Monday, March 1st, 2010
Dear readers,
Every time somebody asks me how many languages I speak, I struggle to say four, because I’m proficient in three languages, but German has always been a passion and a curse.
I took four years at Goethe Institute at my hometown in Brazil, graduated, but I can’t say I’m really proficient….
I’ve been to Germany twice, loved the country, used the language, but once I arrived in small cities, I quickly figured out that turning the menu upside down wouldn’t work…..looking at people’s plates and pointing worked better…..beer room temperature( and I hate beer) all for the sake of experiencing the country!!! Wunderbar!
Well, we decided to bring the passion back to our classroom and offer German for adults and children!
I’m really excited to be sharing my passion with you all!
Just some info to give you a little taste of basic Deutsch. Enjoy,
Claudia Krusch
Director
| Full Country Name : |
Federal Republic of Germany |
| Land Area : |
357 030 square kilometers |
| Population : |
approximately 82 million |
| Capital City : |
Berlin |
| Population of Berlin : |
approximately 3.45 million |
| Time Change : |
GMT/UTC +1 (+2 in the Summer) |
| Electricity : |
220V, 50 Hz |
| Units of Measurements : |
Metric System of Weights and Measures. |
General Information
| Currency |
Germay’s currency used to be Deutsche Mark (DM) but now it uses the Euro (€). The cost of most items in Germany is similar to the prices you would expect in North America. Cars and houses are cheaper in North America. Although major credit cards are widely accepted, you should always inquire. ATMs are readily available and you should not have any trouble accessing your accounts (as long as you have a four-digit PIN!). Foreign currency, including travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks and special exchange shops. Money exchanges are generally open from 6 am to 10 pm. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 1:00pm and 2:30pm to 4:00pm. On Thursdays they stay open until 6 pm. Main branches do not close for lunch. |
| Passports and Visas |
Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Japanese need only a valid passport and no visa for a stay of up to 3 months. Citizens of the European Union only need an official identity card. |
| Flying In and Out |
The main arrival/departure points for flights are Frankfurt-am-Main, Munich and Düsseldorf. Frankfurt is Europe ‘s busiest airport after Heathrow. If you are already in Europe, it’s generally (but not always) cheaper to get to Germany by train. |
| Language |
In larger towns the majority of people will be able to communicate with you in English. This said, it is important to at least to have a grasp of the basics of the native language wherever you travel. |
| Weather |
The most reliable weather is from May to October, but generally the climate is variable and it’s best to be prepared for all types. Check Today’s Weather. |
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Tags: Berlin Population, Capital City Berlin, Dear Readers, Federal Republic Of Germany, Goethe Institute, Good Evening, Hz Units, Informal Plural, Little Taste, Metric System, Population Of Berlin, Room Temperature, Sorry Excuse, Square Kilometers, System Of Weights, Three Languages, Time Change, Units Of Measurements, Victoria Canada, Weights And Measures
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