Hande is an Expat living in Vienna (Austria).
She worked for many years as a group head in the Credit Risk Group in a bank in Vienna.
She started my program “From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day” at A2.
My Program offered her a structured learning system that she could easily integrate into her busy life.
Step-by-step she has been improving her German by developing a better understanding of grammar and sentence structure and growing her confidence in expressing her ideas when speaking.
A few months ago she gave it a try and took the official B1 ÖIF exam (official exam in Austrian).
She was able to pass the exam with an incredible 91% score in Speaking:
- Reading: 42/45 (93%)
- Listening: 42/45 (93%)
- Writing: 15/20 (75%)
- Speaking: 91/100 (91%)
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Here’s an interview I did with her so you can learn from her journey going through my program.
Let’s jump right into it.
What did you try before starting with my program “From Zero to C1”?
I have attended semi-intensive language courses in Vienna before Corona period and during Corona period I have attended online language courses.
But since I was working very hard, I have missed some of the lessons.
To catch the specific language course times were very challenging for me which effected my learning process negatively.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
I needed flexibility to learn German which was not possible with the specific time scheduled language courses.
Additionally, the number of course participants was between 10-15 people which was not ideal for my learning process in terms of speaking.
What kind of program were you looking for?
I was looking for a flexible learning programm which enables to study during night or very early in the morning.
Additionally, I was looking for English explanations to understand the German topics.
What was your goal when you started?
To speak German in my daily life by shopping, in my son´s school to communicate with the teacher and parents of the other students.
Additionally, to get prepared for the B1 German Certificate Exam which will enable to get permanent Visa.
What struck you the most the first time you came across my program?
The flexibility of the program which gives me opportunity to apply my own learning schedule.
Besides clear explained topics in English which make easier for me to understand even the complex grammatic structures in German.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German before?
This program gives you chance to be flexible therefore you can study whenever you want during the day.
Even you clean the house, or doing sport every time you can listen to the lectures.
Besides Herr Professor app enables you to repeat the previous lectures. Last but not the least, the topics have been explained in a very logical and clear way that is why you do not need to memorise the rules which is recommended in most of the language courses.
The examples are given in a way to visualize the topics.
As an example, although I have studied many times in the German courses the topic adjective endings and memorized the rules, I have forgotten all the time and I have never succeeded to use adjective endings properly in my daily life until I have listened the explanations in the lecture.
Manuel easily explained the topic (adjective endings) with a picture, making it easy for me to understand the topic and not to forget the topic through this picture.
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through my program?
I can understand better and more easily Austrian people and use German in my daily life more intensely.
I was also more confident in my speaking part of the exam.
How did you prepare for your B1 exam?
I have followed the course program properly.
The program is easily adaptable and works a lot to be prepared for the exam.
How long did it take to prepare for your B1 exam?
I have attended the A2 program in March 2024 and followed the instructions in the program.
In average I have studied 1-3 hours daily to be prepared for the exam from March 2024 till the end of the June 2024.
What was the most difficult part in the exam?
The most difficult part in the exam for me was the listening part.
Although I have made exercises in the model listening test and was successful in these tests, in the exam most probably due to the exam stress factor I could not focus on the listening part.
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
The recorded lessons, the interviews with the students, Memrise tool, fluency tests, key vocabulary parts (almost all the parts in the program😊)
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program?
The program itself is very enjoyable and due to the interviews and the recorded lessons with the students you do not feel yourself alone in the language learning process.
Also, the other people who aim to learn this language face the same difficulties as you, make the similar mistakes as you.
All of this make you keep motivated and with each lesson by seeing that you make less mistakes in the fluency tests give you message that you are on the right way.
What did a typical daily learning routine look like?
I listen to the lessons and take notes related to each lesson.
By using the memrise tool, I can easily practice myself the lessons.
Additionally, with the help of the app I can easily listen to the lessons and the key vocabulary during my daily routine e.g walking, shopping. Therefore, I am more exposed to the topics which made me easily remember the concepts.
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
I have spent 1-3 hours on average for the learning.
What did you emphasize the most when learning?
I have followed the program properly and tried to study consistently every day.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
To maintain disciplined and motivated were the biggest challenges.
On the other hand, by listening the success stories of the students in the program during the lectures make you feel that you are not alone and give you courage keep going to study.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
Fluency tests in the program helped me a lot to think in German and make me easily remember the words and the structures in German while speaking.
What helped you the most to overcome the fear of speaking to others?
In the daily life as I have seen that I can understand better the Austrian people and more importantly they understand me while I am speaking, has increased my motivation for speaking.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to learn German but finds it hard to find the time due to his/her busy life?
If you really want to achieve this goal, you can always find time to learn German despite your challenging daily routine.
Do not make it very big issue and set yourself realistic goals.
Try to study consistently and try to integrate language learning into your daily routine.
“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.