Q: When you write or say the date in German, you typically precede the actual date with der (meaning "the") or am (meaning "on"). For example, you would say der erste Mai zweitausendneunzehn for "the first [of] May 2019." The period after the numeral indicates this number is an ordinal. The ending of the ordinal changes if you say the date along with a preposition, such as am, or an article, such as der. If there is no article or preposition, the ordinal ends in -er. For example, you would say funfter Oktober zweitausendelf to mean "5th October 2011." If you happen to use an indefinite article, such as ein (meaning "a" or "an"), you would also end the ordinal with -er. When using a definite article, such as der, the ordinal ends in -er. For example, you would say der funfter Oktober zweitausendelf to mean "the 5th [of] Oktober 2011." If a preposition precedes the date, the ordinal ends in -en. For example, you would say am funften Oktober zweitausendelf to mean "on [the] 5th [of] Oktober 2011." If the name of the month is written out, you would just say the name of the month. However, if you're reading a date in German that's written using only numbers, you read the month as an ordinal number rather than saying the name of that month. For example, if you saw der 01.02.2009, you would read it as der erste zweite zweitausendneun, or "the first second two thousand nine." The way you say the numbers for the years in German changed beginning in the year 2000. Prior to that year, numbers are read as hundreds. For the year 2000 and beyond, read the number as it appears. For example, you would read the year 1813 as achtzehnhundertdreizehn, meaning "18 hundred 13." However, the year 2010 is read zweitausendzehn, or "2 thousand 10."
A: Start with an article or a preposition if appropriate. Read the number of the day as an ordinal. Use an ordinal to read the number of the month. Read years prior to 1999 as hundreds and later years as cardinal numbers.

Q: "The British" (also called Britons) live anywhere in the United Kingdom, a nation that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. If you use "English" and "British" interchangeably, drop that habit right away. "Great Britain" refers to the UK mainland which is only England, Scotland, and Wales. If you want to include Northern Ireland when speaking of the country as a whole, then refer to it as the United Kingdom or the UK for short. The Republic of Ireland is an independent nation which became independent from the UK in 1922, later becoming a republic on 18 April 1949 and makes up five-sixths of the island; while the remaining sixth is made up of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. People joke about British food, but many consider this reputation undeserved in modern times. In large cities especially, there are many great food options. Here are a few favorites that are particularly popular in Britain: Indian curry, especially chicken tikka masala Cornish pasties and meat pies English Tea (both the drink and the meal.) Regional specialties abound, from Irish soda bread to Devonshire cream If you are not in the UK, visit international food markets to look for imported goods. British cheese, biscuits, and brands of chocolate (eg. Cadburys) are found worldwide. Watch Sherlock Holmes, the Inbetweeners, Downton Abbey, Misfits, IT Crowd, Coronation Street and other films and shows. This is one of the most entertaining ways to get a sneak peek at British culture, including their sense of humour. British television (especially the BBC) is available in many countries, although usually only as a reduced and older selection. Monty Python is fantastic, but try to find shows from this decade as well. The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system, with the two largest political parties being the Conservative Party, and the Labour Party. There are more than two parties however, with less seats in the House of Commons, but still attract substantial support.The Scottish National Party (SNP) overtook the Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) in terms of numbers of seats at the 2015 UK general election, despite the SNP being confined to only contesting Scottish seats as a regional issues party. If you've never heard of these groups before, try following Question Time, British political news, or British political comedians. If you've never heard of these parties before, just teach yourselves the basics of their positions. Faking an opinion is difficult and somewhat insulting. Football (called soccer in the US and Canada) is a national obsession which you probably knew unless you're from one of the few countries where it isn't. Learn to play the game and follow a team from afar, if you enjoy sports. Rugby and cricket are popular as well. Now you know a tiny taste of British culture. But where do you feel a special connection to? Slang and diets can change over remarkably short distances, and across social classes. Try researching Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, or Belfast.
A:
Know your terms. Appreciate British food. Watch British media and find some role models! Learn the basics of British politics. Follow British sports. Narrow your focus.