Dan started my program “From Zero to C1” from scratch and after 2 years he passed his TestDaF exam with the highest score TDN5 in all parts (compatible with a C1.2 (advanced C1 level).
He’s actually not only a student of mine but also one of the case studies featured in my premium program “From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day” where you can listen to all 1-on-1 sessions we had throughout the course.
Here’s an interview I did with him so you can learn from his journey going through my program.
Let’s dive in.
What did you try before starting my program “From Zero to C1”?
Just before I got in touch with your program, I switched from the French group at my school to the German one. What struck me was that the students there were at level A2 after 6 years of class. It was clearly not the tempo I wanted to proceed in so I realized that I needed to look for other options.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
My biggest challenge was finding a language tutor who considered my goals realistically and was ready to lead me towards achieving them. Most local teachers I’d contacted used to work at schools or universities and believed that learning a language is supposed to take 10-15 years. I could have easily been discouraged and lead off-track by those incompetent estimations if I had not done some research beforehand as for how realistic my goals were by emailing some leading language learning experts.
What kind of program were you looking for?
I was looking for a program that had a clear structure and was compatible with the time frame I had set for reaching my goals. I wanted to see exactly how many steps I would have to take from point A1 to point B2. It also had to be flexible so that I could fit chunks of learning into my daily routine.
What was your goal when you started?
My goal was to reach level B2-C1 in all four skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking) in 2 years starting from scratch. I needed this level to pass the official TestDaF exam in order to study in Germany.
What struck you the first time you came across my program?
Your program “From Zero to C1” was exactly what I was looking for. Transparent structure and a clear promise: 45 lectures to B1, another 15 to B2, another 15 to C1.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German at school?
That the program was tailored exactly to my needs and I could go through it at the pace I wanted and needed without being limited by weekly 45-minute classes with 10 other students.
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through “From Zero to C1”?
I’ve achieved the level of confidence and comprehension I could have never foreseen, let alone in two years’ learning time. In most situations I feel just as comfortable with German as I do with English, even though I have been learning the latter for more than 12 years now. I’ve also passed the official TestDaF exam with the best score in all four parts (5555), so I reached TDN5, compatible with a C1.2 (advanced C1 level).
I’ve taken part in several very interesting German-speaking exchange programs in Berlin, Frankfurt and Kiev and got an admission letter from one of the best technical universities in Germany, RWTH Aachen.
During one of those exchange programs we had an ice-breaker where we formed a line according to how long we’ve been learning German. When I stood there at the very head of the line, everyone was shocked because they couldn’t believe one can achieve the level of fluency I had in just two years.
How long did it take to get your TDN5 (C1.2 level)?
About 2 years, maybe a little less.
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
I deeply believe that it’s your entire program as a whole, the “Zusammenspiel” of all its parts, that did wonders. Introductory Grammar podcasts were great for learning key grammar concepts; exercises — for prompting reading, listening and writing practise; Vocabulary podcasts and Memrise — for internalizing new vocabulary; Fluency tests — for making sure I’ve taken the most out of every module and seeing progress in my speaking confidence.
Mock TestDaF tests closer to the exam date were also quite important for getting acquainted with the format of the test.
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program over such long period of time (almost 2 years)?
My goal to study in Germany has been a guiding star throughout the entire process so I think the power of having a big goal played a crucial role for me. At the same time I found it vital to break bigger goals down into small to-dos and tackle them step-by-step tracking my own progress along the way. “From Zero to C1” helped a lot with that since it has a clear step-by-step structure.
Two years are also not such a long time after all I’ve mainly not even had the need to get the outsider’s perspective to see improvement, which has been pretty rewarding. Doing a mock B2 exam at some point along the way was quite reassuring as well.
How did you manage to combine a full-time life as a student and learning German on the side?
I sold my soul to the Dative Dare-Devil in exchange for two extra hours in a day for learning German. No, it’s just about prioritizing. As soon as I decided to devote myself to learning German, I started looking for ways to integrate it into my daily life. Your program gave me the tools to do it the most efficient way.
It’s surprising how many learning activities can be integrated into otherwise mechanical phases of one’s routine such as commuting, taking a shower or doing chores. In most cases, an hour a day of active learning was doable.
Of course, closer to my exam date when I was learning intensely, some things had to be sacrificed. But I was thinking of it as an investment, not a burden.
How did a typical daily learning routine look like?
On a typical learning day I would wake up and play one of the podcasts in the background during my morning routine. Then I’d set off to school and there, during breaks and cancelled classes, I would practice some vocab on Memrise. In the evening after school I would squeeze 1 to 1,5 hours of doing some exercises, during which I would write down all the questions I have. Before going to bed, I would take my phone to the shower and give my brain some auditory food for diffused mode though during the night.
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
1,5 – 2 h of passive consumption/exposure and deliberate practice.
What did you emphasize the most when learning?
Since I wanted to get the most out of the program, I emphasized not skipping any of its parts. Instead, I was following the plan diligently, step by step, following the system regarding the order of activities and also adjusting it to what made most sense and worked best for me.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was very typical for a German learner living in a not German-speaking country: speaking…
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking when you actually live in the Ukraine where it’s hard to find real life situations to speak German?
…There were several things I’ve used to not let this skill fall behind. First of all, I was not underestimating the power of input. I am convinced that consuming a language is key to being able to produce it. Secondly, our 1-on-1 speaking sessions were irreplaceable. By saving speaking exercises I would make sure that we don’t run out of things to talk about that are relevant to what I’m leaning at the moment.
Reading and thinking out loud are also two powerful techniques that refined my pronunciation and taught me to form my thoughts into German sentences. Finally, I started meeting German people online at some point. I found that even dating platforms like OkCupid are especially good for that. So if you like a person there, don’t hesitate to start a chat and maybe you’ll not only learn German, but also meet your prince[ss] charming. :)
How did you overcome the fear of speaking to others whenever you visited Germany?
I didn’t really. I was speaking German very reluctantly, forcing myself to do that every time I thought I could learn something from it but generally switching to English a lot. Connecting to people online helped me to open up and start reaching out to new people. But only at B2-C1 did I really trust myself to get out on the street and play with the language.
How did you prepare your TestDaf exam to pass it with flying colors?
Until about B1-B2, exam preparation was just setting a regular “general German” foundation. Then I wanted to do a B2 test to check how well on track I was. Weeks of practicing mock exams followed. A similar phase took place several months before my TestDaF exam. In between those two phases and as part of your B2 Module I was consuming a lot of more scientific/technical/academic content by reading economic articles on Spiegel or listening to SWR2 Wissen.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who is starting with German?
Don’t underestimate the importance of having a guided, structured learning program adapted to your situation to help you save a lot of time and frustration to achieve your goals faster.
“From Zero To C1 in 25 Minutes a Day” is my All-Inclusive, complete, step-by-step, no fuss, hassle free 75 Lessons online program (yes, only 15 lessons for each Module A1/A2/B1/B2/C1) for Busy Professionals like you, so you can go from scratch to become fluent and confident to join meetings with your colleagues, negotiate with your clients and give presentations in front of your bosses IN GERMAN. Even if you have a busy working schedule.
If you’d like to be added to the Waiting List of “From Zero to C1”, enter your information below, and you’ll be the first to know when I re-open the course.