Leigh is an Expat living in München (Germany).
He works as a Cultural Developer in the Corporate HR department.
When he arrived he struggled for a long time to find the time to work on his German:
“I was originally looking to take 4 weeks off work and do an intensive course. But I’d procrastinated so much about it as I had 6 week of leave in a year, and I was reluctant to use 4 of them learning German when I was living in Europe! I wanted to use my leave to travel!”
He started my program “From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day” at A2.
My Program offered him a structured learning system that he could easily integrate into his busy life.
Step-by-step he has been improving his German by developing a better understanding of grammar and sentence structure and growing his confidence in expressing himself when speaking.
A few months ago he gave it a try and took the official B1 Goethe exam.
He was able to pass it with an incredible 94% score in Speaking:
- Reading: 90/100 (90%)
- Listening: 77/100 (77%)
- Writing: 89/100 (89%)
- Speaking: 94/100 (94%)
Here’s a complete interview I did with him so you can learn from his journey going through my program.
Let’s jump right into it.
Leigh,
What did you try before starting with my program “From Zero to C1”?
I had a German teacher come into my workplace which was organised by my employer. Basically it was 1 on 1 teaching that involved a text book and a module for each lesson. The lessons were 90 minutes and involved going through the text book and then doing little exercises. It basically covered a minimum spread of reading writing and speaking The challenge was the lessons were all in German, and at that level all it was to me was just noise and it was quite frustrating.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
Probably the time it takes to properly learn it. I was always time poor and attending evening classes was never an option for me with my work schedule and travel.
What kind of program were you looking for?
I was originally looking to take 4 weeks off work and do an intensive course. But I’d procrastinated so much about it as I had 6 week of leave in a year, and I was reluctant to use 4 of them learning German when I was living in Europe! I wanted to use my leave to travel! At that stage also I had no idea of the options of online learning. I just happened to stumble across Herr Professor’s free daily podcast.
What was your goal when you started?
I just wanted to be able to speak and listen fluently while having a normal conversation with a local. Nothing complicated, but just a basic conversation.
What stroke you the most the first time you came across my program?
It was how simple things were explained. I got this through the daily podcasts originally, and then through the lessons which I eventually signed up for. For the first time I actually could comprehend the concept of Dativ. This was big for me as I’d researched online and asked my teacher who came into my class many many times. But I just could not understand the concept of it, nor it’s rules etc.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German before?
How simple things were explained, how I could learn while commuting, training in the gym, cooking up at home. And what was even better, was that I could actually go back over content time and time again, whereas with my teacher, once the lesson was over I had to re-interpret it myself which can be easily misunderstood. With the podcasts, I just replay them!
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through my program?
I can have a normal conversation with a local about normal everyday topics. Like purchasing something, what I did on the weekend or discussing my travel adventures. But I can now translate most content from the TV for international friends when they come over, or I can read most letters that I am sent in the mail, and 90% of advertisements I can read in the city or in the trains.
How did you prepare for your B1 exam to pass it with flying colors?
I did a lot of preparation. I listened to all B1 podcasts in detail many times. Sometimes 6-8 times per podcast. Especially the ones where Manuel guides the students through the practice exams. I also joined a lot of advanced Personalized Speaking Coaching calls with Manuel which was also very helpful. But just practicing the script for the speaking, becoming familiar with the steps of each exercise was super important as in the exam, you don’t want any surprises.
How long did it take to prepare your B1 exam?
I think about a solid 3 months
What was the most difficult part in the exam?
The listening for sure, part of the exam was listening to someone speak with a Swiss accent which was very difficult for me. I was actually quite sure I would fail that section and whilst it was my lowest mark, I still passed it quite easily!
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
The advanced Personalized Speaking Coaching calls with Manuel where I got instant feedback after practising the writing or speaking section. But also the guide within the podcasts on each section of the exam. This was really helpful to know what to expect.
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program?
I was pretty determined to pass the exam since being in Germany. I love a challenge and not wanting to give up was what kept me going. Also because I knew that I was comprehending and understanding the content much better via the podcasts, I was felt much more confident that I was actually progressing.
How did you managed to combine a full-time job and learning German on the side?
This was difficult as it still involved many nights going through some of the exercises and writing lots of text etc. But when you want it enough you find the time.
How did a typical daily learning routine look like?
Morning while cooking breakfast – listen to a podcast
Commute to work – listen to a podcast
Commute home – listen to a podcast
In the gym – listen to a podcast (Yes listening to Manuel is not as motivating as listening to Metallica but I learnt a lot by doing this)
Evening – Some exercises 30 mins (2-3 times per week)
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
If you counted the podcasts in my ears, a minimum of 2 hours a day.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
The desire to not make mistakes. This prevented me from trying to speak it with colleagues or to really try and open up on the coaching calls. I eventually became at peace with the fact that when learning a language there are millions of mistakes. So so many. And that I just had to suck it up and keep trying. It was not easy though.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
The advanced Personalized Speaking Coaching calls were great, as the feedback was awesome.
What helped you the most to overcome the fear of speaking to others?
I initially only spoke with those I was most comfortable with. And typically that was people who had learnt another language quite recently as they more understood the difficulties. Now though even at B1/B2 level I know I am making lots of mistakes still but I don’t care. I ask them to correct me and just accept that it’s a part of it. There are bigger worries in my life than saying something is der when it’s actually das!
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?
With every focus there is a sacrifice. For me it was listening to music in the gym, or when I’m commuting to work. I sacrificed that to listen to podcasts and German tutorials. Yes I know it sounds quite boring. But this sacrifice was much better than having to spend time away from home and my partner a few nights per week in a classroom learning German. So be open to new ways of learning, as it can be hard to comprehend learning a language this way, but take it from me, with dedication and commitment it will happen.
“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.