How I Learned German in 6 Months 🇩🇪 | Deutsch Lernen | My Story

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their personal journey of learning German. Initially uninterested in languages, they were inspired by multilingual friends during university. Despite a busy schedule, they committed to learning German, achieving a B1 level within seven months. They recount their experiences practicing German during a trip to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, and their aspiration to live in Germany, particularly Munich. The speaker emphasizes the importance of daily practice and hopes to inspire viewers to learn a new language, highlighting the feasibility of mastering a language in a short time.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker's fascination with languages began at a young age during a family vacation in Spain, where they observed people switching between English and Spanish.
• 🏫 Despite being introduced to French and German in school, the speaker found language learning uninteresting and didn't retain much, only managing basic phrases.
• 🎓 The speaker's lack of motivation to learn languages continued through their school years, focusing instead on subjects like math, physics, chemistry, and biology.
• 🚄 It was not until university, where the speaker met international students fluent in multiple languages, that they felt inspired to learn another language.
• 📚 The decision to learn German was solidified during a mandatory internship, where the speaker had more free time and was determined to achieve the B1 level.
• 📆 The speaker committed to an intensive learning schedule from July 2007 to January 2008, dedicating every day to learning German through vocabulary, YouTube videos, and speaking practice.
• 🎉 Successfully passing the B1 exam in London was a significant achievement and confidence booster for the speaker.
• 🌐 Post-examination, the speaker continued to learn German but at a less intensive pace, focusing on maintaining their skills.
• 🌴 During a two-month trip to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, the speaker frequently encountered German speakers and was able to practice the language, which was both surprising and rewarding.
• 🏙️ The speaker's desire to live in Germany, particularly Munich, and work in the field of mechanical engineering, is partly driven by their improved German language skills.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of daily practice and consistency in language learning, and hopes their experience can motivate others to learn a new language.

Q & A

What sparked the speaker's initial interest in learning languages?

The speaker's interest in learning languages began during a family vacation in Spain when they were six or seven years old. They were fascinated by people who could switch between English and Spanish.

Why did the speaker find language learning boring at school?

The speaker found language learning boring at school because it was not interesting and they did not learn much. They could only say basic phrases like 'hello' and 'how are you' in German.

What changed the speaker's attitude towards learning a new language?

The speaker's attitude changed when they were in university and met international students who could speak multiple languages. This made the speaker feel envious and motivated to learn a new language.

How did the speaker decide to learn German?

The speaker decided to learn German during their third year at university when they had more free time due to a work schedule that allowed them to study after work hours.

What was the speaker's goal when they started learning German?

The speaker's goal was to pass the B1 level German language exam within about ten months.

What resources did the speaker use to learn German?

The speaker used German YouTube videos, the language learning app HelloTalk, and German podcasts to learn the language.

How much progress did the speaker make in their German skills within the first ten months?

The speaker made significant progress, reaching a level where they could understand approximately 60-80% of what they heard in German YouTube videos or podcasts.

Where did the speaker take and pass the B1 German language exam?

The speaker took and passed the B1 German language exam in London.

What did the speaker do after passing the B1 exam?

After passing the B1 exam, the speaker continued to learn German but at a less intensive pace. They also traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize where they met German speakers and practiced the language.

Why does the speaker want to improve their German now?

The speaker wants to improve their German to potentially move to Munich, Germany for work and to live in an environment with good weather, which they experienced during their summer jobs in Germany.

What are the speaker's future plans regarding German language proficiency?

The speaker plans to continue learning German and hopes to possibly take the B2 level exam in the future.