berlin-experience

berlin-experiencehttp://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/Would you like to spend some time in Berlin, in order to improve your German? We offer familiy homestays with one-to-one private German lessons. Taylor-made to match your requirements and highly effective. Stay in your teacher's home, find out how Germans really are and have an awesome time in Germany's capital. berlin-experience@web.deen-EUhourly82000-01-01T12:00+00:00berlin-experiencehttp://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/90/8151044c8f85bd46195db7c314b031_160x200.jpgHow do you choose the right family for me?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/21/how-do-you-choose-the-right-family-for-me-4758170/2008-09-21T16:25:28+02:00 We live in a network of teacher families who are interested in accomodating and teaching foreign students. Sometimes the capacities of our families are fully booked, or we find that a student would rather fit into another family with children of similar ages and/or interests. Anyhow, we will send you detailed information on your family after your booking. You then have one week time to accept or refuse our proposal. All families we recommend, are well known to us. We check guest rooms and the family atmosphere. Only those host families are proposed to you who fulfill the following standards: <ul> <li>well educated family, with mother or father being a German teacher</li> <li>nice flat or house, offering a tidy and cosy guest room</li> <li>friendly family atmosphere offering you a warm welcome - as if you were part of the family</li> <li>the relationship towards your host family is based upon trust. You will receive a lot of attention. Therefore you should respect the family and their property.</li> <li>We choose teachers who love their job. They are enthusiastic about accompanying your process of learning German.</li> <li>Our teachers use modern teaching material, making use of multimedia, papers, books or whatever seems hepful teaching you the language.</li> <li>Private lessons include individual speed and contents. Bring your books from school or university and we work together on those tricky subjects.</li> </ul> <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/21/how-do-you-choose-the-right-family-for-me-4758170/#comments">Comments</a> We live in a network of teacher families who are interested in accomodating and teaching foreign students. Sometimes the capacities of our families are fully booked, or we find that a student would rather fit into another family with children of similar ages and/or interests.

Anyhow, we will send you detailed information on your family after your booking. You then have one week time to accept or refuse our proposal.

All families we recommend, are well known to us. We check guest rooms and the family atmosphere. Only those host families are proposed to you who fulfill the following standards:

well educated family, with mother or father being a German teacher
nice flat or house, offering a tidy and cosy guest room
friendly family atmosphere offering you a warm welcome - as if you were part of the family
the relationship towards your host family is based upon trust. You will receive a lot of attention. Therefore you should respect the family and their property.
We choose teachers who love their job. They are enthusiastic about accompanying your process of learning German.
Our teachers use modern teaching material, making use of multimedia, papers, books or whatever seems hepful teaching you the language.
Private lessons include individual speed and contents. Bring your books from school or university and we work together on those tricky subjects.

Comments

]]>Can I bring a friend?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/21/can-i-bring-a-friend-4758067/2008-09-21T16:01:14+02:00 Most times young people come alone and stay with us in our family. But our guest room is large and we actually have two beds and enough space to accomodate two people together. If you bring a friend or a spouse, you can spend your spare time together. But always bear in mind that you don't improve your German while you communicate in your mother tongue. But we have a good idea. We are willing to accept two boys or two girls from different countries at the same time. Each of you pays a little less (for sharing bedroom, bathroom and German lessons) and you can discover Berlin together during your spare time. Both of you will participate the German lessons in the morning, thus teaching will become more lively, but sometimes you will work quietly while I explain something to the other student, you might already know. If you are interested in sharing your homestay with someone from a different country, then let us know and we will try and match your request. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/21/can-i-bring-a-friend-4758067/#comments">Comments</a> Most times young people come alone and stay with us in our family. But our guest room is large and we actually have two beds and enough space to accomodate two people together. If you bring a friend or a spouse, you can spend your spare time together. But always bear in mind that you don't improve your German while you communicate in your mother tongue.

But we have a good idea. We are willing to accept two boys or two girls from different countries at the same time. Each of you pays a little less (for sharing bedroom, bathroom and German lessons) and you can discover Berlin together during your spare time. Both of you will participate the German lessons in the morning, thus teaching will become more lively, but sometimes you will work quietly while I explain something to the other student, you might already know.

If you are interested in sharing your homestay with someone from a different country, then let us know and we will try and match your request.

Comments

]]>How will we communicate?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-will-we-communicate-4704238/2008-09-09T17:00:48+02:00 Students who come and visit us in Berlin usually come to learn German. So, of course, we speak German together. But as you can read here, we also speak some English. In emergencies I also understand French, but my capacities are very basic. You'll be surprised, how quickly you pick up everyday German. After one week, you'll be able to understand even children chattering away. And speaking gets easy as soon as you stop beeing ashamed of it. You propably find dozens of mistakes in my texts here. Do you still understand me? (Anyway, I would be happy if someone corrected me...). <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-will-we-communicate-4704238/#comments">Comments</a> Students who come and visit us in Berlin usually come to learn German. So, of course, we speak German together. But as you can read here, we also speak some English. In emergencies I also understand French, but my capacities are very basic.

You'll be surprised, how quickly you pick up everyday German. After one week, you'll be able to understand even children chattering away. And speaking gets easy as soon as you stop beeing ashamed of it.

You propably find dozens of mistakes in my texts here. Do you still understand me? (Anyway, I would be happy if someone corrected me...).

Comments

]]>What standard of living can I expect at your family in Berlin?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/what-standard-of-living-can-i-expect-at-your-family-in-berlin-4703138/2008-09-09T12:58:35+02:00 We are a priviledged family living in a modern and spacious detached house. There is a nice garden around the house and a big terrace. In summer we sometimes make a barbecue or an open fire in the evenings. Our house consists of 5 bedrooms and a large lounge with a piano. We also have a guitar and alway enjoy if someone makes music. Both parents, my husband and I, have studied at university. So we have a large library in our home. Some books are kept in your bedroom - so you woun't get bored. The furniture is modern and tidy, once a week the house is being cleaned. We put a stress on healthy food. So we cook with lots of vegies and fruit. If you have any dislikes - just let us know, we can always find a nice dish to please you. You will have your own private bathroom with a shower and a window. There is always enough hot water. We provide towels, a bathrobe and a hair dryer for you. And, of course, there is a nice, clean and cosy bed waiting for you in your room. Some of our guests really admire the "Wäscheabwurfschacht" in the bathrooms: It is a tube to throw in your dirty washing; it lands downstairs by the washing machine. As I always have a lot of laundry to do, it is no problem to wash your things with the family laundry. Any more questions? Don't hesitate and ask me. <a href="mailto:berlin-experience@web.de">berlin-experience@web.de</a> <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/what-standard-of-living-can-i-expect-at-your-family-in-berlin-4703138/#comments">Comments</a> We are a priviledged family living in a modern and spacious detached house. There is a nice garden around the house and a big terrace. In summer we sometimes make a barbecue or an open fire in the evenings.
Our house consists of 5 bedrooms and a large lounge with a piano. We also have a guitar and alway enjoy if someone makes music.
Both parents, my husband and I, have studied at university. So we have a large library in our home. Some books are kept in your bedroom - so you woun't get bored.

The furniture is modern and tidy, once a week the house is being cleaned.

We put a stress on healthy food. So we cook with lots of vegies and fruit. If you have any dislikes - just let us know, we can always find a nice dish to please you.

You will have your own private bathroom with a shower and a window. There is always enough hot water. We provide towels, a bathrobe and a hair dryer for you. And, of course, there is a nice, clean and cosy bed waiting for you in your room.

Some of our guests really admire the "Wäscheabwurfschacht" in the bathrooms: It is a tube to throw in your dirty washing; it lands downstairs by the washing machine. As I always have a lot of laundry to do, it is no problem to wash your things with the family laundry.

Any more questions? Don't hesitate and ask me.

berlin-experience@web.de

Comments

]]>How do I apply for a homestay in Berlin?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-do-i-apply-for-a-homestay-in-berlin-4703062/2008-09-09T12:39:59+02:00 If you are interested in coming to stay with us in Berlin, we will ask you to fill in a form. We need to know, whether you are healthy or need anything special (food, allergies, ect.) We will also ask you to send us a picture of you and to write a little letter in German. You will arrange your flight by yourself. We will welcome you at home or pick you up from the airport, depending on what you prefer. Before travelling to Berlin you should contract a travel health and accident insurance for your stay abroad. Further details on pricing will follow soon. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-do-i-apply-for-a-homestay-in-berlin-4703062/#comments">Comments</a> If you are interested in coming to stay with us in Berlin, we will ask you to fill in a form. We need to know, whether you are healthy or need anything special (food, allergies, ect.) We will also ask you to send us a picture of you and to write a little letter in German.

You will arrange your flight by yourself. We will welcome you at home or pick you up from the airport, depending on what you prefer. Before travelling to Berlin you should contract a travel health and accident insurance for your stay abroad.

Further details on pricing will follow soon.

Comments

]]>Will my daughter or son be safe in Berlin?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/will-my-daughter-or-son-be-safe-in-berlin-4703029/2008-09-09T12:29:56+02:00 As we have children ourselves we know parent's worries! Usually, our students arrive by plane in Berlin Tegel (TXL). Students, 18 and older, can hire a taxi to drive to our home (app. 25 EUR). Younger students or less experienced travellers we can also pick up from the airport in our private car. If your child is under 18 years old, we will ask her (or him) to be home by 8 p.m. If our young guest goes out any later, we will make sure, that he or she is accompanied by a member of the family or a friendly student. We always exchange mobile numbers- so no one gets lost in town. If parents have any special demands regarding safety, you are welcome to tell us. We can always agree on individual rules. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/will-my-daughter-or-son-be-safe-in-berlin-4703029/#comments">Comments</a> As we have children ourselves we know parent's worries!

Usually, our students arrive by plane in Berlin Tegel (TXL). Students, 18 and older, can hire a taxi to drive to our home (app. 25 EUR). Younger students or less experienced travellers we can also pick up from the airport in our private car.

If your child is under 18 years old, we will ask her (or him) to be home by 8 p.m. If our young guest goes out any later, we will make sure, that he or she is accompanied by a member of the family or a friendly student.
We always exchange mobile numbers- so no one gets lost in town.

If parents have any special demands regarding safety, you are welcome to tell us. We can always agree on individual rules.

Comments

]]>How can I spend my sparetime in Berlin?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-can-i-spend-my-sparetime-in-berlin-4702204/2008-09-09T09:09:35+02:00 Oh, well, it's Berlin. So, you have soo many possibilities. After your German lessons in the morning and lunch your afternoon is free. So you can take the bus and off you go to town... In Berlin, you should visit the most famous sights like the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), the Reichstag, where the German parliament is situated, the Alexander Place with the grand TV-Tower (Fernsehturm am Alexanderplatz). Apart from that, Berlin is rich in museums: Now you must decide: Would you like to visit Nefretete, or do you prefer modern art? The Jewish Museum is outstanding and for students of German I always recommend the German Historic Museum. The Deutsches Technikmuseum invites you to experience and grasp old and new technologies. Beyond culture, Berlin offers many parks inviting for a little stroll, shopping malls and street cafés. You can spend days in trying to find your favorite spot and yet always discover new areas with their own charm. Our home is situated in the north of Berlin. The neighbourhood is quiet and peacefull. In fact, nature is close, many people come here to relax on weekends. If you like hiking or jogging you are right here. We can even arrange horse riding lessons, if you like. In order to go downtown you first pick a bus, then the S-Bahn. It will take you app. 45 min. to get to the Brandenburg Gate or many other sights in the city centre. Berlin nightlife is a world in itself. Depending on your taste of music we can help you to choose the right club. Or you prefer classical music? There will surely be an interesting concert in one of Berlin's opera houses during your stay. We will gladly assist you choosing an event and reserving a ticket. You don't like going out on your own? We will either accompany you or find a suitable companion for you (we know quite a few students who enjoy showing you around the city, or who take you along when they go out at night.) <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-can-i-spend-my-sparetime-in-berlin-4702204/#comments">Comments</a> Oh, well, it's Berlin. So, you have soo many possibilities. After your German lessons in the morning and lunch your afternoon is free. So you can take the bus and off you go to town...

In Berlin, you should visit the most famous sights like the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), the Reichstag, where the German parliament is situated, the Alexander Place with the grand TV-Tower (Fernsehturm am Alexanderplatz).

Apart from that, Berlin is rich in museums: Now you must decide: Would you like to visit Nefretete, or do you prefer modern art? The Jewish Museum is outstanding and for students of German I always recommend the German Historic Museum. The Deutsches Technikmuseum invites you to experience and grasp old and new technologies.

Beyond culture, Berlin offers many parks inviting for a little stroll, shopping malls and street cafés. You can spend days in trying to find your favorite spot and yet always discover new areas with their own charm.

Our home is situated in the north of Berlin. The neighbourhood is quiet and peacefull. In fact, nature is close, many people come here to relax on weekends. If you like hiking or jogging you are right here. We can even arrange horse riding lessons, if you like.

In order to go downtown you first pick a bus, then the S-Bahn. It will take you app. 45 min. to get to the Brandenburg Gate or many other sights in the city centre.

Berlin nightlife is a world in itself. Depending on your taste of music we can help you to choose the right club. Or you prefer classical music? There will surely be an interesting concert in one of Berlin's opera houses during your stay. We will gladly assist you choosing an event and reserving a ticket.

You don't like going out on your own? We will either accompany you or find a suitable companion for you (we know quite a few students who enjoy showing you around the city, or who take you along when they go out at night.)

Comments

]]>How are German lessons organised?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-are-the-german-lessons-organised-4701974/2008-09-09T08:10:54+02:00 After breakfast, all children leave the house and I have time for teaching. Most students book three hours of German lessons per day. But, of course, you could book more or less lessons. I think four lessons per day should be the maximum, always bear in mind, that it is one-to-one teaching and very intense. During our first lesson I will present you a grading test. Thus, I find out, where your strengths and weaknesses in German grammar and expression (vocabulary) lie. For teaching I use modern language training books, multimedia material and we make also use of my imac where suitable. At the end of your stay, you will repeat the grading test. So you can check on how much progress you made in your German. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/how-are-the-german-lessons-organised-4701974/#comments">Comments</a> After breakfast, all children leave the house and I have time for teaching.

Most students book three hours of German lessons per day. But, of course, you could book more or less lessons. I think four lessons per day should be the maximum, always bear in mind, that it is one-to-one teaching and very intense.

During our first lesson I will present you a grading test. Thus, I find out, where your strengths and weaknesses in German grammar and expression (vocabulary) lie.
For teaching I use modern language training books, multimedia material and we make also use of my imac where suitable.

At the end of your stay, you will repeat the grading test. So you can check on how much progress you made in your German.

Comments

]]>Accomodation in Berlinhttp://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/accomodation-in-ee1611b61f5688e70c12b40684dbb395-4701927/2008-09-09T07:57:06+02:00 If you travel Berlin there are plenty of different possibilities to stay. There are hostels and hotels, small furnished appartments offering different standards of lodging according to your needs and the duration of your stay. We can help you find the right lodging or you can stay in our home: We live in a modern and spacious house with garden. Your room is large and offers a queensize bed, private digital TV and private bathroom. During your stay you are welcome to share all meals with the family. There is a homecooked warm meal every day, German breakfast and an evening meal with the family. The great advantage of living in your teacher's family is that you speak German all the time. You get lots of practice and - if you like - we correct you outside the lessons as well. You will be welcome in our family like a real member and have the possibility to take part in our freetime activities. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/09/accomodation-in-ee1611b61f5688e70c12b40684dbb395-4701927/#comments">Comments</a> If you travel Berlin there are plenty of different possibilities to stay. There are hostels and hotels, small furnished appartments offering different standards of lodging according to your needs and the duration of your stay.

We can help you find the right lodging or you can stay in our home:

We live in a modern and spacious house with garden. Your room is large and offers a queensize bed, private digital TV and private bathroom. During your stay you are welcome to share all meals with the family. There is a homecooked warm meal every day, German breakfast and an evening meal with the family.

The great advantage of living in your teacher's family is that you speak German all the time. You get lots of practice and - if you like - we correct you outside the lessons as well. You will be welcome in our family like a real member and have the possibility to take part in our freetime activities.

Comments

]]>Who can come and stay at our family?http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/08/who-can-come-and-stay-at-our-family-4698337/2008-09-08T13:29:53+02:00 Usually, our guests are young adults, aged between 16 and 20. Most times they come to improve their German for school or university. We also offer private homestays for senior citizens. In that case we recommend a very neat private lodging in our neighbourhood. Another target group are young mothers with their babies who would like to learn German while their babies are being looked after. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/08/who-can-come-and-stay-at-our-family-4698337/#comments">Comments</a> Usually, our guests are young adults, aged between 16 and 20. Most times they come to improve their German for school or university. We also offer private homestays for senior citizens. In that case we recommend a very neat private lodging in our neighbourhood. Another target group are young mothers with their babies who would like to learn German while their babies are being looked after.

Comments

]]>Share the Berlin Experiencehttp://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/08/share-the-berlin-experience-4698111/2008-09-08T12:38:11+02:00 Hello everybody, I'd like to introduce myself first: My name is Verena and I am teaching German as a foreign language in Berlin. My students are living in my house during their holidays and I teach them 3 hours of German a day. In this blog I am telling you everything about private lessons and family homestays in Germany. And maybe you will be our next student to come and stay with us in Berlin. <a href="http://berlin-experience.blog.co.uk/2008/09/08/share-the-berlin-experience-4698111/#comments">Comments</a> Hello everybody,

I'd like to introduce myself first: My name is Verena and I am teaching German as a foreign language in Berlin.
My students are living in my house during their holidays and I teach them 3 hours of German a day.

In this blog I am telling you everything about private lessons and family homestays in Germany. And maybe you will be our next student to come and stay with us in Berlin.

Comments

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