Reverberations

Learn German with Music of Wanda

When Vienna, Austria’s Wanda burst onto the German-language music scene in 2014 it was seemingly out of nowhere. But before the end of that year, the band had a huge hit on their hands with their infectious single “Bologna.”

Today, the band has four albums under their belt — all of which went to the top of the charts in their home country in addition to most of the albums breaking into the top five in Germany.

The band has found a winning formula with catchy pop songs that make you want to sing along. So this month, let’s tune up our German skills and learn German with the music of Wanda!

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Learn German with Films of Robert Stadlober

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of Robert Stadlober!

Robert Stadlober is a talented guy whose creative abilities seem to know no boundaries. The Austrian-born Stadlober may be known primarily as an actor to some. But his involvement in films goes further, with him working behind the camera as both a director and as a film producer. As though that was not enough, he is also an accomplished musician. He has set poets to music and rocked out with indie pop.

While still only in his thirties, Stadlober has quite a list of credits to his name. So let us better get to know this multi-talented German speaker and learn German while doing so. Watch, practice, and enjoy these three films starring Robert Stadlober.

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Learn German with Music of Seeed

German Music, Learn German

Do too many cooks spoil the broth? Or is it the more the merrier? For the Berlin-based reggae/hip hop dancehall band Seeed, the latter seems to be the preference. The group features ten musicians ranging from a horn section to a DJ and multiple vocalists. The resulting music is fun, brash, and involved. This is one music group you cannot accuse of being boring.

Seeed does mix their native German language with English and some Patois, but do not let that deter you. The band has more than enough music in German that listening to their music is definitely a language learning experience. So, without further ado, let’s learn German with the music of Seeed!

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Learn German with Films of Tom Schilling

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of actor Tom Schilling!

With roles in The Baader Meinhof Complex, Elementarteilchen, and Das Adlon. Eine Familiensaga, a made for television mini-series about the famous hotel in Berlin and its founding family, you may already be familiar with German actor Tom Schilling.

Schilling has a remarkable number of titles to his name and his star continues to rise rapidly. There is nothing that can stop him. And he isn’t merely an actor. Schilling is also a talented musician who records music with his band Tom Schilling & The Jazz Kids.

In this month’s German-language film feature, I’m highlighting some exciting and interesting films that Schilling has lead roles in — Tod den Hippies!! Es lebe der Punk!, Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter, and Oh Boy!.

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Fallingwater Has to Be Seen To Be Believed

Travel

Frank Lloyd Wright's stunning Fallingwater is a great day trip from Pittsburgh.

If you had to come up with a list of things to see in Pennsylvania or day trips from Pittsburgh, a visit to Fallingwater certainly would top that list. Designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the home from the late 1930s has stood the test of time with its remarkable architectural flair. It’s also stood the test of that waterway that runs directly under the house.

While many “must-see” attractions are mostly just hype, Fallingwater lives up to expectations. For me, it far exceeded what I was expecting. Balanced just atop a waterfall, Fallingwater has to be seen to truly be believed. Photographs simply don’t do it justice. The wooded surroundings of mature trees and opportunities for hiking help to transport visitors away from the busy world and daily life of distractions where we all seem to live. You’ll leave Fallingwater wishing you could spend the night. If only!

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A Fun Pittsburgh Weekend Getaway

Travel

Notable sculptures adorn and surround the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh.

Anyone who has been to Pittsburgh could be easily fooled into thinking this former industrial city was a major metropolitan. Although it’s the second-largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, it sure doesn’t feel like it: it seems much bigger. The city has a lot to offer. It is a mix of world-class museums, fantastic architecture, and acclaimed educational institutions. But with delicious and unfussy food options, it never feels too big for its britches.

A Pittsburgh weekend getaway is urban fun but without all the stresses one normally associates with city travel. The city’s downtown area is relatively compact and accessible for exploring on foot. But if you want to see more of the city, having a car at hand doesn’t hurt. With a car or public transit, you can explore more of this sprawling city with its many distinct neighborhoods.

Pittsburgh also has a small-town feel where people greet you and, no joke, warn you when you’re approaching broken glass on a bridge. Seemingly no matter where you go in the city, it feels personable and welcoming.

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Learn German with Music of Max Giesinger

Learn German, German Music

Learn German with the music of Max Giesinger!

We’ve all seen the talent shows on television where singers compete to be their country’s next big musical superstar. But even if you don’t end up winning the show, the exposure can be enough to propel your career. Max Giesinger is a great example of how losing can still be winning.

The smooth and soulful pop singer only finished fourth in the debut season of The Voice of Germany. But looking at his career trajectory you would have no idea. Giesinger’s songs have been on the music charts of the German-speaking world. And his success has kept him on those television competition shows: but not in quite the same way. Instead of being a competitor, Giesinger has coached the ambitious singers of the next generation on The Voice Kids.

Giesinger’s clear vocal style makes it ideal for ambitious German language learners who want to practice their language skills and sing along. So this month, let’s better get to know Max Giesinger!

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Learn German with Films of Wim Wenders

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of Wim Wenders!

You may already be familiar with Wim Wenders’ work from award-winning documentary films like The Buena Vista Social Club and Pina or English language dramas like Paris, Texas. The longtime filmmaker seems unattached to any single language or particular style. He conveys stories in many different ways.

But that’s not to say all of his films are in English. Far from it. Wenders also released quite a few films in his native German language. Alongside filmmakers like Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Werner Herzog, Wenders is a major part of the New German Cinema movement in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. And he helped shape independent film in the process.

This month’s feature of German-language films for German learners highlights some of Wim Wenders’ most notable German-language films.

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Charm & History: Things to Do in Lititz PA

Travel

Historic stone and wooden houses line Main Street in Historic Downtown Lititz, PA.

With its miles of rolling farmland, small towns, and Amish community, Pennsylvania‘s Lancaster County has become a popular destination for day trips and long weekends. And Lititz, PA, is rich in that small-town charm. Sitting less than a dozen miles from the city of Lancaster, downtown Lititz is a world away and ideal for exploring on foot. Visitors can gawk at the more than hundred-year-old buildings of exposed stone and wood that dot Main Street. And beyond that, there are further enticements like antique stores, coffee shops, and even an authentic British pub. There are enough things to do in Lititz, PA to keep you busy for several day trips.

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Learn German with Music of Tim Bendzko

German Music, Learn German

Learn German with the music of singer Tim Bendzko!

When your debut single is a big hit, it can be difficult to live up to expectations. There is a lot of pressure on your shoulders. But for Tim Bendzko, that simply has not been a problem. Since grabbing the attention of music fans in 2011 with the track “Nur noch kurz die Welt retten,” he has kept music fans eagerly listening. The German singer-songwriter has stayed true to himself while continually winning over fans with his memorable and likable pop-tinged tracks.

So this month, let’s get to know Tim Bendzko better and learn German with music!

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Learn German with Films of Werner Herzog

German Films, Learn German

Learn German with the films of director Werner Herzog!

Filmmaker Werner Herzog does it all. He is perhaps best known as a director but he is also a writer, a producer, and, from time to time, an actor. Since directing his first short in the early 60s, he helped shape the New German Cinema movement along with the likes of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Wim Wenders, and Volker Schlöndorff. Herzog has been incredibly prolific with both feature films and documentaries on his resume.

How is all of that for a sales pitch? If you’re not already familiar with the films of Werner Herzog, now is a great time to get to do so and practice some German along the way!

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Hershey Gardens: Sweet PA Botanical Garden

Travel

Spring flowers brighten the landscape at Hershey Gardens.

It is undoubtedly the chocolate and the amusement park that usually draws visitors to Hershey, Pennsylvania. And who could blame them? But, if you’re looking for more fun things to do in Hershey, Hershey Gardens is a charming and relaxing way to spend several hours. It goes without saying that the gardens are sugar-free and thrilling in a much more low-key way.

The 23-acre botanical garden and arboretum are modest but just the right size to comfortably see in a single visit. And the magic of gardens is that they are always changing: there’s never a bad time of the year to visit as each season brings something special.

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