sugar. It may not be the best choice for people on a diet, but really it’s the perfect treat.

The most famous mention of a jelly doughnut was President Kennedy’s notorious line, “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Translate that into plain English and it means, “I am a jelly doughnut.” What he should have said was, “Ich bin Berliner” which means “I am a Berliner.” Berliner being a person of Berlin, not a jelly doughnut. Ein is an indefinite article. By adding ein, Kennedy implied that he was an object.

Moral of the story, keep up with your German grammar! Or else, you’ll be quoted as saying one of the silliest lines ever spoken in German.

 
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Das Sandmännchen

Posted by Nathalie
Mar
31
2009

Guten abend!

What is your nightly bedtime ritual? Schauen Sie gerne Fern? Oder vielleicht lesen Sie ein bisschen. If you were a child in Germany, you would watch “Das Sandmännchen” (the Sandman) Als kind, freute ich mich immer auf diese Sendung. I used to watch it with my little Schwester, it was part of our nightly bedtime routine. Jeden abend, at 7 o’clock sharp, we would sit down in front of the TV and anxiously await the return of our little Freund. Since we only had three channels, this was about as exciting as it was going to get!

I hope you enjoy the Sandman and his story as much as I did as a child — actually, I still do. Of course, I might add that the melodie ist unvergesslich and is forever embedded in my brain. Just don’t blame me if you can’t get it out of yours!

Note: There are (or there used to be) two Sandmen: a West Sandmännchen (the one I grew up with and that I am sharing with you) and an Ost Sandmännchen. Ich bin mir nicht ganz sicher, aber ich glaube that, after Germany reunited, the Ost Sandmännchen became more popular, and so eventually it was decided, in 1991, that the West Sandmännchen would be retired (such a shame, I miss my Jugendfreund) I guess there was just not enough room for the both of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wmLDtn-544

Vokabel:

  • Schauen Sie gerne Fern? - Do you like watching TV?
  • Oder vielleicht lesen Sie ein bisschen - Or maybe, you like to read a little.
  • Als kind, freute ich mich immer auf diese Sendung - As a child, I always looked forward to this program.
  • Schwester - Sister
  • Jeden abend - Each evening.
  • unvergesslich - Unforgettable
  • Ich bin mir nicht ganz sicher, aber ich glaube… - I am not sure, but I believe…
  • Jugendfreund - Childhood friend.

Tschuss, und alles Gute!

Nathalie

 
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