I bet you've done at least one of these. In this episode I walk through five mistakes German learners make all the time, from getting the construction behind "recht haben" right, to knowing when to use "wenn" and when to use "als", to the little contrast between "ich bin ..." and "mir ist ..." when you talk about how you feel. We'll also sort out "machen" versus "nehmen" and why fun "macht Spaß" rather than "ist Spaß". None of these are hard once you see what's going on, and fixing them makes a real difference to how natural your German sounds.

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Ordering an ice cream might sound simple, but in German-speaking countries it can be a surprisingly different experience. In this episode, Thomas explains how it all works, from reading the menu to ordering at the counter, along with the words and phrases you need to get your 'Eis' just right. You'll be ready for your next visit to an 'Eiscafé'.

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We've all been there: you're mid-sentence and the word just won't come. In this episode, Thomas shares the little phrases German speakers reach for when they're lost for words or need a second to think. Learn how to buy yourself time and keep a conversation flowing naturally.

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English gets by with one little word, after, but German has three: nach, nachdem and danach. In this episode, Thomas picks up where the 'before' episode left off and shows you when to use each one, along with während, the single German word for during. He finishes with some handy vocabulary for saying just, right and directly before or after something.

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➡️ Download the free practice exercises for this lesson here.

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Thomas explains how German handles the word "before". You'll see when to use "vor", "bevor" and "davor", with clear example sentences that show each one in context. By the end, you'll know exactly which word to reach for and when. Which one trips you up the most?

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Thomas introduces five beautifully untranslatable German words that capture feelings and experiences English needs a whole sentence to describe. From "Kopfkino" and "Fernweh" to the warm, hard-to-define "Geborgenheit", you'll discover what each word means, how to use it, and why German has words for ideas other languages don't. Which one is your favourite?

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Are you ready for a test? In this episode, Thomas presents 10 German words that look just like English words and challenges you to decide whether they share the same meaning or not. You'll pick up some new vocabulary and learn to avoid some surprisingly common misunderstandings.

➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode and access a free worksheet in the comments section.

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Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling.

Today, some regulars’ routines are unexpectedly changed.

Die Erzählerin beobachtet eine Mutter, die den Tisch abräumt, als Charlotte das Café betritt – und diesmal ist Heinz auch dabei. Selbst sein Hund Kerlchen kommt wedelnd hinterher. Erna erkennt sofort, dass dies ein besonderer Moment ist.

This last chapter of Scenes Season 2 is about new beginnings, shared moments, and sunny surprises.

Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. 

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Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling.

Today, Felix works his final shift before starting a new job.

Die Terrasse ist voll, die Sonne strahlt und Felix manövriert geschickt zwischen den Tischen. Erna behält alles im Blick und gibt kleine Anweisungen, während die Erzählerin Kuchen zu den Gästen bringt und zwei Jugendliche auf Rollschuhen vorbeisausen. Abschiede, Lachen und sommerliche Energie vermischen sich zu einem lebhaften Vormittag.

This chapter is about farewells, busy mornings, and enjoying the moment.

Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling.

Today, friendships are tested – and hearts are lightened.

Johanna betritt das Café Händchen haltend mit Nadine, und Erna ist sofort zur Stelle, um sie herzlich zu begrüßen. Die Erzählerin beobachtet die beiden verlegen kichernden Freundinnen, während die Sonne durch die Fenster fällt. Nach langer Zeit scheint alles wieder an seinen Platz zu rücken, und das Café erfüllt sich mit Lachen und Wärme.

This chapter is about friendship, joy, and unexpected happiness.

Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter.

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