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.

Some learners spend a lot of time memorising vocabulary lists but never use those words in conversation. Others dive into speaking but never pause to learn the grammar that helps them build sentences correctly. And some get stuck in endless exercises without ever stepping into the real world with their German even though they might be surrounded by German speakers every day!

Just like the equinox, language learning calls for balance:

• Learn new things - grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation.

• Practise them in safe spaces - exercises, apps, lessons.

• Apply them in the real world - conversations, emails, speaking up in meetings.

  
  

When one side takes over completely, things feel lopsided.

Too much theory without practice? You’ll hesitate when you need to speak.

Too much speaking without correcting mistakes? You’ll keep repeating the same errors.

The equinox won’t last long - the balance shifts again - and I think that’s the beauty of it. Balance is not a one-time achievement. It’s something we keep adjusting as we go, depending on many things - the phase of our life, the energy levels on a particular day, any events that have happened and that affect you short-term or long-term.

So as September slowly comes to an end, take a moment to look at your own German journey.

Where are you leaning too heavily? What small shift could bring you back into balance?

Your German doesn’t need perfection.

It needs steady steps in all directions and the awareness to keep finding your balance along the way. Enjoy the process!