We all see dozens of websites every day. There are many great ones and even more not so great ones. Especially when it comes to online teaching websites I found that many online teachers are needlessly complicating and cluttering their websites, whereas a more user-centric approach can do real wonders in increasing student engagement and…
Articles by André Klein
~
Games
Not a Game: Being Indie (a movie)
Free to do whatever and whenever you like: it’s everyone’s dream, isn’t it? Whether you’re in publishing, teaching or web design, once you kiss your job goodbye and decide to brave it out alone you will need a different toolkit. In the employment world it’s all about permission and expectation, and more often than not,…
Grammar
Why German Grammar Is Dead Simple (free download inside)
A while ago these images were making the rounds about how German sounds cruel and gritty compared to other languages. And while the prejudice of Teutonic doom and gloom will probably not come off any time soon (thanks, Wagner) there is another prejudice which is just as widespread, namely that German grammar is impossibly difficult….
Lifestyle
Botanicula: The Return Of Creative Adventure Games
I grew up with adventure games. Without characters like Zak McKracken, Guybrush Threepwood, Roger Wilco or Dr. Fred, my childhood is hard to imagine. Not only did these characters teach me the first meaningful sentences of English outside of an education curriculum, they fed my imagination, humor and curiosity, as well. I still remember the many…
Indie Publishing
How Indie Publishing Could Revolutionize Creative Expression But Often Doesn’t
It was Clay Shirky who said in a recent interview that publishing is no longer a job, it’s a button. In fact, I’m staring at one right now. It’s blue and it says “publish”. It’s simple. Shall I click it? No? But it would make me a world-class publisher, wouldn’t it? Some people will say yes,…
Lifestyle
The Role Of Reading In The Age Of Constant Digital Distraction
While some people still entertain themselves with the predictable mudfight of “ebook vs paper book”, I find another question far more interesting, namely the role of reading in the age of continuous partial attention. How do we read in the 21st century? What do we read? Or do we read, at all? As Seth Godin…
Meet detectives Baumgartner & Momsen and learn German effortlessly with special emphasis on idioms and natural language crammed with humor and suspense.
learn more Indie Publishing
A Short Story About The Middle East
( tl;dr – wrote a short story, you can download it here) I’ve lived both in the Far and Middle East. Both experiences left strong memories, traces, impressions. And I noticed very early that if I wanted to convey any of my experiences to others in writing, an autobiographical account wouldn’t cut it. Short Fiction…
Hacks & Tutorials
How To Skype Better: 5 Tips For Professional and Daily Calls
Skype is not just a software. It’s a verb. As the Oxford Dictionary informs us, it can be used both with an object “When is a good time to Skype you?” and without as in “We skyped before we met in person.“ Skype is a word that is understood by grandmas and expat toddlers all over the world….
Hacks & Tutorials
Tons Of Kindle Screensaver Fun And Creative Wallpaper Resources
Some of us have learned to love the screensaver images Amazon ships with their Kindle reading devices. Others quietly suffer the rotating selection of dead poets and educational images of fishes and plants. And yet others simply ask: “What if I’d like to see something else?” Whether you want to see your favorite memes, cute…
Hacks & Tutorials
SEO How To: Search Engine Optimization: 5 Simple Tips For Beginners
When I first heard the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) I had very mixed feelings. Optimizing my site so it shows up better when people search for it? Sure. But so much of what I read online seemed so, well…esoteric. I have no other word to describe the feeling one gets when reading the blogs…
Hacks & Tutorials
Use Your Kindle To Learn A Foreign Language
Kindle devices and other e-readers are one of the most convenient and pleasant ways to consume digital text. Contrary to tablets, desktops and smartphones, the screens of e-readers like the Kindle enable you to read for hours without eye-strain, thanks to e-ink technology. While many people already use their e-reading device to devour the latest…
