In Episode 38 of the Better German podcast, host Susi Blümel returns from a break to introduce the Better German Community—a new space created for German learners. The community offers a range of resources, including live Zoom classes on vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, conversation, and fluency, along with a MatchUp feature to connect learners …

Introduction When you meet new people and talk to them, family could be a subject discussed soon. So our word list of 25 German words (father, mother, brother...) will come in handy! Learn by repetition - and don't forget to download your word list and illustration here. Key Topics and Bullets Primary topic: Introduction and Course Announcement - C…

Summary Welcome to the third and final part of our series on German cases! In this episode, we delved deep into how prepositions determine German cases and covered special prepositions that ask for specific cases in different situations. We also discussed the importance of not getting too caught up in perfection and focused on the ultimate goal of …

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel continues her mini-series on cases in the German language. She emphasizes the importance of understanding cases, while also acknowledging the challenges they may pose to beginners. Susi breaks down the four cases in German - nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative - providing a brief e…

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel introduces the concept of German cases, known as "Fälle" in German. She explains that cases are different forms that certain words (articles, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns) take based on their function in a sentence. Using examples, she illustrates how cases affect sentence structure and …

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel covers essential German words for travelers in German-speaking countries, some of them particularly valid for Austria and Vienna. She discusses words related to accommodation, supermarkets, transportation, shopping, emergency services, and leisure activities. Susi emphasizes the importance …

Summary This episode of the Better German Podcast introduces the topic of formal and informal communication in German, explaining the differences in usage when addressing different individuals. It provides examples of how the forms change based on the level of formality and emphasizes the importance of understanding these variations in communicatio…

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel takes you on a journey through some typical German words that you might not find in a textbook. These words are often used in spoken German and carry unique meanings that don't have direct translations. Susi goes into the nuances of words like "eh," "gell" and "na," shedding light on their …

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel shares her perspective as an Austrian on the iconic movie "The Sound of Music." She discusses the historical context of the film, its reception in Austria, and whether it accurately reflects Austrian culture. Susi also extends her offer to help those interested in learning German through pr…

Summary Welcome to the Better German podcast! In this 30th episode, we delve into the forms of the English word "to be" in German, covering "I am, you are," and more. Host Susi Blumel (Susi Schilk-Blümel) underscores the importance of providing accessible German learning materials and the joy of making the language easier to learn. With an ongoing …

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel dives into the intriguing question of how long it takes to learn German. Drawing from her own experiences and insights, she provides a detailed breakdown of the hours required for beginners to progress from basic conversational skills to more advanced levels. Listen in as she addresses comm…

Summary In this episode of the Better German Podcast, Susi Blumel discusses the importance of practice in learning the German language. She emphasizes the need for a balance between theory and practice, suggesting a ratio of 20% theory to 80% practice. Susi provides examples of how to effectively practice new vocabulary and grammar, highlighting th…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susi Blumel covers the most important parts of speech in the German language. She explains the functions and usage of nouns, articles, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections, offering examples in both English and German. Susi emphasizes the pract…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susie Blumel explains how to use personal pronouns in German. She covers the direct translations of "I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they" in German and explains the importance of matching pronouns to the gender of nouns in German. Additionally, she touches on the use of different pronouns ba…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susie Blumel provides a beginner's guide to learning German nouns. She explains the importance of focusing on nouns when starting to learn a language and outlines the essential information that should be learned for each noun. Susie emphasizes the significance of understanding and using the…

Summary In this episode of Better German, Susi Blumel addresses the common issue many language learners face: being able to understand a language but struggling to speak it. She dives into the traditional approach to language teaching and the importance of speaking in order to truly learn a language. Susi shares practical tips on how to start speak…

Welcome to the Better German podcast. In this episode, Susi Blumel continues the discussion on forming plurals in German. She provides a brief overview of the previous episode's content and suggests listening to relevant past episodes for more context. Additionally, she announces the availability of a beginner's course for sale and encourages liste…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, Susi Blumel introduces you to the concept of German plural nouns. She explains that in German, the formation of plurals is more varied than in English, with no single rule to follow. Susi demonstrates some of the different ways plurals are formed and provides examples using words from previous e…

In this episode of the Better German we give you an overview of the regional variations of the German language, specifically the differences between Austrian German and German German. We are looking at differences between spoken and written German, drawing parallels to the differences between British English and American English. You will get recom…

Introduction In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel presents a useful sentence pattern that will come in handy for German learners: "What is that? That is a...." She suggests that beginners should start with earlier episodes if they are new to the German language (see links below). There is a free PDF guide available and you can also wa…

In this episode of Better German, Susi Blumel explains the levels of proficiency (skill in understanding and using the language) in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is used by most schools and official places for language courses and exams. She discusses A1 to C2 levels and clarifies what each level means in terms of …

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel introduces the German alphabet, guiding listeners through the pronunciation of each letter and emphasizing the importance of practice. She explains additional letters, vowel sounds, and specific letter combinations in German, providing examples and encouragement for language learners. Susi …

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel addresses an important question: why pay for a German course when there are free resources available, such as YouTube? Susi shares her insights on the value of paid courses, like the expertise and infrastructure they offer, but also points out, when a free offer is just right for you. We ar…

Austrian Winter Festivals: Christmas Markets, Snowy Days, and New Year's Celebrations In this episode of the Better German podcast, Susi Blümel explores the varied festivals and holidays celebrated in Austria, specifically Vienna, from autumn through to New Year. She paints a vivid picture of the beloved Christmas markets in Vienna, filled with art…

Basic Rules for Capitalization in German: What Words to Write with Big Letters In this episode, Susi covers the basic rules of capitalization in the German language. She explains which words are written with a big letter at the beginning and provides examples to help you understand the concept. If you've ever been puzzled by when to capitalize word…

Unleashing the Power of Subtitled German Movies: A Beginner's Path to Fluency In this episode we will explore the benefits of watching German movies and TV shows with subtitles as a tool to aid in learning the German language. This is great for both independent learners and students that are taking a course or classes. We will cover programs on Ama…

Summary In this episode of Better German, host Susi Blumel speaks about the festivals and holidays in the autumn and winter seasons. She discusses the public holidays in Austria, including the unique traditions of Allerheiligen (All Saint’s Day) and Matinstag (St. Martin’s Day). The episode also explores the interesting customs of Lantern-making, t…

Summary In this episode, Susi Blumel provides an audio version of a lesson from her beginner German course, covering a word list of objects commonly found in classrooms or offices. The purpose of the episode is to help listeners learn and practice the pronunciation of these words. Key Points Covered in the Episode: 1. Introduction to the word list …

Summary In this episode, Susi Blumel shares her 7 favourite tips for learning German. Whether you're following a German course or learning German through her podcast, these tips will enhance your learning experience and help you improve your German language skills. From finding a language partner to focusing on learning new words and practising the…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susi Blümel teaches German phrases around the themes of greeting and introducing. This episode, being the second part, does not dive into individual word meanings but provides translations and extra information on usage and context. Listeners can further use a downloadable PDF to practice t…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susi Blumel focuses on greetings and introducing oneself in German. She provides listeners with essential phrases and vocabulary to confidently say hello and introduce themselves. Susi also discusses the informal and formal forms of address in German and provides examples of how to use thes…

Episode: How Much Grammar - Introduction: Importance of speaking freely and not being overly corrected - Comparison of language learning experiences in German-speaking and English-speaking areas - Importance of learning words and suggested number of words for day-to-day language - Focus on sentence patterns for quick generation of correct sentences…

Summary Welcome to a new episode of Better German! In this episode, we will be exploring the fascinating world of sentence patterns in the German language. I, Susi Blümel, your host, will guide you through this episode, which is actually one of the earliest videos in our A1.1 course. We will focus on a specific sentence pattern, "That is _____," an…

Find the full show notes at: bettergerman.info/6 Find the PDF with a list of the words including their articles and the translation here. You can get access to all resources that are available for the podcast. I use my course platform, so it is called a "course". Looking for a place where you get support, can ask all the questions about German and …

Summary In this episode, Susi Blumel introduces the concept of articles in the German language. She explains the importance of understanding articles, particularly for nouns, and emphasizes the need to learn the gendered articles "der", "die", and "das" along with the nouns they accompany. She stresses the significance of this understanding in form…

Summary Welcome to Episode 4 of the Better German podcast! In today's episode, titled "Intro Lesson," our host Susi Blümel will dive into her unique approach to teaching German and why it's different from traditional methods. Originally a video, this episode is a summary of Susi's teaching style, providing you with valuable insights on how to effec…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susi discusses the reasons why learning German is beneficial. She emphasizes that while living in a German-speaking country may seem like an obvious reason, there are other factors to consider. Speaking German enables deeper communication with locals, enhances cultural experiences, and impr…

In this episode, Susi Blumel discusses key terms related to learning German. She emphasizes the importance of finding a course that suits your language needs and provides essential German vocabulary for beginners, including course-related terms, placement exams, curriculum and language levels. She also introduces key aspects of German grammar, such…

Summary In this episode of the Better German podcast, host Susi discusses the reasons why learning German is beneficial. She emphasizes that while living in a German-speaking country may seem like an obvious reason, there are other factors to consider. Speaking German enables deeper communication with locals, enhances cultural experiences, and impr…