Many Germans who regularly travel to China always have to live with one shortcoming: They don’t speak the language. According to Verena Menzel, offers at universities and adult education centers can only teach learners the basics. „Chinese is a very context-oriented language and it is a different culture,“ explains the literary scholar. Practice and practical applications are thus very important, she adds. „What really helps is direct communication with Chinese people,“ says the 37-year-old. Menzel practiced with a Chinese language partner during her studies in Mainz.