In Kreuzberg: German for Beginners, Jan. 16 - Feb. 18



Learn fast and effective in a group at a pleasant location in Berlin-Kreuzberg.
* Ten lessons, 90 min. each, Mondays and Wednesdays,  for beginners in a group with max. 8 students.
* Learning material will be provided – some from books, some I will develop during the course based on the needs and interests of the students.
* You will speak German as early and as much as possible. You will improve your comprehension, your writing and reading skills.
* The course starts on Wednesday, January 16^th , and ends on Monday, February 18^th.
* Hours: There will be two classes
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
and
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
* Location: "Gudruns Kulturraum," Böckhstr. 40, Kreuzberg. (see images above)
The Price
* FIRST CLASS IS FREE
* 12 Euro per class, meaning 108 Euro for the remaining 9 classes, each 90 minutes (learning material included).
The Teacher:
My name is Bernd Hendricks. I am a writer and a German teacher with a teaching certificate DaF (German as Foreign Language). I returned from New York after 15 years to teach and tutor German in Berlin.
If you are interested, please contact Bernd at (030) 34 71 99 75 or at bernducha@gmail.com



Verbs: What You Can Say with the Prefix “be”

Verbs are usually seen as indispensable for creating a sentence. It doesn’t make much sense to have a couple of nouns hanging out with some adjectives and doing nothing. Only verbs can keep them busy. Who would have thought then that verbs represent only a pathetic minority. No more than two percent of the German vocabulary are verbs, only 900 to 1.000 words. However, the German language has a nice tool to make them look larger than life: the prefix, little guys consisting of two or three letters who can be attached to many verbs (or many verbs can be attached to them, depend on your viewpoint). There are only a dozen of them, but they can increase the meaning of a verb exponentially and quadruple the chance of a life-changing misunderstanding.
Don’t tinker with prefixes like an-, auf-, zu-, er-, ver-, emp-, ein-, aus-, ge- etc. unless you know exactly what you want to say.
With the verb fallen or example you can simply fall. With the prefix auf- , thus auffallen, you stand out, with ver- as in verfallen your talent declines, with ge- as in gefallen you will please.
Today, we are going to look at the prefix be-.
The prefix be- is especially treacherous because very often (not always) it does not change the meaning of the verb directly. A moment ago, staunen (to be astonished) was a nice, independent verb, only committed to the subject of the sentence, something that is capable of staunen, a human being or some animal. Now, with the prefix be- it needs an object, something to marvel at: Wir bestaunen das Brandenburger Tor.In many cases (not in all cases), the prefix be- changes an intransitive verb, a verb that does not have an object like leben (to live), into a transitive verb, a verb that needs an object, like beleben (to revive, to revitalize, to activate).
Other examples are...
- lügen (to lie) > belügen (to lie to someone): Das Volk belügt die Politiker (just kidding);
- zahlen (to pay) > bezahlen (to pay for something): Ich bezahle das Bier;
- urteilen (to judge, to pronounce a judgement) > beurteilen (to judge or to evaluate something or someone): Der Chef beurteilt meine Arbeit.
- lächeln (to smile) > belächeln (to smile at something or someone condescendingly): Die Diva belächelt den Fan.
Other verbs change their objects after they got aquainted with be-. The verb singen can stand alone, like the soprano on the stage: Sie singt. It can have an object, too: Sie singt das Lied (song).
With besingen however, she celebrates or praises something. She sings ein Lied von Schubert oder Madonna, but sie besingt die Liebe.
Other examples are...
- antworten (to answer a person, dative) > beantworten (to answer a letter, e-mail, twitter, questions etc.),
- schenken (to give something as a gift) > beschenken (to give a gift to a person),
- bauen (to build a building) > bebauen (to build a building on something, for instance, a piece of land),
- fahren (to drive a vehicle) > befahren > (to drive a vehicle on a street, alley, Autobahn etc.).
Sometimes, be- modifies the verb’s meaning:
- fragen (to ask a question) > befragen (to consult, to canvass, to interrogate, to survey)
- grüßen (to greet) > begrüßen (to welcome someone)- raten (to advice) > beraten (to consult)

Mo., March 12: Intensive Course German for Beginners

Together with my collegue Anja Rohde, I am offering an intensive course "German for beginners" in a small group and at a warm and friendly location in the center of Berlin-Kreuzberg.
The Course:
- 4 times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday), three hours (9 am – 12:15 p.m., including a 15minutes-break. Kitchen facilities available.)
- The course begins on Monday, March 12^th and ends on Wednesday, March 28^th , altogether 30 hours.
- Learning material will be provided – some from books, some we will develop during the course based on the needs and interests of the students.
- You will speak German as early and as much as possible. You will improve your comprehension, your writing and reading skills.
- Try out our FREE 90-minute introductory class on Wednesday, March 7^th at 9 a.m. before you decide to sign up.
The Teachers:
- Anja Rohde: Anthropologist and German teacher with a teaching certificate DaF (German as Foreign Language). Lived in France, England, Spain, Thailand and Ireland and knows what it means to learn a new language. Teaches German to individuals, groups and company staff in Berlin.
- Bernd Hendricks: Writer and German teacher with a teaching certificate DaF (German as Foreign Language). Returned from New York after 15 years of teaching and tutoring German to English speakers (groups and individuals, children and adults). Teaches German to individuals and groups in Berlin.
The Location:
"Gudruns Kulturraum," Böckhstr. 40, Kreuzberg (See the photo above)
The Price:
The course costs 290 Euro. (Learning material included, no text book purchase necessary.)
Bring a friend and both of you pay 270 Euro.
Bring two friends and all three of you pay 260 Euro.
If you are interested, please contact Bernd at (030) 34 71 99 75 or via e-mail bernducha@gmail.com

Das Gesicht brennt vor Kälte

This poem was written by my student Zareen S.
Its language is as clear as cold winter air.

Das Gesicht brennt vor Kälte
 Ich riskiere nicht, durch die Nase zu atmen.
Das Feld ist blendend weiss.
Der Schnee muss nicht hoch sein, um zu glitzern

Ein riesiger Himmel,
Babyblau bis farblos am Horizont.
Die Luft schmeckt wunderbar.
Die Gedanken sind so klar und so hell
Wie der Tag.

Meine Ohren genießen
Das Geräusch der Schritte auf dem Schnee.
Zuckerguss auf dem Rasen,
Jeder Fuß fühlt den Widerstand der Kruste.

Wir brechen das Eis
Und werfen Stück für Stück über den gefrorenen See.
Der Ruf eines Vogels
Hallt betörend schön über den See zurück.
Zareen S.

Gesichtspuzzle - German Class January 11

Johanna sent this photo of the face puzzle we did in our class last week.

Starting Mo., January 16: Course German for Beginners

On Monday, January 16^th I will start a new "Yorkville German Language Course" German for Beginners.
You will learn German in a fun and friendly atmosphere, and fast and effective in a group at a pleasant location in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The first class is free.
The Course:
* 10 lessons, twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, each 90 minutes for beginners in a group with max. 10 students.
* Learning material will be provided – some from books, some I will develop during the course based on the needs and interests of the students.
* You will speak German as early and as much as possible. You will improve your comprehension, your writing and reading skills.
* The course starts on Monday, January 16, and ends on Wednesday, February 15
* Hours: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
* Location: "Gudruns Kulturraum," Böckhstr. 40, Kreuzberg.The Price
* FIRST CLASS IS FREE
* 12 Euro per class, meaning 108 Euro for the remaining 9 classes, each 90 minutes (learning material included).

If you are interested, please contact me via email: bernducha@gmail.com

Rilke & Olympia

The following poem is by the poet Rainer Maria Rilke. He wrote it in 1902. It is called "Herbsttag", a day of autumn, and it describes our mood when the days are getting shorter and we are still hoping for some summer that might be left.

Olympia, a student of mine, loves Rilke, and inspired by "Herbsttag", using it as a template, she wrote her own poem, titled "Wintertag".
Here we go.

Herbsttag
Rainer Maria Rilke

Herr: es ist Zeit. Der Sommer war sehr groß.
Leg deinen Schatten auf die Sonnenuhren,
und auf den Fluren laß die Winde los.

Befiehl den letzten Früchten voll zu sein;
gib ihnen noch zwei südlichere Tage,
dränge sie zur Vollendung hin und jage
die letzte Süße in den schweren Wein.

Wer jetzt kein Haus hat, baut sich keines mehr.
Wer jetzt allein ist, wird es lange bleiben,
wird wachen, lesen, lange Briefe schreiben
und wird in den Alleen hin und her
unruhig wandern, wenn die Blätter treiben.

Wintertag
Olympia T.

Winter,
Sei kurz und milde
Und lass uns deine Schönheit genießen
Gib uns sonnige, schöne Tage
Sodass unsere Haut
Endorphine produzieren kann
Halt die Straßen offen und sauber
Sodass wir unsere Fahrräder
Benutzen können
Und schließlich:
Bereite dich gut vor
Auf den nächsten Frühling



Doch und krass und super – Particles and Intensifiers

At one point early in their studies, German students grow more and more irritated with certain words that stick in sentences without an obvious purpose. The word doch is one of them.
People say, "Trink doch!" when "Trink!" would do.
Du kannst doch um 10 Uhr zur Party kommen. Why not just um 10 Uhr? The party will be great without the doch.
Other words of this kind are:
etwa
Hast du etwa die Fenster geputzt?
denn
Wohin gehen wir denn?
bloß
Sag bloß, du willst wieder ins Berghain gehen?
These words have a main job with a real meaning (doch means but, etwa means approximately, denn means because), but here, they take a second job. Here, they belong to a group of words, called "die Partikel" (plural: die Partikeln).
A Partikel (yes, it means particle) is a word that does not change – no inflection, neither different genders nor different endings, no conjugations – sounds like utopia, doesn’t it? Most common are the prepositions (in, auf, an, über, neben etc.)
In many cases we use a particle to emphasize certain parts of the sentence. In the examples above, the words etwa, denn and bloß express surprise or astonishment or curiosity, and in the case of the Berghain-goer a hint of criticism.
The particle doch works as an intensifier. The person who encourages you to drink, really wants you to drink. The doch says, "Drink for Christ’s sake and don’t be shy".
There are many intensifiers. They show up when the speaker is excited. In the German grammar vocabulary they are called Intenistätspartikel which sounds like a neutrino running wild. The German language recruits intensifiers from all types of words. Many of them are adjectives in their normal lives.
unheimlich (creepy), here: incredible
unglaublich (unbelievable)
ungewöhnlich (unusual)
wahnsinnig (mad), here awsome, incredible
Stretch the a to a waaaahnsinnig and you say "incredibly incredible".
irre (mad, crazy), here: incredibly incredible
total (totally)
ausgesprochen (distinct)
Simple particles are at hand, when you don’t want to exaggerate too much:
sehr
ganz
ziemlich (rather)
Each young generation creates its own intensifiers.
Two or three years ago, the word "krass" (extreme) was popular among the young in Germany. The generation before favored "cool". The word "geil" (lecherous, horny) lasted almost a decade until the mid 1990s and was extensively used by youth and children alike to tell everybody how enchanted they were.
Most popular among English-speakers seem to be the familiar "super!" and, of course, the evergreen "wunderbar".

Starting Sept 12: German Course for Beginners (A1)*

Fun, friendly, intensive - learn German for Beginners in Berlin-Kreuzberg.
You will reach  level A1*
The "Yorkville German Language Course":
- 14 lessons, Mondays and Wednesdays, each 90 minutes for beginners in a group with max. 10 students.
Rate: EUR 12.00 per lesson.
- Learning material will be provided – some from books, some I will develop during the course based on the needs and interests of the students.
- You will speak German as early and as much as possible. You will improve your comprehension, your writing and reading skills.
- FIRST LESSON FREE!
- The course starts on Monday, September 12, and ends on Wednesday, October 26, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Location: "Gudruns Kulturraum", Böckhstr. 40, Kreuzberg.Call Bernd at (030) 34 71 99 75 or email bernducha@gmail.com

* A1 is a learning level according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages. After the course you will be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases, introduce yourself and others and ask and answer questions about personal details, interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly.

Starting Sept. 12: German Course for Advanced Beginners (A2)

Körnerpark, Neukölln





Do you experience that you can introduce yourself, describe your apartment, even tell what you did last week, but you wish to have a real conversation with your neighbor or your German friends?
Maybe you have to talk to your landlord or – worse! – with someone from the tax department? Or you have to go to the Ausländeramt to get a visa?Then you are an advanced beginner.
Starting September 12, 2011 I will be giving a course for advanced beginners (A2)*.
The "Yorkville German Language Course":
* 14 lessons, each 90 minutes for advanced beginners (A2) in a group with max. 10 students.
* Learning material will be provided – some from books, some I will develop during the course based on the needs and interests of the students.
* You will speak German as much as possible. You will improve your comprehension, your writing and reading skills.
* The classes are twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
* The course starts on Monday, September 12^th , and ends on Wednesday October 26^th
* Location: "Gudruns Kulturraum," Böckhstr. 40, Berlin-Kreuzberg.The Price
* FIRST CLASS IS FREE
* 12 Euro per class, meaning 156 Euro for the remaining 13 classes, each 90 minutes (learning material included).

For contact and registration call Bernd at (030) 34 71 99 75 or email bernducha@gmail.com
* The European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) describes the level A2 as following:
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.