https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed In this article we take a look at the road-based misdemeanours which can cost you a lot of money and/or points on your licence. https://www.thelocal.de/20200205/driving-in-germany-which-offences-can-cost-you Wed, 05 Feb 2020 12:23:34 +0100 driving-in-germany-which-offences-can-cost-you With rents surging in many major cities across Germany, many long-term renters are now on the lookout for a more secure alternative. Housing co-ops may just provide the answer. https://www.thelocal.de/20210201/german-housing-co-ops-what-are-they-and-how-do-i-sign-up Mon, 01 Feb 2021 17:51:47 +0100 german-housing-co-ops-what-are-they-and-how-do-i-sign-up Germany and Austria may share a common language - but often with a very different vocabulary. Here are eight of the most common terms which sound completely different if you're in Vienna versus Berlin. https://www.thelocal.de/20210326/eight-words-with-very-different-names-in-germany-and-austria Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:38:51 +0100 eight-words-with-very-different-names-in-germany-and-austria There are over 600,000 "Vereine" in Germany, translated most precisely as associations, themed around everything from sports to political causes. Learn how to start your own. https://www.thelocal.de/20241016/tip-of-the-week-how-to-found-a-verein-in-germany Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:00:13 +0200 tip-of-the-week-how-to-found-a-verein-in-germany German and English share many words in common - but they don't always mean the same thing when spoken in the other language. Here are eight of the best examples. https://www.thelocal.de/20210517/eight-german-words-used-in-english-but-with-different-meanings Mon, 17 May 2021 21:30:12 +0200 eight-german-words-used-in-english-but-with-different-meanings When moving to Germany, you're bound to make a few Fehler (mistakes). Here's a dozen common ones to avoid. https://www.thelocal.de/20200914/12-mistakes-foreigners-make-when-moving-to-germany Mon, 14 Sep 2020 16:41:29 +0200 12-mistakes-foreigners-make-when-moving-to-germany The Anmeldung is most people's first experience of German bureaucracy. It's also a legal requirement. https://www.thelocal.de/20190415/explained-understanding-the-german-anmeldung-service Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:26:50 +0200 explained-understanding-the-german-anmeldung-service We are certainly not advocating the use of these words, but they are important to know (in case anyone uses them against you). Here are some of the German words you certainly shouldn’t use with elderly in-laws. https://www.thelocal.de/20201204/the-rudest-german-words-you-need-to-be-very-careful-about-using Fri, 04 Dec 2020 18:36:35 +0100 the-rudest-german-words-you-need-to-be-very-careful-about-using Nowhere in the EU is a dream of buying one’s own home less relevant than in Germany. While there are several reasons why so many Germans decide never to take their first step on the property ladder, some experts say the German love of renting doesn’t make much sense. https://www.thelocal.de/20210319/explained-these-are-the-reasons-why-so-many-germans-rent-rather-than-buy Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:00:38 +0100 explained-these-are-the-reasons-why-so-many-germans-rent-rather-than-buy For anyone working in Germany, it’s important to consider joining a union. Here are some points to think about. https://www.thelocal.de/20200122/working-in-germany-should-you-join-a-trade-union Wed, 22 Jan 2020 12:37:56 +0100 working-in-germany-should-you-join-a-trade-union There are lots of positive lifestyle habits that are important to many Germans, from striving to be on time to buying local. We take a look at five of them. https://www.thelocal.de/20200101/five-german-lifestyle-habits-you-should-think-about-adopting Wed, 01 Jan 2020 14:00:00 +0100 five-german-lifestyle-habits-you-should-think-about-adopting If you're planning any holidays, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the labour laws when it comes to paid vacation days as an employee in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20190420/vacation-days-in-germany-what-to-know-about-your-rights-as-an-employee Sat, 20 Apr 2019 16:05:29 +0200 vacation-days-in-germany-what-to-know-about-your-rights-as-an-employee We break down the words you need to know when starting your studies in Germany, whether it's your first day or you're well into the semester. https://www.thelocal.de/20210428/these-are-the-words-international-students-in-germany-need-to-know Wed, 28 Apr 2021 20:20:59 +0200 these-are-the-words-international-students-in-germany-need-to-know The German saying “Deutsche Sprache, schwerer Sprache” is an acknowledgement that German is a difficult language to learn for foreigners. But as Sarah Magill found, it doesn't mean it's impossible to master. https://www.thelocal.de/20191213/how-to-overcome-five-of-the-biggest-stumbling-blocks-when-learning-german Fri, 13 Dec 2019 18:00:45 +0100 how-to-overcome-five-of-the-biggest-stumbling-blocks-when-learning-german German doesn’t have much of a reputation for beauty. But the language of Goethe and Schiller can’t be all bad. We’ll even go out on a limb and say there are some words that are nicer in German than in English. Read on to see if you agree. https://www.thelocal.de/20180720/ten-beautiful-german-words-that-sound-prettier-than-the-english Fri, 20 Jul 2018 19:26:19 +0200 ten-beautiful-german-words-that-sound-prettier-than-the-english The housing market in Germany is not the easiest thing to get to grips with, especially for foreigners. Here are some German words that are useful to understand. https://www.thelocal.de/20200203/eight-words-for-understanding-the-german-housing-market Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:30:09 +0100 eight-words-for-understanding-the-german-housing-market Ehegattensplitting, literally translated as “spouse splitting,” is a German policy which allows married couples to save taxes by dividing their income. Some argue that the policy, in place since the 1950s, should be abolished. https://www.thelocal.de/20210512/ehegattensplitting-how-did-germanys-marriage-tax-law-become-so-controversial Wed, 12 May 2021 20:17:15 +0200 ehegattensplitting-how-did-germanys-marriage-tax-law-become-so-controversial The 'freelance' visa is a popular way for non-EU nationals to live and work in Germany. But what is this visa? Who can apply for it - and what does it allow you to do? https://www.thelocal.de/20190524/explained-your-guide-to-the-freelance-visa-in-germany Fri, 24 May 2019 13:16:13 +0200 explained-your-guide-to-the-freelance-visa-in-germany Live in a big city in Germany and think it's next-to-impossible to find your dream flat? Here are some tips to help you secure a new home to rent. https://www.thelocal.de/20190114/tip-of-the-week-how-to-increase-your-chances-of-finding-a-flat-in-germany Mon, 14 Jan 2019 17:29:16 +0100 tip-of-the-week-how-to-increase-your-chances-of-finding-a-flat-in-germany From using only a fork to separating salad leaves with a knife, several German culinary practices cut into the heart of The Local's Rachel Stern's prior American norms. https://www.thelocal.de/20191016/oh-fork-the-joys-and-shocks-of-german-dining-customs-as-an-american Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:43:36 +0200 oh-fork-the-joys-and-shocks-of-german-dining-customs-as-an-american