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

German With Jay

18 Feb 202116:25

Summary

TLDRIn 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.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Early Fascination with Languages

The speaker recounts their initial interest in languages sparked during a family vacation in Spain when they were six or seven years old. They were fascinated by the ability of Spanish people to switch between English and Spanish. This interest waned during their school years, where they found learning French and German to be tedious and uninteresting, leading to minimal progress in these languages. Despite this, they always thought it was cool to speak another language but lacked the motivation to learn one.

05:01

📚 University and the Decision to Learn German

During university, the speaker studied railway engineering and met many international students who were fluent in multiple languages. This made them feel envious and motivated to learn another language. Despite a busy schedule, they decided to learn German in their third year. They set a goal to pass the B1 level exam within ten months, starting from summer 2017 to January 2018. They dedicated time each day to learning German, watching YouTube videos, and practicing speaking, which led to significant improvement in their language skills.

10:03

🏆 Achieving B1 Level and Traveling

The speaker successfully passed the B1 German language exam in January 2018 and continued to learn German, albeit less intensively, until the summer of 2018. They then traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, where they met German speakers in youth hostels. This experience was enriching as they were able to practice and utilize their German skills. The speaker's journey with the German language continued, and by 2020, they were considering moving to Germany, specifically Munich, and aimed to improve their German further, possibly taking the B2 exam.

15:21

🌱 Motivations for Learning German

The speaker outlines their reasons for learning German: a foundational knowledge from school, the importance of Germany in the field of mechanical engineering, and a love for nature and good weather. They have experienced good weather in Germany during their work at summer camps and wish to live in a similar environment in the future. The speaker hopes their video will inspire others to learn a new language, emphasizing that it's possible to learn a language within six to seven months with consistent daily practice.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡German language

The German language is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. In the video, the speaker shares their journey of learning German, which started out of fascination with language-switching and later became a personal goal to achieve fluency. The speaker's motivation to learn German is tied to their admiration for the country's engineering industry and the desire to live in Germany, where the language is essential for communication and professional advancement.

💡Motivation

Motivation in this context refers to the internal drive that encourages the speaker to learn German. Initially, the speaker was not motivated to learn a new language, but after interacting with international students who spoke multiple languages, they felt inspired and motivated to learn German. This change in motivation is a central theme in the video, as it led to the speaker's commitment to learning and eventually mastering the language.

💡Language learning

Language learning is the process of acquiring new languages. The video script describes the speaker's personal experience with language learning, particularly focusing on German. The speaker's journey includes initial struggles, a period of intensive study, and eventual success in passing a language proficiency exam. This keyword is central to the video's narrative, as it outlines the steps and strategies the speaker took to learn German.

💡B1 exam

The B1 exam refers to a language proficiency test that corresponds to the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In the video, the speaker mentions taking the B1 exam as a goal during their language learning process. Passing this exam signifies that the speaker has achieved a level of proficiency that allows them to understand the main points of complex texts and communicate effectively in German.

💡Practice

Practice in the context of the video refers to the act of repeatedly exercising or training in an activity to improve performance. The speaker emphasizes the importance of daily practice in learning German, which included watching YouTube videos, using language learning apps, and engaging in conversations. Practice is highlighted as a key component in the speaker's successful language acquisition.

💡International students

International students are students who are enrolled in a higher education institution in a country other than their own. In the video, the speaker's encounter with international students who spoke multiple languages sparked their interest in learning German. These students serve as a motivational factor and a reminder of the value of multilingualism.

💡Travel

Travel in this context refers to the act of visiting or moving across different geographical locations. The speaker mentions traveling to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, where they had the opportunity to practice German with other travelers. Travel is presented as a way to immerse oneself in a language and culture, thereby enhancing language skills.

💡Engineering

Engineering is a professional discipline that involves the application of scientific principles to design, build, and maintain structures, machines, devices, systems, materials, and processes. The speaker's interest in engineering, particularly in the context of Germany's reputation for excellence in this field, is a motivating factor for learning German. It suggests that language skills can be complementary to one's professional goals.

💡Germany

Germany is a country in Central Europe known for its strong economy, rich cultural history, and advancements in various fields, including engineering. The video's speaker expresses a desire to live in Germany, which is a significant motivation for learning the German language. Germany is presented as a destination for both personal growth and professional opportunities.

💡Language switch

Language switch refers to the ability to alternate between different languages during a conversation. In the video, the speaker recounts being fascinated by people who could switch between English and Spanish while they were on vacation. This experience sparked an early interest in languages and later influenced the speaker's decision to learn German.

💡YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing platform that the speaker used as a resource for learning German. They mention watching German YouTube videos as part of their daily practice, which helped them improve their listening and comprehension skills. YouTube is highlighted as an accessible and engaging tool for language learning in the video.

Highlights

The narrator was fascinated by people switching between English and Spanish during a family vacation in Spain.

Initially found learning languages in school uninteresting and didn't retain much.

At university, the narrator was motivated to learn languages after meeting international students who were multilingual.

Despite a busy schedule, the narrator decided to learn German during a summer break in 2017.

Set a goal to pass the B1 German language exam within about ten months.

Learned German by watching YouTube videos and using language learning apps.

Noticed significant improvement in understanding spoken German after consistent practice.

Successfully passed the B1 German exam in London in January 2018.

Continued to learn German but at a less intensive pace after the exam.

Traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, where encounters with German speakers boosted language skills.

Plans to improve German further and possibly take the B2 exam.

Wants to live in Germany, specifically Munich, due to the country's reputation in mechanical engineering and pleasant weather.

Shares personal experience to motivate others to learn a new language.

Believes it's possible to learn a new language within six to seven months with consistent effort.

Encourages daily language practice as a key to successful language learning.

The video serves as a testament to the narrator's journey and serves as inspiration for language learners.