https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Germany is on course to abolish a fast-track path to German citizenship that requires C1 level language skills and exceptional integration. We spoke to a foreign resident in Berlin who raced to improve her German to apply before it's too late. https://www.thelocal.com/20250825/turbo-german-studying-an-american-in-berlin-on-the-race-to-qualify-for-three-year-citizenship Mon, 25 Aug 2025 12:42:01 +0200 turbo-german-studying-an-american-in-berlin-on-the-race-to-qualify-for-three-year-citizenship Getting to grips with German grammar is not easy -which is why we run this series offering tips and tricks for German learners. This week, we’re tackling one of the most deceptively simple words in German: you. https://www.thelocal.com/20250323/german-grammar-tips-how-to-say-you-in-german-without-sounding-rude Sun, 23 Mar 2025 09:15:02 +0100 german-grammar-tips-how-to-say-you-in-german-without-sounding-rude This slang word has been named Germany's 'non-word' or 'ugliest word' of the year for 2024, with judges slamming the phrase as thoughtless and discriminatory. https://www.thelocal.com/20250113/biodeutsch-why-this-is-germanys-ugliest-word-of-the-year Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:43:37 +0100 biodeutsch-why-this-is-germanys-ugliest-word-of-the-year The top German word of the year alludes to the collapse of the federal government coalition. Other top contenders were equally timely and political, including 'fit-for-war' and 'drift-to-the-right'. https://www.thelocal.com/20241206/ampel-aus-what-germanys-top-10-words-of-the-year-say-about-2024 Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:38:14 +0100 ampel-aus-what-germanys-top-10-words-of-the-year-say-about-2024 With the citizenship law coming into effect soon, many international residents in Germany are getting ready to apply. Here's a list of some articles with a focus on language requirements and citizenship tests to help you on the way. https://www.thelocal.com/20240610/language-and-citizenship-tests-7-essential-articles-for-german-naturalisation Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:44:25 +0200 language-and-citizenship-tests-7-essential-articles-for-german-naturalisation As part of its upcoming reform to German citizenship law, the federal government is making the language requirement for fast-track citizenship – currently B2 German – harder. So how big is the leap from B2 to C1? https://www.thelocal.com/20230313/whats-the-difference-between-b2-and-c1-german-for-new-fast-track-citizenship Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:56:09 +0100 whats-the-difference-between-b2-and-c1-german-for-new-fast-track-citizenship With many of us having to tighten our belts at the moment, here are some uniquely ways to talk about the hot topic of money in German. https://www.thelocal.com/20220915/7-ways-to-talk-about-money-in-german Thu, 15 Sep 2022 19:26:59 +0200 7-ways-to-talk-about-money-in-german Some Swiss German words are so culturally specific, or just so strange, that it is impossible to translate them – at least not in a simple, elegant way. From dogs' funerals to egg bumping, some Swiss German words just don't make it across the translation divide. https://www.thelocal.com/20180306/language-eight-swiss-german-words-you-cant-translate-into-english Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:48:06 +0100 language-eight-swiss-german-words-you-cant-translate-into-english Moving to any country will involve a bit of a culture shock. But what are the things which will disturb you the most when you move to Austria? https://www.thelocal.com/20210412/the-10-biggest-culture-shocks-experienced-by-expats-in-austria Mon, 12 Apr 2021 17:43:30 +0200 the-10-biggest-culture-shocks-experienced-by-expats-in-austria