A few years ago, I had the extraordinary opportunity to assist award-winning Australian author Drusilla Modjeska with research, translation, and analysis for a biography of Clara Westhoff-Rilke – the sculptor, modernist, and Rilke’s wife – as no books about her were available in English.

Last month, A Woman’s Eye, Her Art was published, bringing Clara’s story to English readers for the first time. It was deeply rewarding to see my work help bring her life and art to light.

This project reminded me how every word, nuance, and cultural insight matters and how language can connect worlds far beyond literal translation.

A proud moment in our family and for our little German school — my not-so-little girl and assistant teacher is now a school captain in Year 12! 🌟

It still feels surreal to remember her first day in Australian kindergarten in term 4, not speaking a word of English. From arriving at six with zero English to now being a leader at her school, what a journey! 💛

Many of you know her already as she teaches German to our youngest students, helping them grow in confidence and love for their language.

Her story is a beautiful reminder of how languages, confidence, and empathy grow together.

Curious what a school captain actually does in Australia and why this role is so special?

Every November, I love bringing the story of Sankt Martin to life in my lessons. From glowing lantern parades to reflections on generosity and kindness, this tradition reminds us that learning a language is about culture, values, and stories.

In class, we watched a video in German to learn the story, and then enjoyed lots of fun activities together. We played Kahoot, talked about the Laternenumzug in Germany, and learned new words related to autumn and Sankt Martin. It’s a hands-on, interactive way for students to connect with the tradition and they always love it!

If you’re curious about the tradition of Sankt Martin, I’ve shared the full story (including the video) in my latest blog.

Heidelberg is magical in November – the autumn leaves still cling to the trees along the Neckar River, the historic Old Town glows in soft light, and the famous castle overlooks the city in misty, cozy beauty. 🍁🏰

Fun fact: Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386, and its charming streets are perfect for a quiet wander before the winter crowds arrive.

One of the most asked questions by new German students is: what is verb conjugation?

So here we go – it’s the way we change the form of a verb depending on who is doing the action.

We do this in English too, and the most obvious example I give to students is the verb to be:

I am
You are
He/She/It is
We are
You (plural) are
They are

Once you understand this idea in English, it’s much easier to see how German verbs change depending on the subject. Happy learning!