Archive

Every essay, teardown, and grammar note — in one place.

A2
May 13 3 min read
Getting Your Kaution Back: The Wohnungsübergabe Conversation in German
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A2
May 13 3 min read
How to Terminate Your Swiss Lease in German (Kündigung Made Simple)
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A2
May 13 2 min read
Signing Your Mietvertrag: How to Negotiate the Kaution in German
How to negotiate the Kaution when signing a Swiss rental contract — including the polite phrases that work and the bank account every tenant should know about.
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How to View an Apartment in German: The Wohnungsbesichtigung Survival Phrases
A2
May 13 3 min read
How to View an Apartment in German: The Wohnungsbesichtigung Survival Phrases
The German phrases you actually need for a Swiss apartment viewing — with a realistic dialogue and the Bruttomiete vs Nettomiete rule every newcomer should know.
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Grammar
May 12 9 min read
German A2/B1 Grammar for Fide Exam: The 4 Skills That Make the Difference
💡Quick summary: The Fide B1 speaking exam (Aufgabe 3 in the A2–B1 model) gives you two topics from four possible task
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Grammar
May 9 8 min read
German A1/A2 Grammar for Fide Exam: What You Need (and What You Can Skip)
💡Quick summary: The Fide A1/A2 speaking exam has three tasks: describe a picture (Aufgabe 1), make a phone call to book
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FIDE Prep app is live!
News
May 8 4 min read
FIDE Prep app is live!
A new FIDE practice app — AI speaking and writing feedback, all 11 official topics, Swiss vocabulary, mock exams in the real format. Beta-testers get free access. Here's what it does and how to sign up.
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"I'm Not a Language Person" Is a Myth — Why Anyone Can Learn Enough German for FIDE
Strategy
May 8 7 min read
"I'm Not a Language Person" Is a Myth — Why Anyone Can Learn Enough German for FIDE
"I'm just not a language person" is the most common reason people give for not preparing for FIDE. It's also wrong. Here's why language learning is a method, not a gift — and how to break out of the mental block long enough to pass the exam.
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German Courses vs FIDE Prep: When Generic German Doesn't Cut It
Strategy
May 8 6 min read
German Courses vs FIDE Prep: When Generic German Doesn't Cut It
Generic German courses are great for general fluency. They are not always great for the FIDE exam, which tests very specific scenarios in a fixed format. Here's why traditional classes can fail FIDE candidates — and what to do alongside (or instead).
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Speaking
May 8 5 min read
The FIDE Picture Description Formula: Speak Confidently in 4 Steps
The picture description (Bildbeschreibung) is the first speaking task on the FIDE oral exam — and the one that panics candidates most. A 4-step formula that works on any picture, with the German phrases you can memorise.
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FIDE Topics: The 11 Official Modules With Examples
Speaking
May 8 10 min read
FIDE Topics: The 11 Official Modules With Examples
All 11 FIDE speaking topic areas with example questions, phone-call scenarios, and the vocabulary you need — from Wohnumgebung to Behörden. Plus exactly how the speaking test is scored.
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How Long to Prepare for FIDE: A Realistic Timeline by Starting Level
Strategy
May 8 8 min read
How Long to Prepare for FIDE: A Realistic Timeline by Starting Level
Realistic preparation timelines for the FIDE German exam by starting level — from 2–3 weeks for confident speakers to 2–3 months from zero. What "30 minutes a day" actually buys you, and what to skip.
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