As a native German speaker (lived in Germany and Switzerland) with a passion for education and language acquisition, I am happy to contribute to your success and support your learning journeys.

Find out more about Lina

• 1) Did you grow up speaking this language? Or were you inspired by a trip abroad, an individual or a certain aspect of the culture?

  I spent part of my childhood in Germany and attended a bilingual school, where I earned a German high school diploma. Later, I lived and worked in both Germany and Switzerland, which allowed me to deeply engage with German culture and language.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Heidi embodies the spirit of Swiss rural life—nature, simplicity, and quiet strength. Cheerful and kind, she reflects Switzerland’s values of independence and peace. Though known worldwide, she remains a uniquely Swiss symbol: the soul of the Alps, grounded and in harmony with nature.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or expression in the language that you particularly like?

  There is nothing really specific I want to emphasise, but I really like that if somebody understands German, can also understand Austrian and Swiss German and a bit of Belgian language and Dutch. It is very interesting how much similarities they have.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  This language is important for me as I am German and it is a language I would like to teach my children too so they learn the German culture and they have good study and work opportunities in the future through this and will be raised in multicultural family.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Learning German language is challenging due to its complex grammar, incl. cases, gendered nouns and special word orders, long words and unfamiliar pronunciation. However, its logical structure and shared roots with English can make it easier ( similar words) with consistent practice. To learn German and all other languages can be very helpful to listen to German talking people, if you practice talking and if you watch tv or movies with subtitles.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I really started learning German and engaging more with people when I was in kindergarten. It was so interesting to learn from children, we could understand each other even without using many words. Shortly after, I picked up a lot just by interacting with them. My parents were amazed at how much I had learned so quickly. I still have videos from that time, and we laugh about my funny pronunciation.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  During my school years, we had many opportunities for student exchanges thanks to our internationally well-connected school. We participated in exchanges to Germany and South Tyrol, went on trips to Austria, to Switzerland and attended summer language camps - all of which greatly helped with learning the language. I would recommend this to anyone who has the opportunity. Another very effective way to learn is by attending language courses in the country for 2–3 months. It’s not just about learning the language, but also about having an unforgettable and amazing experience.