Summer break is finally here! After months of hard work and dedication to learning German, you've achieved so much this year. Now it's time to take a well-deserved break and recharge your batteries. But here's the thing about language learning: taking a complete break can sometimes mean losing momentum or forgetting what you've worked so hard to build.

The good news? You don't have to choose between relaxation and language retention. With the right approach, you can keep your German skills sharp while still enjoying a refreshing summer pause.

Why Maintaining German During Summer Matters

When we take extended breaks from language learning, we risk what linguists call "language attrition" – the gradual loss of language skills due to lack of use. However, maintaining your German connection during summer doesn't mean intensive study sessions or grammar drills. Instead, it's about finding gentle, enjoyable ways to keep the language present in your daily life.

3 Effective Ways to Keep German in Your Summer

1️⃣ Weekly Sprachdate (Language Date)

One of the most effective and enjoyable ways to maintain your German is through regular conversation practice. A weekly Sprachdate – whether with a native speaker, fellow learner, or language exchange partner – keeps your speaking skills active without overwhelming your summer schedule.

Benefits of regular Sprachdates:

• Maintains conversational flow and confidence
• Provides accountability without pressure
• Allows you to practice in real-world contexts
• Can be combined with fun summer activities

Ideas for summer Sprachdates:

• Meet for coffee at a local café (einen Kaffee trinken)
• Take walks in nature while chatting (im Wald spazieren gehen)
• Have picnics in the park with German conversation
• Explore local German cultural events together

2️⃣ Label Your World in German

This simple yet powerful technique transforms your everyday environment into a German learning space. By labeling objects around your home, workspace, or daily route in German, you create constant, gentle exposure to the language.

How to implement this strategy:

• Use sticky notes to label household items
• Change your phone settings to German
• Write your grocery lists in German
• Think of German words for things you see during daily activities

This method works because it integrates German into your existing routines without requiring extra time or effort. Every time you see a label, you're reinforcing vocabulary and keeping German active in your mind.

3️⃣ Pair German with Fun and Relaxing Activities

The beauty of summer language maintenance lies in combining German with activities you already enjoy. This approach ensures that German becomes associated with pleasure and relaxation rather than work and stress.

Perfect summer combinations:

• Podcasts on walks: Listen to German podcasts while enjoying nature walks or exploring your neighborhood
• Comics in the sun: Read German comics or graphic novels while sunbathing or relaxing outdoors
• Music and outdoor activities: Create German playlists for beach days, hiking, or gardening
• German films for movie nights: Enjoy German cinema during cooler evening hours
• Cooking with German recipes: Try authentic German dishes while practicing food-related vocabulary

Finding Your German Community in Seattle

If you're in the Seattle metropolitan area, you don't have to maintain your German alone. Connecting with local German speakers and learners can provide both motivation and friendship during your summer break.

Join Our Local Community: Finding a Sprachpartner in the Seattle area has never been easier. Our online community is designed to help German learners and speakers connect for language exchange, cultural activities, and friendship. To join:

1. Sign up for our mailing list 
2. Receive your community link via email
3. Connect with local German speakers and learners
4. Arrange Sprachdates and group activities

Looking Ahead: Fall Restart and Community Events

While summer is about gentle maintenance and enjoyment, it's also good to have something to look forward to. Our structured classes will resume in September, providing the perfect opportunity to build on the foundation you've maintained during your summer break.

Mark Your Calendar: Our popular monthly Feierabend (after-work social) returns on September 24th at Good Society Beer. This casual gathering is perfect for practicing conversational German in a relaxed, social setting while enjoying great local beer and meeting fellow German enthusiasts.

Embrace Your Sommerpause

Remember, the goal isn't to make massive leaps in your German proficiency during summer break. Instead, it's about:

• Recharging your motivation for continued learning
• Maintaining the connection you've built with the language
• Enjoying German as part of your leisure time
• Building sustainable habits that support long-term success

Take time to lie on paddle boards and gaze at the sky (in den Himmel schauen), enjoy coffee alone or with a Sprachpartner, and take peaceful walks in the forest. These moments of relaxation, when combined with gentle German practice, create the perfect balance for a rejuvenating yet productive summer break.

Your Summer German Action Plan

1. This week: Find a Sprachpartner or commit to weekly practice sessions
2. Label 5-10 items in your home with German words
3. Choose one enjoyable activity to pair with German (podcasts, comics, music)
4. Join our community if you're in the Seattle area
5. Set a gentle routine that feels sustainable and fun

Enjoy your summer, embrace the pause, and remember – even small, consistent connections with German will keep your skills warm and ready for your fall restart.

Schöne Sommerferien! 

Ready to connect with German speakers in Seattle? Sign up for our mailing list to join our community and never miss updates about classes, events, and Sprachdate opportunities.

Before we headed into our summer break, we closed out the season with one last monthly gathering, our Sommerfest im Park. We met at Whale Tail Park in West Seattle where sunshine, conversation, and community came together in the best way.

We shared a picnic, played a surprisingly competitive game of Kubb, and listened to a short presentation in German about non-alcoholic beer, complete with a map, interesting facts, and even a little taste test. As always, a mix of familiar and new faces joined us, and together we created a relaxed and welcoming space to speak, listen, and laugh.

Moments like these remind us that learning a language is not just about grammar or vocabulary. It is about connection. It is about hearing German outside of class, using it in real conversations, and feeling part of something meaningful.

Thank you to everyone who came. We are already looking forward to more shared moments in the fall.

We’re going to the movies — and you’re invited!

On May 23 at 6:00 PM, join us for a screening of the German documentary John Cranko at SIFF Cinema Downtown. The film is in German with English subtitles and tells the story of one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century.

Film: John Cranko
Location: SIFF Cinema Downtown
Time: Friday, May 23 at 6 PM
Duration: 135 minutes
Language: German with English subtitles

Win Free Tickets

We’re giving away two free tickets to this screening!
To enter, write me an email and reply “Ich bin dabei” by Sunday, May 4.

Everyone who enters will receive a $3 discount code, even if they don’t win.
Winners and discount codes will be announced on Wednesday, May 7.

Want to hear about possible pre-movie plans?
 Join the mailing list to stay in the loop and get invites to future events.

A huge Danke schön to Seattle Opera for inviting my German learners to experience Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte" (The Magic Flute) this past Sunday! It was a wonderful opportunity for our class to enjoy this masterpiece in its original German language, complete with enriching educational components tailored to language learners.

The event featured a pre-performance talk in German that provided valuable context about the opera and Mozart's work. Following the show, we were treated to a special Q&A session with a German-speaking opera singer, allowing students to practice their language skills in a real-world cultural context.

Since our German classes typically meet online, this outing created a valuable opportunity for students to connect in person. Sharing this artistic experience together strengthened our sense of community while deepening our appreciation for German language and culture.

I was so thoroughly caught up in the moment—engaged with the performance and enjoying our group's interactions—that I completely forgot to document the experience with photos. Fortunately, I did manage to capture one image on our way into the theater.

This special event perfectly embodied what language learning is truly about: not just studying vocabulary and grammar, but experiencing the living culture behind the language.

Our courses at Seattle Speaks German are designed to equip you with practical language skills tailored for travelers.

In Beginner Level 1, you'll learn to introduce yourself and ask basic questions, essential for initial interactions upon arrival. Progressing to Beginner Level 2, we focus on ordering food and drinks, ensuring you can confidently navigate cafés and restaurants. By Beginner Level 3, you'll be able to tell time and discuss famous sights, enriching your sightseeing experiences. In Beginner Level 4, we cover asking for directions within buildings, helping you find your way in museums or hotels. Advancing to Beginner Level 5, you'll learn to express preferences and make purchases, useful for shopping excursions. Beginner Level 6 focuses on discussing daily routines and schedules, aiding in planning your travel itinerary. Finally, in Beginner Level 7, you'll be equipped to talk about future plans and travel arrangements, facilitating smoother logistics during your journey. Want to be travel-ready? Our German courses help you build practical communication skills for your trip. Check out our course offerings here and find the right level for you!

One of our students recently traveled to Austria and was thrilled to receive compliments on her German! These moments show how even a little practice can make a big difference in your travel experience. Of course, the best source for travel recommendations is our Seattle German learning community—many of our students are frequent travelers and love to share their experiences! If you're looking for insider tips, you're in the right place.

For official travel guides, check out these websites:

• Berlin Tourism

• Vienna Tourism

• Bern Tourism

No matter where you start—Seattle or beyond—your German skills will help you feel at home in Berlin, Vienna, or Bern. Happy travels!

Dive into contemporary German culture with our Spotify playlist (see below)! This collection features all 25 tracks from our 2024 Advent Calendar, showcasing modern German music released within the past year. Spanning a variety of genres—from pop and hip hop to punk and beyond—these songs highlight the creativity and energy of today’s German music scene. If you're learning German, use the lyrics to practice your listening skills or expand your vocabulary—music is a fun and effective way to learn! Many of the tracks also have music videos available on YouTube. Tune in and explore the sounds shaping Germany right now!

Spotify Playlist 2024 

I'm thrilled to announce an exciting enhancement to our German online classes: Office Hours, now integrated with our new online community platform! This feature is designed to provide additional support and foster a sense of community among our students.

What are Office Hours?

Office Hours is a weekly meeting where participants of our group courses can connect with their instructor outside of regular class time. This service offers a valuable opportunity to address individual concerns, catch up on missed material, or simply engage in casual conversation in German.

When and Where?

Office Hours will be held every Tuesday from 10:45 PM to 11:30 PM. These sessions will take place via our new online community platform, making it easier than ever to participate and interact with your peers and instructor.

How to Participate

Joining Office Hours is simple and convenient:

1. Log in to our new online community platform
2. Navigate to the "Office Hours" section
3. RSVP for the upcoming session
4. Receive an automated reminder with a direct link to join

By RSVPing, you'll help instructors prepare for the session and ensure a smooth experience for all participants.

What can you use Office Hours for?

• Homework assistance: Get clarification on assignments or extra help with challenging topics
• Catch-up sessions: If you've missed a class, use this time to review key points and stay on track
• General questions: Discuss any language-related queries or cultural topics that interest you
• Casual conversation: Simply drop in to say hello

Community Benefits

Our new online community platform not only streamlines the Office Hours process but also allows you to:

• Connect with fellow students
• Share resources and study tips
• Join other community events (Monthly Meetup, Bookclub)

I believe this new feature, combined with our online community platform, will significantly enhance your learning experience by providing personalized attention, fostering peer connections, and offering additional opportunities to practice and improve your German skills. We encourage all students to take advantage of this valuable resource. If you have any questions about Office Hours or our new online community platform, please don't hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing you in class and during Office Hours on our new community platform!

I played, paddled, hiked, visited museums and exhibitions, ate, drank and slept. I'm ready again to hustle to help you speak authentic German with confidence! How about you? What have you been doing? What places have you visited? I can't wait to hear what you've been up to.

Here is a little summary of my summer adventures.

There has been a lot going on behind the scenes at Seattle Speaks German and I would like to tell you about it.

I'm excited to let you know that I've found another German teacher! Yay! Katie will offer a new online group course. She has been teaching German in Seattle public high schools since 2009 and has a bachelor degree in German and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She is looking forward to connect you with the German language for real-life situations. You can read more about Katie's education and favorite leisure-time activities in Seattle here. She will offer a new course for the intermediate level. She will work with the same textbook Das Leben A2. You can read more about the content of the course here.