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»At the age of 63 I started a new adventure - learning German. I wanted to be able to talk with the parents of some great German friends in their language. Using German classes at the Community College I became somewhat comfortable with reading and writing, but did everything possible to avoid speaking. I was amazed that small German children could learn this difficult language. Why was it so easy for them - and so difficult for me? The answer - each child had a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week German mother. I needed a German mother!
Using the Internet, I discovered Inge Graf and her Really Speaking German program. It was exactly what I needed and wanted. I scheduled two weeks at Haus Tanne and Inge became my surrogate German mother. She worked with me in class, during meals and on excursions on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Inge is a superb teacher. As the only student, I got lots of practice and overcame my fear of speaking.
Inge is very patient and very encouraging. I got over my nervousness quickly - and laughed at my mistakes. The class was great and my Deutsch Sprechen improved significantly! After my two weeks at Haus Tanne with Inge, I traveled to the home of my friends' parents. I am pleased to report that I was able to communicate easily and I was told that 'dein Deutsch ist prima'. My lessons with Inge at Haus Tanne were wonderful - and I now can 'really speak German'.«
Nancy, USA

»Ich bin im Oktober 2004 bei Frau Graf eine Woche gewesen, weil ich ein Deutsch Intensivkurs studieren wollte. Die Erfahrung war für mich eine Überraschung, weil ich das Studium und die Ferien sehr gut verbunden habe.
Die Studium war sehr intensiv aber nicht langweilig. Wir haben die ganze Woche über die Deutsche Literatur gelesen und gesprochen. Inge kennt sehr gut die Welt der Deutsche Bücher und mit ihr habe ich die Gelegenheit diese wunderbar Literatur kennengelernen. Sicher haben wir über verschieden Sachen gesprochen und ich habe gesehen, dass Inge sehr aufgeschlossen ist, deshalb die Unterhaltungen, die wir jedes Tages gehabt haben, waren sehr interessant für mich.
Die Umgebung wo Inge lebt, ist sehr schön. Es gibt viele Wälder wo man Spazierengehen kann, deshalb nach die Deutsche Studium bin ich zwei mal pro Tag Spazierengegangen, ein Mal mit Inge waren wir für drei Stunden unterwegs. Dieses Spaziergangen waren für mich sehr wichtig, weil ich an verschiedenen Themen gedacht habe und dann über diese Themen Deutsche Texten geschrieben habe.
Jedes Tages haben Inge, ihr Mann und ich das Mittagessen und Abendessen zusammen gegessen, mehrere mal auch mit Inges Freunde. Mit Inges Mann habe wir sehr gut über Musik unterhielten, weil er Geige spielt.
Ich würde sagen, dass für mich Inges Intensivkurse eine wunderbare Erfahrung war und ich habe schon Inge gesagt, dass ich dieses Jahr wieder kommen möchte, aber dieses Mal werde ich nicht nur eine Woche dort bleiben sondern zwei Wochen!«
Carlos, Kolumbien

»... I had not studied German before at all. I didn't know a word ... by the end of the week I felt like I had learned quite a lot ... Inge is very patient and easy to understand as a teacher ... She always listened to me and was very willing to do whatever activities I expressed interest in. Plus her English is excellent ... The program was a great experience for me ... «
John, USA

»Ich hoffe, daß diese Tage mir helfen, meinen passiven Wortschatz auf die Oberfläche zu bringen. Danke für die sehr interessanten Diskussionen über alle Themen.«
Ferenc, Ungarn

»I am continuing my Public relations Campaign for Haus Tanne. It most certainly was a wonderful experience for Benjamin (her son). He enjoyed his time with you very much -- and your cooking got RAVE reviews!«
Benjamin's mom, USA

»Du bist eine sehr gute Lehrerin. Ich werde dich empfehlen.«
Patrizia, Italien

»I have always wanted to learn to communicate in German, because of family heritage and the fact that I love Germany and like to travel there. I found the program at HausTanne by researching the internet. If anything, Professor Graf's internet page is unduly modest. The program was much more than I expected. Professor Graf speaks several languages besides her native German and speaks American English without an accent. She is an exceedingly kindly and patient lady. A friend and I spent two weeks at HausTanne last year and enjoyed it very much. We had classes in the morning and afternoon with plenty of time in between for study. The evenings and early mornings were spent hiking, visiting Gasthauses and one excellent village restaurant. We had also booked a week of »out and about in Germany“ which consisted of visits to nearby villages, castles and cultural events. Professor Graf extended herself to assure that we had a meaningful and enjoyable experience. HausTanne is a magnificent structure that was formerly the home of local nobility. It has been splendidly refurbished and operates as a pensione. The food was truly a memorable and enjoyable experience. Professor Graf ate lunch and dinner with us each day to continue the language experience. ... When we do go back, and I am sure that we will, I plan to spend several days at HausTanne to do some more hiking and enjoy the ambience of HausTanne and the village of Kreuzthal/Eisenbach.«
James und Paul, USA

Barbara and John Kindelan published their impressions in the New Hampshire Germanic Association Newsletter:
NEW HAMPSHIRE GERMANIC ASSOCIATION & GERMAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL - Newsletter, Oct/Nov 2000:

»Deutsch im Gespräch und Schwarzwaldwanderidee ohne Gepäck« Three Weeks in Deutschland in July 2000
By: BARBARA & JOHN KINDELAN
PART ONE
We are back in the USA. »Is it really over, John?« »Ja, wir haben es gemacht.« »But John, how can we describe this fantastic trip?« »Wir können nicht.« Memories linger. Contentment remains: We accomplished our three goals: design and execute a trip on our own; participate in a German language home study; and walk from village to village in Germany.
We had traveled to Austria several times as well to Switzerland, Ireland, and France but always with the security of being with others. Where we stayed, how we got there, what and when we ate were all decided by the group leader or reached through consensus. This vacation was our fantasy adventure: on our own for three weeks in Germany - studying the language, hiking the trails, seeing the sights.
Travel books gave general information but not specific to our particular interests. The Internet offered more details: plane and railroad schedules, hotel information, hiking maps, language school descriptions, and money exchange rates. A web site (www.deutsch-ig.com) caught our attention offering a week-long German language program: »DIG - Deutsch im Gespräch, Wohnen und Lernen im Haus der Deutschlehrerin«. Living and learning German at a teacher's house met our needs exactly. E-mails to and from the teacher and the decision was made to »go for it“.

... ((before coming to Kreuzthal/Eisenbach Barbara and John stayed in Lindau for a couple of days)) ...

Kempten was two hours by train from Lindau. Inge Graf, our teacher, guide and hostess, waited for us at the Kempten Hauptbahnhof. Inge has a university degree in German and English and taught German and English at a high school in Munich for 16 years before opening up the guest house »Tanne« where we would be living for the next seven days. We shook hands, introduced ourselves, and from that moment on wir haben nur Deutsch gesprochen. (OK, we admit, when we were by ourselves we spoke English, but with Inge it was immer Deutsch!)
Haus Tanne is a manor-house located in the small village of Kreuzthal/Eisenbach in the Allgäu region (visit the Haus Tanne website for information and photos: www.haustanne.de). Open year round Haus Tanne has eight large guest rooms each with bathroom, telephone and internet access. Our comfortable bedroom included an adjoining sitting/studying area with couch and desk. At night we fell asleep to the soothing sound of the babbling brook rushing through the village and the rain rolling down the red slate roof above our bedroom window.
The language package included all meals, homecooked and delicious. Fresh fruits, berries, and milk (directly from the neighbor’s cows) were always available.
»On the Road with your German Teacher: Learning German & Seeing the Sights« is appropriately titled. The week of full immersion in German language was often intense, sometimes uncertain but always exciting. We were the only students.
Each morning a lesson focused on written exercises, oral grammar, and vocabulary.
Afternoons we were off with Inge for a cultural or outdoor activity. One day we visited the Baroque Basilika Ottobeuren; another day we strolled through the medieval town Leutkirch; we visited a local museum in the village of Isny; we toured a glass factory in ein kleines Dorf: Glashüttendorf Schmidsfelden. On Saturday night we shared laughs and drank bottles of wine with six of Inge's friends from Munich.
One morning Inge loaned us a map and suggested a hike. Barbara heard Inge say she was coming with us. John thought she said: »Ihr geht allein.« John was right. Inge left us off at the trail head about 7 or 8 miles away. The 5-hour walk meandered through the woods to a mountainside restaurant (Alpe Wenger Egg), on to a look-out tower and then out of the forest back to Haus Tanne. The rain, which had poured for 5 days straight, let up that morning. Inge predicted favorable weather. We weren't so sure. We met no other people on the trail. We kept talking: »What if we get lost? How do you say, »We are lost.« »Wir sind verlossen?« »Nein. Wir haben uns verlaufen.« »Did you bring your phrase book, John?«
Käse und Brot mit Bier never tasted better than at the little restaurant reached in about three hours. We were so excited to practice our newly acquired language »skills“ with the only other people there. A retired German Judge and his wife had changed their plans to hike the higher trails because of new fallen snow. The Judge began speaking to us in English but was agreeable to switching to German after we explained, (as Inge had suggested we do if people spoke to us in English) »Wir lernen Deutsch hier und wir müssen auf Deutsch sprechen«. The judge told us this was the coldest July in recent memory. He had run 50 marathons in his 65 years, including the Boston Marathon several times. We »discussed« hiking in the Alps and places he had visited in the states. By the time we left, an hour later, we were »high« from good conversation (or could it have been the beer?).
A look-out tower stood about twenty minutes from the restaurant. Although normally uncomfortable with heights Barbara was convinced to climb up the winding wooden stairs for fine views of the surrounding country side. The remaining walk took us down past loggers winching out gigantic newly felled trees. The buzzing of their chain saws assured us that we were never far from civilization. Haus Tanne was a welcomed sight as we arrived tired and happy having completed the hike »allein«.

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