About German Language Pro

German Language Pro is me, Elfi H.M. Gilissen – your professional translator, editor, tutor, and language coach.

With over 26 years of professional experience in translation, editing, authorship, and project management, I offer deep expertise in German, Dutch, and English. I have worked with leading translation agencies, international companies, cultural institutions, and publishers, always combining linguistic precision with cultural insight.

Multilingual and multicultural roots

Born in the Netherlands to a Flemish mother, I grew up in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and studied Translation (Chinese & Indonesian) at the University of Bonn. Years of living in the US, China, and Australia have shaped me into a true multilingual professional: German and Dutch are my native languages, and English has become my third “mother tongue.” I also confidently communicate in French, and have academic training in Chinese and Indonesian.

Proven track record as translator and editor

Since 2005 I have worked as a freelance translator (EN/DE/NL), responsible for thousands of projects ranging from technical manuals, medical and legal documents, and contracts to marketing copy, festival programs, and press releases.
Clients include Vertaalbureau Perfect, Reise Know-How Verlag, Monheimer Musikfestival, Moers Festival, Zeche Carl, and Bunker Ulmenwall.

I am experienced in CAT tools, AI-assisted workflows, and content management systems (SDL Trados Studio, WPML, Weblate, InDesign, QuarkXPress), ensuring efficiency, consistency, and high-quality output.

Author and cultural expert

Alongside translation, I have built a career as an author and editor of over a dozen published books and dozens of updated guides. My works include German Slang – the real German, Australian Slang – English Down Under, Niederländisch Slang, and KulturSchock Niederlande. I also wrote for GEO Special Australien and MERIAN Shanghai, and edited more than 60 e-books for Reise Know-How Verlag.

This background gives me exceptional research and editorial skills, as well as the ability to explain complex cultural quirks in a way that is engaging, accessible, and practical.

Language coaching and expat guidance

Beyond professional writing and translation, I also work as a tutor and cultural coach, especially for internationals in Eindhoven. My personal and professional experience makes me uniquely qualified:

  • I have lived as a Dutch-born “repat” among internationals for nearly 25 years.

  • I founded the International Women’s Club Enschede to support expats in the Netherlands.

  • As a single mother for 13 years, I raised my children to be fully trilingual (Dutch–German–English) using immersion techniques such as alternating household languages and extensive multilingual reading.

  • As the author of KulturSchock Niederlande, I help expats understand Dutch history, systems, and everyday culture in a way that goes beyond the basics of the inburgeringscursus.

This combination of academic expertise, published authority, and lived immersion ensures that my coaching is both practical and culturally insightful. Whether you need German tutoring, Dutch integration support, or English refinement, I design sessions that are interactive, real-world, and directly relevant to your goals.

 

Contact German Language Pro!

Have a question, need a no-obligation quote for translation or editing, or want to schedule your lesson intake?

I’ll be happy to help.