Before you read this, let me just say categorically: “NO! It is not too hard to learn a new language at any age!”

Ok, now that’s off my chest… if you still have doubts, read on.

Where does this idea come from? Why are we conditioned to think of aging as a downfall on the journey of life?

Most “elderly” people I know (I won’t say who I ...

Whenever going places having a look at their written media – what used to be called press :) - gives a glimpse into their thinking, their way of perceiving and interpreting the world. Surely, it helps getting acquainted.

The Swiss press – it also - is undergoing deep changes. Digitization and industrialization being the key words. The strategies of the various media groups are rather different.

The challenge in one sentence: the earning power of ...

You can probably relate: you talk to someone in the language you are learning, you understand the gist (or maybe not even) and you nod and smile. 

Extremely understandable. However, it’s actually a very valuable missed opportunity to learn some language that is going to stick. Or positively put: you probably encounter many situations where you can learn some new language. Seize them! 

We might use this mechanism because ...

I had a chance to sit down with Xochilt, a lovely Nicaraguan who moved to Switzerland 5 years ago, and since then, with her own ups and downs, has found Switzerland to be her home.

COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND?

My name is Xochilt Martinez. I come from Nicaragua where I was living for my whole life. There I did my Bachelor in Global Business. I came to ...

Wahrnehmung

• High German: Die Wahrnehmung
  
• English: Perception

I love the combination of ‘Wahr’ (truth) and ‘Nehmung’ (taking) to mean the English word ‘perception’.

The German word Wahrnehmung reminds me that our perceptions (how we take the truth) are not necessarily the same as truth. In our current world of ‘fake news’ I think remembering this is especially important.

Overview

Some say (Swiss) German isn’t a beautiful (let alone sexy ...