Frequently asked questions
Who can participate in »The Language of Democracy«?
Everyone who is interested in the U.S. election. Whether you have visited the USA or not, whether your English skills are beginner, medium or advanced, »The Language of Democracy« is a space for you to share your ideas.
Is participation free?
Yes, »The Language of Democracy« is completely free.
How will my partner be chosen?
You will be paired with someone with a different opinion. Our software automatically matches you based on the way you answered the questions in the registration survey.
Who is the host of »The Language of Democracy«?
It is hosted by ZEIT SPRACHEN together with ZEIT Verlagsgruppe. ZEIT SPRACHEN publishes the language magazines Spotlight, Business Spotlight, ADESSO, ECOS, écoute and Deutsch perfekt.
What is the idea behind »The Language of Democracy«?
Good discussions are part of a healthy democracy. In an age of fragmented discourse, the goal is to bring people together to exchange ideas. More than 150,000 people have participated in similar events such as »Europe Talks« and »Deutschland spricht« - a huge success story.
How to start?
For the registration, please answer some questions. We will match you with somebody who has a different perspective on the questions so you can have an interesting conversation about your ideas. Start now!
When will I have my conversation?
You can register between 13 September and 23 October. On 24 October, you'll be introduced to your discussion partner via email. It's up to you to find a conversation date that works for both of your schedules - we recommend that you talk between the 25 October and 5 November. The U.S. election will take place on 5 November.
How long is the conversation?
We recommend 30-60 minutes - it's up to you. Try to speak in English! If you get stuck, you can of course also switch to German.
My English-speaking skills are okay, but not very good. Can I still take part?
Don't worry! In our free ZEIT SPRACHEN app we provide useful phrases and background information on the election for you to prepare with. Interesting articles about the candidates and the country, helpful vocabulary for discussions, fun quizzes and more: Get the app!
What is the ZEIT SPRACHEN app for?
After you have registered, we'll give you free access to our ZEIT SPRACHEN app. In it you will find exciting articles about the USA, useful vocabulary for discussions and fun quizzes. We recommend checking the ZEIT SPRACHEN app from time to time to prepare your discussion.
What should we talk about?
Unless you arrange otherwise, you and your partner will have a one-on-one conversation. Don't feel pressured - you don't have to solve America's big issues. The goal is simply to create an open conversation between two people who would probably never meet otherwise. Try to speak English - no matter what level you are at. We know you can do it!
If you'd like some background for your conversation, please have a look here .
How do we set up the call?
You are free to use any digital service you like, either video conferencing or just an old-fashioned phone call. For help, read what our colleagues from ZEIT Verlagsgruppe put together on how to have a great video call.
What if I don't feel comfortable with my match?
We understand that meeting a new person can feel strange. That's why we require both conversation partners to confirm they would like to meet their match. Once you have been paired with a conversation partner, both you and your partner will need to agree for the meeting to move forward.
Sometimes your match may not agree to meet with you after you have confirmed to meet them. In this case, you will also receive an email to reactivate your participation and receive a new match in the next round.
My conversation partner did not show up for our meeting, now what?
The experiences from »Deutschland spricht« and »Europe talks« show that just a very small number of conversations partners don't show up for the meeting. If so, you can text your partner to find an alternative meeting date that works for both of you.
Who stores my data, and what happens to it?
When you sign up, your personal data as well as the answers to the survey questions are processed and stored by ZEIT SPRACHEN and My Country Talks from ZEIT Verlagsgruppe. You can learn more by reading our full privacy policy.
Is there any sponsor of »The Language of Democracy«?
The Google News Initiative has provided financial support for project management and marketing, without being involved in the editorial work. The editorial work is completely done by ZEIT SPRACHEN.