Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner Conquers K2

ENDLICH!

Der originell Justin Bieber? Heintje

Er singt hier Ich baue dir ein Schloß.  Irgendwie finde ich den Jungen süß.

Hier ist noch ein Lied: Wenn kleine Klinder schlafen gehen... 

Im Film, hier ein Lied:  Oma so lieb...



Und hier ist ein voller Film:  Mein bester Freund  (Heintje versucht seine Mutter zu retten. Die Geschichte geht um das Autorennen.  Man sieht den Neubergring im süden Eifel.)



Natürlich wenn Heintje Geld für den Zigeuner verdienen könnte, hätte er es auch für seine Mutter getan, aber dann wären die Eltern immer noch getrennt. . .

--- 
Und hier singt Heintje nach dem Stimmbruch (after his voice changed) weiter, und zwar mit Peter Alexander.  Früher sang er in Berlin als kind mit Peter Alexander, mit dem er später auch mindestens einen Film drehte.  Ja, Heintje singt heute noch, als Hein Simon.

Alphabet-Garten: Hilfe, wenn man auf Deutsch lesen will

Lesen und auch GEWINNEN!

HIER IST DER LINK

"...we'll be having 2 raffles, one in late July and the other in August. All reading must be in German, but the entries can be in German or English.  No purchase is necessary to participate. To enter, you'll need to submit any of the following:

• Sommer Lesespass - count the minutes you read by coloring in the apples. Color at least 15 apples before submitting
• Reading log - use "Meine Bücherliste" or make your own reading log to track the books you read;  include the book's title, but you could also add the author, number of pages, even genre
• Book report - use "Mein Buchbericht" or make your own simple book report form
• Book Review - see our blog for some examples
• A photo, scan or picture of a project relating to a book you've read

Feel free to (share)... 2012 Summer Reading Program... with your friends."

Can you make this work?   It seems mostly a site for parents to purchase materials to help their kids become bilingual.  Interesting.  Perhaps soon there will be some good book reviews to read in German.

Viel Spaß!  

Eastern Europe? Danube Zone?

How should we refer to the countries in the European continent these days?

This from the Economist:

500 Rätzel v. Projekt Gutenberg

Rätzel mit Antworten!

zum Beispiel:      Rätzel Nr. 367.

Welch’ Zahl wird immer selbes zählen,Selbst wenn man’s auf den Kopf wird stellen?          ANTWORT:  96

Scherzfrage 1. Wann schreibt man Wasser mit drei Buchstaben?      

                                                       ANTWORT:  Wenn es gefroren ist; dann heißt es Eis.

ALLE 500 SIND HIER ZU FINDEN!

Wortschatz ONLINE

Wiederholen und lernen!   (Review!   Learn!   SEE LINK BELOW.)

Topics include vocabulary for:

1. Greetings. 2. My name is...  3. Numbers 1 - 10 4. Revision 5. Numbers 11 - 20  6. How are you? 7. How old are you? Family members 8. Revision 9. Where do you live? 10. Ordinal numbers 1st - 10th 11. What grade are you in? 12. Revision 13. Visiting family 14. Best friends  15. Do you have a pet? 16. Revision 17. Animals 18. Writing letters 19. Colours. Describing hair, eyes. 20. Revision 21. Do you like...? 22. Expressions 23. Favourite pastimes and pets 24. Revision

25. Numbers 20 - 100 26. Days and months 27. Saying the date 28. The weather 29. Telling the time 30. Parts of the body 31. Clothes 32. Modes of transport 33. School items 34. Food: Introductory vocabulary 35. Rooms and furniture in the house

HIER:  EDUCATION.VIC.GOV.AU

VW in Chattanooga: Es geht um mehr als Autos

Hier sind ein paar Einzelheiten (details) -- der Film ist auch auf Englisch:

Reisefieber : Game Show

Hier sind die Folgen (Episodes)

Die Regeln:  Für 1 Woche gibt es ein Wettbewerb.  (Each week there's a new contest announced, with the prior week's potential winner from the previous week announced during that episode. The current winners need to follow these rules:) 

    1.  Eine Postkarte wird ausgewählt.  [Diese Woche gewinnet doch Familie Mustermann ... aus Frankfurt.]

    2.  Die Gewinner müssen sofort abreisen, und dann mit einer Videokamera abreisen.  Sie müssen alles Filmen.

    3.  Es gibt 8 Stationen, die in der Woche zum besuchen sind.  Jeder Station hat einen Rätzel. 

    4.  Der Film kommt dann in der naechsten Sendung ein.

Verstanden?

HIER, ZU DEN FOLGEN 1 - 9 zum zuhören, oder zuschauen. 

Die Rätzel sind:

1.  Essen Sie im höchsten Berg Deutschlands.  Essen Sie dort im Restaurant.   Wo ist das?

Neue McD's Reklamme (New ad)

Hier in Amerika ist alles größer. . . .  Ein bigger Big Mac.

Ich glaube wir verstehen diese Reklamme. . .

HIER DIE REKLAMME

English Nouns = Deutsche Nomen

HIER IST EINE LISTE MIT TON VON 350 NOMEN 

Which identical nouns are a surprise to you?

What do you notice about German nouns, which set them apart from English nouns (even when they are spelled identically)?

HIER IST EINE LISTE VON ADJEKTIVEN AUF DEUTSCH / ENGLISCH!

HIER IST EINE LISTE VON PROBLEM-WORTE.
These words seem identical in both languages, yet they have totally different meanings, and therefore you should be familiar with these words as well.  

Michelle: Wirst du noch da sein?

Will you still be there

Irgendwo im Schatten der Sonne   Somewhere in the shadows of the sun
Sah ich dich am Rande der Zeit     I saw you at the edge of time.
Du und ich für immer und ewig    You and me forever and ever
Sag, dass alles so bleibt                Say that everything remains

Irgendwann verglühen die Sterne             At some point stars burn out
Gilt dein Wort auch dann noch für dich?   Will your word still apply?
Wartest du (dann) am Ende der Straße?    Are you going to wait at the end of the street?
Führst du mich dann ans Licht?               Will you lead me into the light?

Wirst du noch da sein wenn alle gehen?        Will you still be there when everyone else leaves?
Wirst du mich mit deinen Augen sehen?        Will you see me with your eyes?
Hältst du mich fest bis der Sturm sich legt?   (Will) you hold me tight until the storm abates?
Auch wenn der Wind sich mal dreht?            Even when the wind turns?
Trinkst du mit mir aus dem gleichen Glas?    (Will) you drink with me out of the same glass?
Auch wenn du Lust auf was anderes hast?      Even if you would like something else?
(Auch) wenn du mich heut‘ noch so liebst     (Even) if you still love me this way today
Eine Antwort gibt es nicht                            There is no answer

Was tust du wenn Freunde dir sagen:    What do you do when friends tell you:
„Diese Frau, die passt nicht zu dir“       “This woman doesn’t fit you”
Ist für dich die Party zu Ende                Is the party over for you?
Oder bleibst du bei mir?                       Or will you stay with me?

Wirst du noch da sein wenn alle gehen?
Wirst du mich mit deinen Augen sehen?
Hältst du mich fest bis der Sturm sich legt?
Auch wenn der Wind sich mal dreht?
Trinkst du mit mir aus dem gleichen Glas?
Auch wenn du Lust auf was anderes hast?
(Auch) wenn du mich heut‘ noch so liebst
Eine Antwort gibt es nicht

Wirst du noch da sein wenn alle gehen?      Will you still be there when everyone else leaves?
Wirst du mich mit deinen Augen sehen?      Will you see me with your eyes?
(Auch) wenn du mich heut‘ noch so liebst   (Even) if you still love me this way today
Eine Antwort gibt es nicht                         There is no answer

Michelle is a stage name for one of Germany's most famous singers.  Her real name is Tanja Shitawey.  She was born on 15. Feb. 1972 in Villingen-Schwenningen, outside of Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg. 

She represented Germany in 2001 in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Wer Liebe lebt” (To Live for Love), and came in 8th place.    

Hier noch ein Lied:  Vielleicht nur einmal im Leben  (Maybe only once in a lifetime)

Text is straightforward; repetitive. --  Verstehst du ihn?

Before The Sound of Music, this German Film:

Die Trapp Familie (1956) 

Hier in einem Bahnhof?


Die Familie muss auch arbeiten, oder?


Hier, ein Jagdlied


Die Familie singt Old Black Joe 0-- in NYC?


Guten Abend, gut Nacht


Jetzt möchte ich den ganzen Film sehen.

Edelweiß aus Salzburg (endlich)

Schön, nicht wahr?

Der Songtext ist auch etwas neu:

Edelweiß, Edelweiß,
Du grüßt mich jeden Morgen.
Seh ich dich, Freue ich mich,
Und vergeß meine Sorgen

*Schmücke die Heimat nach Schnee und Eis,  
*Blüh'n soll'n deine Sterne.
Edelweiß, Edelweiß,
Ach, ich hab' dich so gerne.

Keine Blume im Tal
kann mir so wie du gefallen
Nur auf dich fällt meine Wahl
unter Blüten ohne Zahl.

Edelweiß, Edelweiß,
Du grüßt mich jeden Morgen.
Seh ich dich, Freue ich mich,
Und vergeß meine Sorgen



( * Wir singen:  Schmücke das Heimatland schön und weiß,  Blühet wie die Sterne...)

In Salzburger Landestheater: SOUND of MUSIC!

Hier singen die Kinder Do-Reh-Mi...
Do -- so wie der Donau Strom.
Reh -- das ist ein scheues Tier
Mi -- heißt mich in Österreich
Fa -- wie fabelhaft sind wir
So -- klappt singen wunderbar
La -- der nächste Ton nach So
Si -- heißt ja und wir sind da !
Do --  Da beginnt's von vorn hin -

POLL: Wo in Deutschland ist es am schönsten?

WO?

Was hast du gelernt?

VW Conquers the world

Germany’s biggest carmaker is leaving rivals in the dust

Jul 7th 2012 | BERLIN | from the print edition of THE ECONOMIST  

WHEN Ferdinand Piëch arrived as Volkswagen’s chief executive in 1993, things looked dire. The carmaker was overspending, overmanned and inefficient, and had lost its reputation for quality. How things have changed: last year the VW group’s profits more than doubled, to a record €18.9 billion ($23.8 billion). As other European volume carmakers seek to close factories and cut jobs, VW is seizing market share in Europe, booming in China and staging a comeback in America. It plans to spend €76 billion on new models and new factories by 2016. Its global workforce is more than half a million, and growing.

It took years for Mr Piëch—now chairman, but still with his hands firmly on the wheel—to tame VW’s menagerie of semi-independent brands and get to grips with its global empire of factories. He has been a ruthless hirer and firer of executives: only last month Karl-Thomas Neumann was removed as head of VW’s Chinese operations, supposedly for his disappointing performance, despite the juicy profits VW is making in China. Mr Neumann had been talked of as a possible successor to the chief executive, Martin Winterkorn.

Mr Piëch is a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who founded VW after Hitler called in 1934 for the creation of a cheap “people’s car”, a Volkswagen. The Piëch-Porsche clan controls both VW and Porsche, a sports-car maker that is now being folded into VW after the failure of an overambitious and highly leveraged reverse takeover. On July 4th VW agreed to buy the 50.1% of Porsche it does not yet own for €4.46 billion.

Mr Piëch’s plan was for VW to become the world’s biggest carmaker by volume by 2018. Last year, however, as Toyota struggled with the aftermath of Japan’s tsunami and GM floundered in Europe, VW reached its goal seven years early (see chart), if you do not count Subaru, Toyota’s distant affiliate, or GM’s Wuling joint venture in China, which mainly makes Chinese-branded cars.

The 8.5m vehicles VW made last year cover all corners: Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT in the mass market; Audi in premium cars; Porsche, Bugatti and Lamborghini in sports cars; Bentley at the luxury end; plus various commercial-vehicle brands. Most (SEAT excepted) are firing on all cylinders. IHS Automotive, a forecaster, expects VW easily to beat its target of 11m sales by 2018.

In many of the 26 countries where VW has factories, it has been around long enough to be seen as a domestic firm, so protectionists usually leave it alone. The founding family’s controlling shareholding, and a blocking stake held by the state of Lower Saxony, where VW is headquartered, allow it to resist short-term pressures to pull out of any market that turns difficult. Rivals envy the stability this brings, especially just now, says Mr Winterkorn.

VW can cope with a collapse of the European car market. Others must make deep cuts—or perhaps even, in the case of GM (which has lost $16 billion in Europe since 1999) and Ford (which gave warning on June 28th of deepening losses there), pull out of the continent altogether.

...VW bet on China nearly 30 years ago. Now it is the world’s biggest car market and VW has 18% of it, through two joint ventures. They sell 2m vehicles a year and plan to double this by 2018. A glut of cheap cars is hurting prices in China but VW’s premium models are doing well: the group’s share of its Chinese ventures’ profits rose from €1.9 billion in 2010 to €2.6 billion last year. VW has long been big in Brazil (market share: 22%), and is expanding fast in Russia (9%). 

The “Beetlemania” that VW enjoyed in America in the 1960s, when its Beetle was the pioneer of smaller, cheaper cars, faded in the 1970s. Decades of weak sales and losses ensued. VW closed its Pennsylvania factory in 1988 because the cars it made were lousy. It tried importing from Mexico but couldn’t make this pay. Now, with a big new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a revamped dealer network and the successful launch of the new Jetta, a family saloon, VW is back on a roll in America. Its sales there rose by 23% last year to 444,000, and its aim of selling 1m cars by 2018 looks achievable. 

... Like BMW, another admired German carmaker, VW seems to have succeeded because it is run by petrolheads. Mr Piëch’s passion for engineering pervades the group. He is the strategist; Mr Winterkorn the get-things-done guy. Hans-Dieter Pötsch, the chief financial officer, has helped a lot by controlling costs, says Max Warburton of Sanford C. Bernstein, an investment bank.

...As VW drives relentlessly towards world domination, Bernstein’s Mr Warburton says that Mr Piëch “will go down in history as an automotive legend, in the same class as Gottlieb Daimler, Henry Ford and Kiichiro Toyoda.”

Blond oder braunhaarig

im Internet, eine Lerngeschichte von Lucas Kern

Hör zu!  (Listen)
Lies mit!  (Read along)
Wiederhol! (Review)
Antworte die Fragen!  (Answer the questions)

http://leicht-deutsch-lernen.com/short-stories

If you agree that it's fun (painless) to learn German like this, consider subscribing!

Unter DEM Meer

Denk etwas an Grammatik?  -- Warum heißt dieses Lied,  Unter DEM Meer?

Review: Washington Post 2010: More on Economics Soon.

Is learning German still relevant and important today?  Is there anything we can learn from Germans?

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/.../AR2010063004199.html     by Harold Meyerson Op-Ed Columnist

The article begins:  

“In recession battle, Germany and China are winners

 "The Great Recession rolls on but it's not too early to single out the major powers that have come through the wreckage in the best shape. They are the ones the other major nations implore for help --to bail out weaker economies to diminish their dominance of the world's production and start consuming more themselves. There are just two such nations: China and Germany."  

Global unemployment might remain stratospheric, but in China, long-suppressed wages are finally increasing for millions of industrial workers. China's stimulus -- effectively the world's largest -- has funded bullet trains, airports and wind turbines. In Germany, unemployment has been running a point or two below ours, and exports remain high. Thanks to its favorable trade balance, Germany's finances are the strongest in Europe, which is why German monetary guarantees have been key to the future of both Greece and the euro.

Germany and China don't have a lot in common. Germany has a mature economy and is a stultifyingly stable democracy. China has a rising economy and remains disturbingly authoritarian. What sets them apart from the world's other major powers, purely and simply, is manufacturing. Their predominantly industrial economies meet their own needs and those of other nations, and have made them flourish while others flounder.

This used to be true of United States, too. In 1960, manufacturing accounted for a quarter of our gross domestic product and employed 26 percent of the labor force. Today, manufacturing has shriveled to 11 percent of GDP and employs a kindred percentage of the workforce.

For the past three decades, with few exceptions, America's CEOs, financiers, establishment economists and editorialists assured us that the transition from a manufacturing to a post-industrial economy was both inevitable and positive: American workers would move to more productive jobs, and the nation's financial security would only grow. But after rising steadily during the quarter-century following World War II, wages have stagnated since the manufacturing sector began to contract. 

Increasingly, it's our most productive jobs that are being offshored. Until 2001, the United States exported more advanced technology than it imported, but since then, as Clyde Prestowitz reports in "The Betrayal of American Prosperity," his persuasive new book on the need for an American industrial policy, we've been running annual high-tech deficits that reached $61 billion in 2008. Worse yet, as we lose manufacturing, which employed 63 percent of our scientists and engineers in 2007, we lose many of our most valuable professionals. Last year, reported Business Week, the number of employed scientists and engineers fell 6.3 percent while overall employment fell 4.1 percent.

Most Americans, I suspect, believe we're losing manufacturing because we can't compete against cheap Chinese labor. But Germany has remained a manufacturing giant notwithstanding the rise of East Asia, making high-end products with a workforce that is more unionized and better paid than ours. German exports came to $1.1 trillion in 2009 -- roughly $125 billion more than we exported, though there are just 82 million Germans to our 310 million Americans. Germany's yearly trade balance went from a deficit of $6 billion in 1998 to a surplus of $267 billion in 2008 -- the same year the United States ran a trade deficit of $569 billion. Over those same 10 years, Germany's annual growth rate per capita exceeded ours.

Germany has increased its edge in world-class manufacturing even as we have squandered ours because its model of capitalism is superior to our own. For one thing, its financial sector serves the larger economy, not just itself. The typical German company has a long-term relationship with a single bank -- and for the smaller manufacturers that are the backbone of the German economy, those relationships are likely with one of Germany's 431 savings banks, each of them a local institution with a municipally appointed board, that shun capital markets and invest their depositors' savings in upgrading local enterprises. By American banking standards, the savings banks are incredibly dull. But they didn't lose money in the financial panic of 2008 and have financed an industrial sector that makes ours look anemic by comparison.

So even as Germany and China have been busily building, and selling us, high-speed trains, photovoltaic cells and lithium-ion batteries, we've spent the past decade, at the direction of our CEOs and bankers, shuttering 50,000 factories and springing credit-default swaps on an unsuspecting world. That's not to say our CEOs and bankers are conscious agents of foreign powers. But given what they've done to America, they might as well have been.