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How to Keep Learning German When You Are Mentally Done With the Year
November always arrives with a noticeable shift. I hear it in many of my learners' voices in our lessons. The daylight fades earlier, the days are getting darker, the air cools.
Our bodies and minds are looking to slow down, but to make things tougher, I notice each year that in many learners' jobs things are getting particularly busy in the last weeks of the year.
And your German learning is stuck somewhere in between those two opposites.
What should you do?

Birte Harring
Nov 203 min read


Do you see lots of apples on this image? Look again!
Do you see lots of apples on this image? Look again!
Some people might see loads of apples 🍏🍏🍏 in this image.... I see (or rather: hear) podcasts! 😄
How?...

Birte Harring
Oct 202 min read


Finding Balance in German: Lessons from the September Equinox
I love September because it is a month of balance. The autumn equinox arrives and for a brief moment, day and night are perfectly equal. After that, the evenings slowly grow longer, the mornings a little darker and we feel the shift into autumn and winter.
It’s a good reminder that balance is not something fixed but something we constantly adjust.
The same is true when learning German...

Birte Harring
Sep 232 min read


Sunflowers and German: Always Turning Towards the Light
I recently visited a sunflower field near me, and it was beautiful: rows of tall yellow blooms all facing the sun (but can you spot a 'funny looking sunflower' among them all, too? :-) And as I stood there, I realised how much we can actually learn from sunflowers about our journey with German.
Sunflowers are always turning towards the light. They don’t waste energy twisting back to the shade. They move forward, day after day, following what nourishes them...

Birte Harring
Aug 212 min read


From Caterpillar to Butterfly: Your German Learning Transformation This Summer
My last few weeks have been FULL of butterflies - I have spotted them on walks and have tried to identify the species. They have kept us company during our lunch breaks in the garden, too - do you like the one I took this image of? It's a gate keeper (German "Torwächter" or "Braunes Ochsenauge").
If you’ve ever watched a butterfly transform, you know it doesn’t happen overnight.
Seeing all the butterflies made me think about the different stages they go through throughout

Birte Harring
Jul 183 min read


Halfway Through the Year: Are You Where You Wanted to Be With Your German?
Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2025?
June the perfect time to check in with yourself, not in a dramatic, New Year’s resolution kind of way, but just a gentle pause to reflect:
Am I where I wanted to be with my German by now?
I always think June is the best month to pause, rest, breathe and reset.
Here’s a simple mid-year check-in:...

Birte Harring
Jun 253 min read


Is German Really That Hard? Or Are We Just Approaching It the Wrong Way?
Is German Really That Hard? Or Are We Just Approaching It the Wrong Way?
“German is hard.”
I hear this all the time.
And I get it.
When you're faced with words like Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung or trying to figure out why the word for “girl” (Mädchen) is neuter, it’s easy to throw your hands up.
But let me tell you:
German isn't impossible. It might not even be as hard as you think. What makes it feel difficult is often not the language itself, but how we approach learn

Birte Harring
May 213 min read


Learn – Practise – Apply: The 3-Part Cycle Most Learners Don't Complete
Learn – Practice – Apply:
The 3-Part Cycle Most Learners Don't Complete
Most new learners who get in touch with me know that they are stuck - but what they don't realise is that they are stuck somewhere in this 3-part cycle.
Let me introduce you to the Better German method:
Learn – Practise – Apply
Each stage supports the others. And if one is missing? That’s when learners hit a wall.

Birte Harring
Apr 233 min read


The Easy Choice Today Makes German Harder Tomorrow
"I can get by using English."
"I am not ready to speak German yet. I'll wait."
"German grammar is hard."
Sound familiar?
You're not alone...

Birte Harring
Mar 272 min read


Making Time for German Isn’t About More Time, It’s About Making Time Work for You
The most common complaint I hear from my German learners?
“I don’t have time.”
But what if the real issue isn’t that you don’t have enough..

Birte Harring
Feb 254 min read


January: Embracing “Aller Anfang ist schwer” with a Little Help from the Hive!
I've got good news: starting doesn’t have to be that hard. And we’re here to make it easier for you. Yeay!

Birte Harring
Jan 213 min read


Stay Consistent This Christmas: Make Language Learning Your New Christmas Break Tradition
But here’s a thought: what if, instead of letting your German learning take a holiday, you made it part of your Christmas break traditions?

Birte Harring
Dec 16, 20243 min read


How Small Steps Lead to Big Gains in German
Learning a language like German can seem daunting at times. There’s so much to remember, from grammar rules and vocabulary lists to...

Birte Harring
Oct 25, 20244 min read


The Challenges of Learning German and the Power of Community
Learning German can feel like climbing a mountain. With complex grammar, long compound words, and tricky pronunciation, it’s no wonder...
Birte Harring
Sep 14, 20243 min read


Why You Should Give German Podcasts a Go
Here's why you should consider listening to German podcasts a part of your language learning journey.

Birte Harring
Mar 11, 20243 min read


Improve your German at Home: Your Guide to Seamless Learning
The key to success is to make these little habits part of your routine, and you’ll never look back!

Birte Harring
Jan 23, 20243 min read


20 lessons I’ve learnt from 20 years in the UK
So, here’s my round-up of 20 lessons learnt from 20 years in the UK.

Birte Harring
Dec 1, 20232 min read


The Multilingual Advantage: Why Learning German Opens Doors in the Business World
In this blog, we will explore the many advantages of adding German to your language repertoire and how it can benefit your career and busine

Birte Harring
Oct 30, 20233 min read


Accelerate Your German Learning with Better German's SCARF Model Approach
Better German's incorporation of the SCARF model offers a holistic german language learning approach.

Birte Harring
Sep 6, 20233 min read


Unlocking Opportunities: Why Should You Learn German?
So, why should you learn German? Buckle up, as we explore the compelling reasons to add "Deutsch" to your skillset, with a sprinkle of humou

Birte Harring
Aug 5, 20233 min read
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