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The Berlitz Language & Culture Podcast takes a deeper look into cultural competency at work, offering expert insights on cross-cultural communication and global business etiquette. Whether you're a leader managing diverse teams or an individual looking to enhance your cultural awareness, our podcast provides practical strategies to navigate international interactions confidently.
Join us as we explore the nuances of cultural intelligence and equip you with the tools to foster collaboration across cultures. Listen now and take your cultural competence to the next level!
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Louisa is particularly passionate about cultural intelligence and how it empowers people to collaborate more effectively across borders, perspectives, and backgrounds. Through her work, she highlights the value of understanding cultural differences and turning them into opportunities for connection, growth, and more inclusive workplaces.
","title":"Get to know our host","flipped":false,"button_link_external":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-ajami-16078bb5/","join_block_below":true,"image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt68ab86e10b185738/679d613f956a0240baba36e8/Untitled_design_(2).png","title":"Untitled design (2).png"},"hidden":false}},{"table_v2":{"title":"Listen to all our Language Episodes (Created with AI using original content from Berlitz US)","table":{"data":[[{"value":"Episode","color":"brand","id":0},{"value":"Read the Blog Article","color":"brand","id":1},{"value":"Listen to it on Spotify","color":"brand","id":2},{"value":"Listen to it on Apple Podcast","color":"brand","id":3}],[{"value":"Episode 1: “El”, “La”: Understanding Gender in Spanish","id":10},{"value":"Episode 1 - Blog Article","id":11},{"value":"Listen to Episode 1 on Spotify","id":12},{"value":"Listen to Episode 1 on Apple Podcast","id":13}],[{"value":"Episode 2: From Oui to Non: Structuring Negation in French","color":"white","id":20},{"value":"Episode 2 - Blog Article","color":"white","id":21},{"value":"Listen to Episode 2 on Spotify","color":"white","id":22},{"value":"Listen to Episode 2 on Apple Podcast","color":"white","id":23}],[{"value":"Episode 3: German Sounds Decoded: Vowels, Umlauts & Diphthongs","color":"white","id":30},{"value":"Episode 3 - Blog Article","color":"white","id":31},{"value":"Listen to Episode 3 on Spotify","color":"white","id":32},{"value":"Listen to Episode 3 on Apple Podcast","color":"white","id":33}]]},"hidden":false}},{"icon_grid":{"large_icons":false,"light":true,"title":"Benefits of cultural competency training for your organization","join_block_below":false,"items":[{"title":"Develop cross-cultural skills to overcome differences and work preferences in behaviors","icon_name":"TeamChat"},{"title":"Address cultural challenges that impact business efficiency","icon_name":"Global"},{"title":"Expand cultural knowledge to enhance global business communication","icon_name":"TravelLuggage1"}],"hidden":false}},{"feature_card":{"button_text":"Find out more","subtitle":"Cultural Competency Training from Berlitz is about more than simply providing information about culture. Our programs are designed to drive actionable results for your organization that will improve your opportunities in the global market.
We've designed our programs to address issues that many businesses and organizations deal with, including:
Fill in the form below and we’ll contact you to discuss your learning options and answer any questions you may have.
","modal":[{"successHeading":"Thank you","successText":"We’ll be in touch shortly with details about how you can learn a language with Berlitz and current pricing plans.
Until then, why not find out more about us?
"}],"formLabels":[{"submitButtonLabel":"Find out more"}]}},{"cards":{"large_cards":false,"row":false,"flat":false,"subtitle":"Enhance your experience by reading articles from our blog.","title":"The Berlitz Language & Culture Podcast Blog","join_block_below":false,"cta_as_link":false,"cards":[{"title":"Sharp Skills (Soft Skills): The Key to Thriving in International Relocations","call_to_action_text":"Read the article","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"Sharp Skills (Soft Skills): The Key to Thriving in International Relocations","url":"/blog/podcast/sharp-skills-the-key-to-thriving-in-international-relocations","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt9ed47464d889f5f2/68c83dbb39d1a8f363d30f6e/shutterstock_1494208232_(1).jpg"},"post_content":"When relocating for work, most people focus on packing, visas, and logistics. But according to international business communication expert Dan Bolger, your greatest asset abroad isn’t in your suitcase, it’s in your “sharp skills.”
Many organizations dismiss cultural training and interpersonal abilities as “soft skills.” Dan disagrees. Drawing from years of assignments in the Balkans, Central Asia, and beyond, he prefers the term “sharp skills” because they need to be honed, practiced, and refined constantly.
“Judgment, patience, adaptability, cultural sensitivity… these are not optional extras,” says Dan. “They’re the tools you rely on every day when working in a foreign environment.”
Relocating internationally means navigating new rules, both written and unwritten. From business etiquette to local customs, sharp skills help you:
Build trust quickly with colleagues and community members.
Adapt to uncertainty when plans or systems differ from what you’re used to.
Communicate effectively across language and cultural barriers.
Lead with empathy in multicultural teams.
When Dan arrived in Albania for his role at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, there was no formal orientation, no relocation service, and only three days to find a place to live.
His ability to network, improvise, and remain open-minded, all sharp skills, made the difference between a rough landing and a successful start.
How to Hone Your Sharp Skills Before You Move
Even if your employer doesn’t provide formal cultural training, you can prepare by:
Learning about the history, politics, and social norms of your new home.
Practicing active listening to better understand local perspectives.
Expanding your patience and flexibility when problem-solving.
Strengthening your networking abilities, both locally and back home.
Relocation success isn’t just about knowing your job, it’s about knowing how to work, live, and connect in a new cultural environment.
As Dan puts it: “Sharp skills aren’t soft — they’re essential.”
With the right mindset and preparation, you can not only survive an international assignment, you can thrive in it.
Berlitz offers the cultural and language training that helps professionals sharpen these skills before they take on global roles. Get ready to start your assignment confident, prepared, and fluent — in every sense of the word.
"}],"exclude_internal_ref_image":false,"image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt9ed47464d889f5f2/68c83dbb39d1a8f363d30f6e/shutterstock_1494208232_(1).jpg","title":"shutterstock_1494208232 (1).jpg"},"contain_image":false},{"title":"How to pronounce German vowels, diphthongs and the Umlaute","call_to_action_text":"Read the article","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"How to pronounce German vowels, diphthongs and the Umlaute","url":"/blog/german-vowels-dipthongs","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt6bdda0a7133f9da7/642253408795bd112d3b79e9/pexels-canva-studio-3194524.jpg"},"post_content":"If you’re learning German, you might listen to the natives and think to yourself “Those vowels all sound familiar. They must be the same as in English.”
The truth is most of the German vowel sounds also appear in English - but some of them go with different letters. The German “i” sounds like the English “e”. The German “u” is pronounced like an English double “o” and an English “a” has two cute dots in German: “ä”.
Don’t worry. We’re here to untangle all of that and teach you how to correctly pronounce German vowels including diphthongs and “Umlaute”.
![\"Learning](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt49e13fb160f5a674/642253ca622e271d81c5e6ed/pexels-ekaterina-bolovtsova-4049960.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
In German, vowels are called “Vokale” or “Selbstlaute” (self-sounds) - but what exactly are vowels and how do they work in German?
Vowels or speech sounds are those letters that are formed by releasing air through your mouth without blockage by the tongue or other oral organs. Sounds a little complicated? I agree.
So I came up with an easier definition. If speech was music, vowels would be the beat. As you speak, your lips move in specific ways, depending on the letters you produce. Consonants give your words shape but vowels determine each syllable. So they give the beat, the rhythm of speech.
Vowels are:
In German, there are three additional vowels, the so-called “Umlaute”:
All other letters are considered as consonants, in German “Konsonanten” or “Mitlaute” (by-sounds):
As the German name suggests, vowels can easily stand alone while consonants sound incomplete without a respective vowel. That’s why the letter “E” is pronounced “E”, but the letter “B” is pronounced “Be”. We add vowels to make a sound complete.
When it comes to German abbreviations, vowels usually decide between an acronym and an initialism. When an abbreviation has enough vowels so that it’s possible to pronounce, it becomes an acronym like the German word BAföG (short for Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz).
When an abbreviation mostly consists of consonants, the letters are read out by themselves. Therefore it becomes an initialism like “EU” (Europäische Union).
German vowels are all different from English vowels but the good news is that they’re a lot more consistent than their English equivalents, as German is a much more phonetically consistent language than English.
If you look at the “e” in the English words “egg”, “dinner” “men”, “after” and “Pete”, you’ll notice that the letter is pronounced differently every single time.
In German, there are only two basic forms of each vowel: the long form and the short form. Otherwise, the pronunciation of German vowels is consistent, with very few exceptions.
| Vowel | IPA | Lip position | Examples |
| A | [aː] | For the “a” sound, the lips open wide. The short “a” sounds like you’re saying “ah, I see”, while the long “a” sounds like you’re at the dentist going “ahh”. | Long Adel (Royalty) Ahnen (Ancestors) Plan (Plan) Short Ananas (Pineapple) Katze (Cat) An (On) |
| E | [ʔeː] | “E” is a closed letter that leaves only a little room between your upper and lower lips, while the tongue rests on the bottom of your mouth. The short version sounds like the “e” in “bed”. The long “e” is the same sound, just stretched out: “ehhh”. | Long Ehre (Honor) Fee (Fairy) Schnee (Snow) Short Essen (Food) Ende (End) Schnell (Fast) |
| I | [iː] | For the German “i”, you’re slightly pulling your cheeks back, producing a sharp airflow through your lips. The long German “i” is pronounced just like an English “e” like the one in “me”. The short “i” is pronounced like the “i” in “kin”. | Long Igel (Hedgehog) Tiger (Tiger) Maschine (Machine) Short Mich (Me) Frühling (Spring) In (In) |
| O | [oː] | When you say “o”, your lips look just like the letter itself. The long “o” sounds like the “o” in “over” and the short “o” sounds close to an English “aw”. | Long Mohn (Poppyseed) Los (Go) Orakel (oracle) Short Stolz (Proud) Vor (Before) Tonne (Ton) |
| U | [uː] | The “u” looks like a more closed version of the “o”. The long version sounds like the English double “o” in root and the short one sounds similar to the double “o” in “hook”. | Long Huhn (Chicken) Uhr (Clock) Schuhe (Shoes) Short Muster (Pattern) Rustikal (Rustic) Hund (Dog) |
| Ä | [ɛː] | The Ä’s lip position is similar to that of the “e” sound but your mouth is slightly wider open. Correctly pronounced, the German “Ä” sounds like the “a” in “apple”. Notice that many German speakers incorrectly pronounce it like an “e” sound though. | Long Ähnlich (Similar) Krähe (Crow) Fähig (Able) Short Hände (Hands) Bände (Volumes) Fänd (Would fine) |
| Ö | [øː] | For the German “ö”, the lips look like you're saying “o” with the tongue moving towards shaping an “e”. It sounds like the English “u” in “turn”. | Long Möhre (Carrot) Schön (Beautiful) Öl (Oil) Short Eichhörnchen (Squirrel) Löcher (Holes) Wölkchen (Little cloud) |
| Ü | [yː] | For the German “ü”, the lips look like you're saying “ooh”, while trying to whistle. It sounds a little like you’re saying “lyr” as in “lyrics” but also saying “ooh” at the same time. | Long Für (For) Rührei (Scrambled eggs) Über (Over) Short Fürst (Monarch) Fünf (Five) Pfütze (Puddle) |
Try it out for yourself and notice the difference between vowels and consonants.
If you need help pronouncing any of them, be sure to check out our fun beginner's guide to learning the German alphabet.
![\"Man](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blte4d80c9918e777b1/642254b86f5dc30fb7648ff9/pexels-laura-tancredi-7083950.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
A diphthong, also called “Doppellaut” in German is a monosyllabic speech sound consisting of two vowels. That means two vowels are pronounced together as in the English word “eye”, which combines an “ah” sound and an “e” sound. The pronunciation of these double vowels in German will sound familiar to you. You just need to learn their spelling.
| Vowel diphthongs | Pronunciation | Sounds like in English | Examples |
| au | [aʊ̯] | The German diphthong “au” sounds just like the English “ou” in “out”. | Maus (Mouse) Zuhause (Home) Austausch (Exchange) Blau (Blue) |
| ei, ai | [aɪ̯] | The German diphthongs “ei” and “ai” are both pronounced like an English “i”, like the one in “mine”. | Mein (My) Ei (Egg) Mai (May) Saite (String) |
| ie | [i] | This diphthong is sometimes used the same way in English, as in the word “tier”. It sounds like an “e”. | Hier (Here) Lied (Song) Niedlich (Cute) Wieder (Again) |
| eu, äu | [ɔʏ̯] | The German diphthongs “eu” and “äu” sound the same. They’re both pronounced like the “oy” in “decoy”. | Freund (Friend) Leute (People) Äußerst (Extremely) Träume (Dreams) |
If you stretch any German vowel, you get a beautiful little interjection word that no textbook is ever gonna teach you. Here they are, short, sweet and absolutely vital - from “eek” to “umm”.
The German linguist and psychologist Karl Bühler coined the term “Aha-Erlebnis”, which describes the abrupt recognition of a sought-after but previously unknown context of meaning. It comes with that beautiful feeling you get when you’ve been confused for a while until someone finally explains the issue to you in a comprehensive and logical way and you go “ahhhh! Now I get it!”
That’s exactly the feeling we aim to give you with every article on our insightful German language blog.
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Companies with multilingual customer service capabilities have a distinct advantage in reaching broader markets, solving customer issues faster, and improving satisfaction scores. According to CSA Research, 76% of consumers prefer to buy products in their native language, and 40% will never buy from websites in other languages.
Moreover, Harvard Business Review notes that emotionally connected customers are 52% more valuable than those who are merely satisfied. Language plays a key role in forging those emotional bonds, especially during high-stakes interactions like complaints or escalations.
As shared in a recent episode of the Berlitz Language and Culture Podcast, guest Jack Sinclair emphasized how multilingual agents create empathy and defuse tension more effectively. Active listening combined with language proficiency helps resolve complex issues on the first call, a critical KPI for most BPOs.A study by ICMI found that supporting customers in their native language increases customer satisfaction by 72% and improves first-call resolution by 45%. These metrics directly impact retention and reduce costs associated with repeated contacts or churn.
Multilingualism also enhances internal agility. In dynamic industries like BPO, employees often move between roles. Staff with language training can transition more fluidly across teams, campaigns, or geographies, minimizing downtime and boosting productivity.
As Sinclair noted, multilingual agents often spot cultural or linguistic nuances that monolingual staff might miss. These agents become informal cultural translators, strengthening internal training, QA, and customer experience.
According to a Common Sense Advisory report, companies that invest in multilingual content are 1.5 times more likely to grow their revenue. For every dollar spent on language services, organizations report an average return of $25 per dollar in increased revenue, customer satisfaction, and market share.
In an era where AI and automation dominate conversations about CX, the human touch delivered in a customer's native language remains a powerful differentiator. Multilingualism is not just about translation; it's about connection, confidence, and conversion.\r
For BPO leaders and enterprise decision-makers, investing in language training and multilingual hiring is a future-proof strategy. It pays dividends not only in operational metrics but also in customer loyalty and brand equity.\r
Learn more about our Berlitz corporate language solutions and language testing services. We want to help your teams connect globally with confidence. \r
Listen to the whole Episode 3 here.
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