Understanding is the KEY to communication

Stressed?

Germlish: That was stressing.

What you want to say = That was stressful

You have stress. You are stressed. Something is stressful

It's good to know another language

 

It's to your advantage to know another langauge.

A or An?

A story of A bear in A zoo.

Vor Wörten, deren  gesprochene Form nicht mit einem Vokal anfängt, hat der unbestimmte Artikel die Form A

An animal walked through An open door.

Vor Wörten, deren Aussprache mit einem Vokal beginnt und (wichtig!)als Vokale gesprochen werden, hat der unbestimmte Artikel die Form AN

a, e, i, o, u = vowels

a banana but an apple

BUT

Wörter wo ein Vokal beginnt, der als Vokal gesprochen wird, lautet der unbestimmte Artikel A

a European
a university
a US citizen
a union

An Exercise

Funny English Translations

On board a sightseeing ship in the Baltic Sea.

You can buy a BASECAP! What they mean is a BASEBALL cap.

In a chair or on a chair?

in einem Sessel sitzen = IN a chair

auf einem Stuhl sitzen = ON a chair

Self-confidence is the magic!

So, you think your English isn't good enough ... ? You want to improve your English language skills?

Well, there is no magic.

Here is what you need:

1. Self-confidence - yes I can and I believe it!

2. Practice and more practice

3. More practice

4. Just do it! "Learn (improve) by doing"

5. Except that not a single person can speak their native language perfectly.

6. Understand and accept that effective communication (understanding each other) is the key, the goal; not perfection.

 It is NOT about the grammar!

The Power of Words

Present Perfect

 Germlish = I work here since 2005.

 What you want to say: I have worked here since 2005.

 ______________________________________________

Verwendung des Present Perfect

• Vorgänge/Zustände begannen in der Vergangenheit und dauern bis in die Gegenwart an

    Bespiel: I have worked here (at this company) since 1999.

• das Ergebnis wird betont
  Beispiel: She has written many letters today.
  
  
• bis in Gegenwart dauernde Handlung
  Beispiel: The project has not started yet.
  
  
• eben abgeschlossene Handlung
  Beispiel: He has finished the report.
  
  
• abgeschlossene Handlung mit Einfluss auf die Gegenwart
  Beispiel: I have lost my data!
  
  
• bis zum Zeitpunkt des Sprechens nie, 1× oder mehrmals stattgefundene Handlung
  Beispiel: Have you ever been to the USA?

Signalwörter des Present Perfect

• already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
• since & for

Loan Words are FUN

 Germlish = Can you borrow me a pen, please?

What you want to say: Can I borrow a pen (from you) OR Can you lend/loan me a pen?

 Borrow something FROM someone

Lend/loan something TO someone


There are many words that the English language has borrowed from German. These are called loan words.

This funny short video by The German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn looks at some of these loan words.

The Ipad

The Ipad or is it a cutting board ... das Schneidbrett

in Scheiben schneiden - to slice 

Mitarbeitergespräch

I recently received an email saying: " I cannot attend the training because I have my MAG."

What the heck is MAG?

I now know that in this particular company the abbreviation MAG means MitArbeiterGespräch. However, NOT everyone knows this!

TIP: Try not to use uncommon abbreviations.

One translation of Mitarbeitergespräch =  performance review

Denglish at work .... What you have to deal with

Denglish is not Germlish.

Funny, funny, funny

Germlish = I had a funny time at the party.

What you want to say: I had a fun time at the party.

This video is funny!

Dolmetscher = interpreter

Übersetzer = translator

Meeting and Appointments: The Venue

 Germlish = I have a date with my dentist.

What you want to say: I have an appointment with my dentist.

absence – Abwesenheit
agenda – Agenda
any other business – Verschiedenes
appointment – Termin
arrange – vereinbaren
attend – teilnehmen
beverages – Getränke
bring forward – vorverlegen
cancel – absagen
chairman – Vorsitzender
conference room – Konferenzraum
confirm – bestätigen
delay – vespäten
demonstrate – demonstrieren
demonstration – Demonstration
handout – Informationsblatt
invite – einladen
items – Tagesordnungspunkte
location – Ort
minutes – Protokoll
organise – organisieren
participant – Teilnehmer/in
postpone – verschieben
presentation – Präsentation
projector – Beamer
refreshments – Erfrischungen
review – Rückblick
secretary – Assistent(in)
summarise – zusammenfassen
summary – Zusammenfassung
venue – Tagungsort

Countries and Nationalites: A Short List

 Germlish = The Greece people.

 What you want to say: The Greeks.


country – nationality

Great Britain – British
France – French
Spain – Spanish
Portugal – Portuguese
Italy – Italian
Germany – German
Denmark – Danish
Belgium – Belgian
Netherlands – Dutch
Poland – Polish
Hungary – Hungarian
Czech Republic – Czech
Romania – Romanian
Bulgaria – Bulgarian
Russia – Russian
Austria – Austrian
Ireland – Irish
Turkey – Turkish
USA/America – American
Canada – Canadian
Brazil – Brazilian
Australia – Australian
New Zealand – New Zealander
Thailand – Thai
Japan – Japanese
China – Chinese
India – Indian
Greece - Greek

How to pronounce rationale & rational

rationale = /ˌraSHəˈnal/    *Click on the links to hear the words

rational =  rash-uh-nl, rash-nl

der Blitzer

You love those speed cameras, don't you. If you get your picture taken along with your license plate number, you'll be sent a ticket in the mail. You got CAUGHT!  Now you have a fine to pay.

speed camera = der Blitzer

to take a picture = ein Foto machen

license plate = Kennzeichenschild

(speeding) ticket = Strafzettel

(to pay) a fine = Bußgeld, Geldstrafe

catch, caught, caught

impersonator = der (Blitzer) Imitator

By http://www.nimportequi.com

Germlish is BACK!

Fish and Fishes

A funny easy joke

What do you call a fish without an eye?

A "fsh!"

 _______________

Fish is one of those words that is both singular and plural.

Ex: I caught five fish.

But we can use fishes when we are talking about different species.

Ex: There are many fishes in a pet store OR There are many types (species) of fish in the pet store.


A fish and a cat

Black Ice

Blitzeis = black ice

Glatteis = black ice

Be careful! Ice is slippery.