Do you really know how many tenses you use when speaking your first language?

Our analysis might surprise you – and help you with your English.

Learners who take risks when speaking English may make better progress than those who play it safe.

But ignoring grammar can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

Let’s take the example of speaking about the future. Nothing can possibly go wrong here – or can it?

Tenses in English - Wikipedia

Get a brief overview about how tenses are used in English

Sporting metaphors permeate the English language.

In this podcast you can learn about level playing fields, curveballs and sticky wickets.

And do you know what a rain check is? Check it out.

—- New Year’s Special —-

Hear how people in Canada, Ireland, the USA and UK see in the New Year.

There’s talk of socials, resolutions, firecrackers… and about a famous British dinner party that only Germans really care about.

Wikipedia article about \'Dinner for One\'

Wikipedia holds interesting background information about Germany\'s famous New Year\'s tradition

Wikipedia article about Guy Fawkes Night

\'Remember, remember the fifth of November!\' - Find out the origins of this famous saying

List of objects dropped on New Year\'s Eve

Many cities and towns in the United States drop objects on New Year\'s Eve - Check \'em out at Wikipedia

The original \"Dinner for One\"

Watch the original on YouTube.

—- Christmas Special —-

After we received feedback asking for longer RoPeCast episodes, we thought the forthcoming holidays were the right occasion for spending a little bit more time listening to our show.

This time we present traditions and peculiarities of Christmas in the English speaking world. Tune in and learn how our guests from many different countries spend their Christmas holidays.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas worldwide - Wikipedia Entry

Find out how people all around the world celebrate christmas

Christmas Carols

Following this link, you can listen to many of the carols mentioned in the episode

\"Merry Christmas\" in more than 50 languages

Here you can explore how people all around the globe congratulate each other

\"Merry Christmas Mr. Bean\"

See how Mr. Bean spends the holidays (Youtube)

When people in many parts of the world speak of the “World Cup”, they are probably referring to the game of soccer, but rugby also has its World Cup, Six Nations’ Trophy, and other competitions.

So what exactly is this game that – to outsiders – looks as though there are no rules?

Rugby Union Portal at Wikipedia

Check out what information Wikipedia has to offer about rugby union.

Wikipedia Article about rugby league

Rugby league is another very popular rugby code, most popular in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and France.

Do you know how many types of football there are in the world?

There may be no definitive answer, but we’ll deal with 3 major sports: American football, soccer and rugby football, taking in hockey and cricket along the way.

Wikipedia Article about Sport in Britain

Check out what the Brits like to play for sports

Wikipedia Article about Sports in the U.S.

And here you can find the fab sports in the United States

Mondegreens are misheard song lyrics and they range from the amusing to the mind-boggling.

This RoPeCast manages to bring together Jimi Hendrix and Anneliese Braun.

After listening, you’ll want to start your own collection of mondegreens.

Wikipedia article about Mondegreens

Get detailed information about the term Mondegreen and more examples at Wikipedia

It is well known that German (like many other languages) has borrowed words from English. Less well known is the fact that words have also travelled in the opposite direction, with sometimes surprising results.

more loanwords

See this list at Wikipedia for some more instances and examples of German expressions in English

Did you know that even reputable companies sometimes get it wrong when choosing a name for a new product or service?

Hear how Germans thought that Rolls Royce was offering them garbage in the 1930s, and how “Nova” was not the best name for a car.

Marketing Translation Mistakes

take a look at this website to delve into more brand name blunders

Markenflops

and here you can find even more marketing mistakes (in german)