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GERMAN LANGUAGE

‘Our audience is so diverse’: What it’s like to teach German from Berlin’s streets

Online videos helping people learn languages have exploded in popularity. And Easy German, is one such success story. Stefano Montali hit the streets in Berlin to find out what it's like to help people around the world learn German.

The Easy German team Chris Thornberry, Carina Schmid, Janusz Hamerski and Manuel Salmann in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin.
The Easy German team Chris Thornberry, Carina Schmid, Janusz Hamerski and Manuel Salmann in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. Photo: Anna Lenart

On a recent, chilly afternoon, I headed to Prenzlaur Berg to visit the first street in Berlin that I knew well, despite never having been on it: Kastanienallee. To many German language learners, this street is familiar, but not for its name or because any significant historical event happened here. It’s familiar because it’s the unofficial set for the candid, on-street interviews created by the Easy German YouTube channel. 

In the videos, a host – usually Carina Schmid (known as Cari) or Janusz Hamerski, the channel’s founders – walks the street and surrounding area, asking questions to passersby in German.

Questions like, “Who is your favourite philosopher?” or “What do you think of Angela Merkel?” elicit a range of responses, which is exactly the point. Because later on, once the videos are edited and posted on YouTube, they’ll include subtitles in English and German, which makes it easier for learners to understand how people really speak “auf die Straße,” aka “on the street”.  

READ ALSO: Where in the world are more people learning German?

German learners around the world

Easy German began in 2005 in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, when Janusz ran an after-school media group that worked with students on digital projects. They got word one day that two girls in Vietnam were trying to learn German, so he and the group decided to head out onto the street and make a video that showed the girls some German words. A few months after, Janusz tells me, YouTube came online, so he uploaded the video and it got popular, fast. 

Sixteen years later, the channel has more than one million subscribers, and that’s not including those who learn different languages from the 13 other channels (Easy French, Easy Spanish, etc.) that exist within the Easy Languages family. Overall, the team has around 100 people involved in the project. 

On Kastanienallee, I’m catching up with Cari and a guest host, Emanuel Schuchart from YourDailyGerman. Together, the three of us head down the street to ask people, “What do you think about Elon Musk?” After a few “nein danke”s (no thanks) and “lieder nicht”s (unfortunately nots)  we get one yes, then two, and then we’re rolling. Cari tells me it’s like that sometimes. 

As Emanuel speaks to a German couple, and Cari films, Janusz rides up on his bike and joins me behind the camera. He tells me about their philosophy when interviewing: “We always remember that we’re the invader. We’re coming into people’s personal space. So even when they don’t want to answer, that’s okay. We give them a thumbs up and show them that we’re still on their side.”

Different ways of learning German

There are around 15.4 million German (as a foreign language) learners around the world. Claire Kramsch, a professor of German and Foreign Language Acquisition at the University of California, Berkeley, is a native French speaker who now teaches German to mostly native English speakers.

She says that there are differences in the way German is taught, and learned, depending on a person’s mother tongue: “The most difficult thing about German are the features that are different from French: word order, sentence structure, cases, adjective endings, gender of nouns, compound nouns,” she said.

“For an American, the difficulties are less, because American teachers are less strict about grammatical accuracy and reward more communicative ability and fluency.” 

READ ALSO: 10 words and phrases that will make you sound like a true German

Cari Schmidt and the Easy German team interview people on the streets of Berlin. Photo: Anna Lenart

Many German learners study the language in school, but others (like myself) use YouTube channels such as Learn German with Anja (800k subscribers), Learn German (901k subscribers) lingoni German (717k subscribers), and of course, Easy German. These channels can provide a helpful complement to classroom language learning, or serve as a more holistic primary approach to acquiring German. 

After a few years of working on Easy German in Münster, Janusz and Cari moved to the German capital, in order to devote more time to the growing project. They chose Berlin hoping that they’d find “people with more diverse answers”. And they did. As they became more consistent with publishing videos, their online audience and community grew to span all ages and nationalities. 

For example, while having dinner one night, Janusz and Cari were approached by two 20 year-olds who had seen their videos on TikTok. Simultaneously, a well-dressed older couple approached to say hello; they turned out to be the Australian ambassador and his wife. The ambassador had learned German…you guessed it, on the Easy German YouTube channel. Even as I walk the street with them, a woman working at a nearby shop recognises them, and comes out to say hello. I must admit, her German is way better than mine. 

But the videos aren’t only watched and appreciated by people inside Germany. A few years ago, Janusz and Cari went on a world tour and met fans in places like Denmark, Mexico, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, the US, and Vietnam. Someone even called out “Cari! Janusz!” on the train in Tokyo.

“These trips were really meaningful to us mostly because we learned that this audience that we have is so diverse and has different backgrounds and, and also expectations,” Cari says. 

Cari Schmidt interviewing people in Berlin
Cari Schmidt interviewing people in Berlin. Photo: Anna Lenart

‘We are the characters in language books’

Their YouTube channel has allowed them to transcend borders, just like the language that they teach. “When you’re in school and learning languages, you always have like these characters in books that would guide you through the learning journey. And I feel like now we are such characters in a way,” Cari says. 

With that popularity, she sometimes feels a heightened sense of responsibility: “I think that our videos don’t represent the full picture of Germany. In a way, we might even contribute to creating an illusion because we talk to people in the streets who look kind of happy or interesting.”

That said, for more than a million followers worldwide, the Easy German channel is a place for community and learning. The comment sections on their videos are some of the most positive I’ve seen on YouTube (well, except for that one video about Donald Trump). 

Cari says, “​​There are a few people who really enjoy the process of language learning, but for many people it’s [a] joy and [a] struggle. Being a friend in this period of people’s life is just nice. I would want to have a friend when I go to another country, too.” 

As we wrap up the shoot, I ask Janusz a last question: why do the videos almost always centre around this street, Kastanienalle.  “It’s the big sidewalks,” Janusz explains, “they’re great for stopping people and having a chat.”

And, of course, that’s when the magic happens. 

How tricky is to grasp German?

According to Cari and Janusz, these are the most common difficulties German learners say they face:

  • Understanding the German articles. The change in gender can be confusing, even after years of living amongst the language. 
  • Getting to know the popular German idioms. Germans use a lot of sayings in their conversations, which may not make much sense if you haven’t heard one before. Confusing word order doesn’t help, either. 
  • Working up the courage to speak. Like in any language, getting yourself to try out German can be tough at first.The sooner you get out there, the quicker your acquisition will be. 

Are you learning German, or do you speak the language? What are your tips for other learners? Please let us knows at [email protected] or leave a comment.

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HEALTH

10 key things you need to know about healthcare in Germany

From the type of insurance you should get to how to find GPs and specialists, we've put together a guide to help foreigners in Germany navigate the healthcare system.

10 key things you need to know about healthcare in Germany

If you’re living in Germany or thinking of making it your home, you’re in luck. Germany’s healthcare system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world, and ranks above the OECD average on most key indicators as of 2023.

Navigating a foreign healthcare system can be a little tricky for any foreign resident, especially new arrivals. So we’ve created a guide to some of the most important aspects of Germany’s healthcare system. 

Do I need health insurance?

Yes. Health insurance is mandatory for all German residents, so you’ll need to take out a form of insurance even if your current policy from your home country covers you whilst in Germany. 

The German health insurance system operates through two co-existing insurance types; private and public.

If you’re working in Germany, you’ll need to be covered by one of the two. Some visas allow for a special expat insurance instead, however, there are specific requirements for this. 

How does public insurance work?

Public health insurance, or Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV), is the most common form of health insurance in Germany. The German Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (Health Ministry) estimates around 90 percent of the population are signed up to GKV funds.

If you opt for public insurance, you’ll pay a monthly premium to your health insurance provider, which is calculated according to your income. Your employer will also pay mandatory contributions to your insurance. 

You have free choice of your health insurance fund, with over 100 public health insurance funds to choose from. Each will provide you with different levels of benefits and coverage, so it’s wise to take a close look at the fine print for each option. 

READ ALSO: Can you switch from private to public health insurance in Germany?

Public health insurance pays for healthcare that is „sufficient, appropriate and economic“. This includes medical treatments, prescribed medications, vaccinations, psychotherapy, and allied health care. Your health insurance will also pay the cost of hospital treatments, if the need arises. 

While most treatment providers will charge the cost of your care directly to your health insurer, some healthcare costs require a co-payment. This includes prescriptions and hospital care, however, the co-payments are generally small and scaled to your annual income.

Your public health insurance will also pay you a sickness benefit, or Krankengeld, if you’re certified unfit for work for more than six weeks. 

If you’re coming to Germany to work for a company, this is most likely going to be the best form of insurance for you. However, if you earn over a certain amount, or are self-employed, you may have to opt for private health insurance. 

When you sign up to a public health insurer, you’ll be given the all-important Gesundheitskarte (health insurance card). It’s important to always bring this with you when accessing any healthcare services. It’s also helpful to carry it around all the time in case of an emergency. 

A German health insurance card.

A German health insurance card. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Kalaene

What about private insurance?

Private health insurance, or Private Krankenversicherung (PKV), is the other form of health insurance in Germany. 

If you’re self-employed, a small business owner, a freelancer, or work in the public service, you’ll most likely have to sign up for PKV, although there are still notable exceptions to this.

If you earn over the compulsory social insurance threshold – currently set at €69,300, according to the Verband der Privaten Krankenversichrung – you become eligible for private insurance. 

Premiums for PKV are calculated based on a risk assessment done by the insurer, and generally vary based on your age and health. It’s important to note you can be rejected by a private insurer if you’re deemed too risky to cover. This isn’t the case with public health insurance. 

If you’ve come to Germany with dependents, such as children or a spouse, they also aren’t automatically covered by your private health policy and will generally require separate premiums. 

READ ALSO: How creative freelancers can pay less for German health insurance

If you decide on private insurance, you’ll have to cover the upfront costs of seeing doctors, going to hospital and obtaining medication. You’ll be either fully or partially reimbursed afterwards by your insurer. 

PKV might not be for you if you hate being bogged down with admin tasks, as claiming the payments from the insurer means filling in forms in German, although there are some providers that offer services in English.

If you’re a member of a public health insurance fund, you can take out additional cover with a private insurer to cover you for certain benefits, such as comprehensive dental treatment. You’ll bear the cost of any additional coverage yourself. 

What about expat insurance?

Another option is expat insurance, also known as incoming insurance. It provides coverage for people newly arrived in Germany and is suitable for some visas without work contracts. 

Temporary expat insurance could act as a good stopgap if you’ve just entered the country, but it doesn’t provide as comprehensive a coverage as PKV or GKV.

Coverage varies across providers, and you’ll generally have to pre-inform them of appointments and other medical care and be reimbursed. 

However, if you’re planning on renewing or changing your visa soon, it’s worth mentioning that having expat health insurance isn’t sufficient. You’ll need to be covered by a public or private insurer for it to be approved. 

Finding a doctor 

If you don’t speak German, the prospect of finding a doctor might seem a little daunting. Fortunately, there are plenty of services to help you find a doctor who works in your native language. 

A site like doctolib.de is a fantastic resource for finding and booking appointments with a variety of different health practitioners, from GPs to cardiologists.  

READ ALSO: What you need to know about making a doctor’s appointment in Germany

How GPs work in Germany

General Practitioners, or Hausärtze, either operate by themselves as solo, practice-based physicians or within a medical centre. While registering with a local GP is encouraged, it isn’t compulsory. 

GPs in Germany can provide prescriptions, offer vaccinations, perform minor medical procedures and conduct routine check-ups. You’ll need to book an appointment in advance, but some GPs offer open hours where you can wait in the practice to be seen (and expect long waits).

E-prescription service Germany

A patient inserts their health insurance card into a card reader at a German pharmacy. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Reuters/Pool | Annegret Hilse

Unlike many other healthcare systems around the world, GPs in Germany don’t act as a gatekeeper to more specialised care. While you won’t need to see a GP for a referral to a specialist such as a dermatologist or gynaecologist, there are a few specialities (such as radiology and laboratory services) which are exceptions to this. 

Seeing specialists

Free choice of medical practitioners is a core principle of the German healthcare system, so you’ll be able to pick and book appointments with specialists without a referral from your GP in many cases. 

When searching for specialists, you’ll likely see some specialists are only available to those who are privately insured or self-paying. Finding a specialist who works with publicly insured patients is possible, however the wait times will likely be a little longer. 

If you have any questions, your health insurer or your GP should let you know how you can access a specialist doctor. 

READ ALSO: How to get a faster appointment with a specialist doctor in Germany

What about the dentist?

Public health insurance doesn’t fully cover dental care. While basic dental is covered, such as a yearly checkup, many German residents rely on supplementary private insurance for more comprehensive dental treatments because care can be expensive.

However, you should check with your insurance to see what extra dental services are covered. For instance, some insurers contribute a one-off payment to supplement teeth cleaning, but they won’t explicitly tell you this information when you take out insurance. 

Pharmacies and medicine 

If you’ve been given a prescription by one of your physicians, your next stop should be at a pharmacy, or Apotheke to have it filled. 

You’ll typically have to present your Gesundheitskarte to the pharmacist, and depending on your health insurance you might have to make a co-payment for the medication. This will be a maximum of 10 euros and a minimum of five euros. 

If Sunday rolls around and you find yourself in need of a prescription, there are emergency pharmacies, known as Notdienst-Apotheke, which operate on a rotating schedule within one area or district. You’ll generally be able to find the schedule at your regular pharmacy or online.

If having prescriptions delivered to you works better, there’s a service called MAYD which will deliver anything you need from your local Apotheke to you.

READ ALSO: The new rules on digital prescriptions in Germany

Going to hospital  

Germany has a comprehensive hospital network, with most people able to reach an acute care hospital within 30 minutes by car. 

The quality of hospital will depend greatly on where you live. Federal states are responsible for hospital care, and some operate better hospitals than others. 

When you arrive at a hospital, you’ll need to have your Gesundheitskarte on you for the registration process. The hospital will need to know about your health insurance status for the billing process. 

It’s also important to note here that the disparity between public and private insurance is most apparent when it comes to hospital care. If you’re privately insured, you will generally have better access to more senior doctors, your own room, and be seen faster.

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