Poulomi is an Expat living in Dresden (Germany)
She is a Software Engineer working at Phoenix Contact Electronics GmbH.
My program “From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day” 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, vocabulary and sentence structure and growing her confidence in expressing herself when speaking.
She was able to pass her official B1 Telc exam with an incredible 100% score in Speaking.
- Reading: 60/75 (80%)
- Listening: 65/75 (87%)
- Writing: 33/45 (73%)
- Speaking: 75/75 (100%)
Here’s a complete interview I did with her so you can learn from her journey going through my program.
Let’s jump right into it.
Poulomi,
What did you try before starting with my program “From Zero to C1”?
I tried a language school for my A2 in Dresden, Germany but I was not at all satisfied with it because I felt the input that I was getting during the classes were not fully comprehensible. Also we were not given enough practice material which I feel is very important for the beginners.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
Getting inputs which were not fully comprehensible. I think it is very important that one speaks consciously in simple and easy sentences with the beginners.
What kind of program were you looking for?
I was looking for a self paced program so that I can carry on with my other technical learnings as well. And the course with Herr Professor was the best fit.
What was your goal when you started?
My goal was to be able to communicate with the natives, to decipher what the person on the other side is trying to express and I’m also able to express myself with confidence.
What struck you the most the first time you came across my program?
The audio podcasts were the ones which caught my attention. I went through one and felt like going through another one and then another one and so on. The fact that the podcasts were not very long is beneficial for people who are busy. At the same time it tickles your brain to formulate the sentences yourself especially with “How would you say……” , which doesn’t make the process boring.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German before?
The program focuses a lot on the listening part, which I think is very effective. It seems effortless and at the same time works appropriately on ingraining keywords in the brain.
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through my program?
Firstly, I got proper guidance as to how I should prepare for my exam. Secondly, the vocabulary practice materials are great. It helps memorizing stuff so well. There is a lot of practice material for learning grammar structures as well which helps internalize things effectively.
How did you prepare for your B1 exam?
I went through the Herr Professor audio podcasts repeatedly, used to read Nachrichten leicht, and solved practice materials as suggested in the “From Zero to C1” learning system.
How long did it take to prepare for your B1 exam?
It took around 4 months for me to prepare for my B1 exam
What was the most difficult part in the exam?
For me ‘lesen’ was the most difficult, even though it seemed easy and simple at the beginning.
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
I found the Flashcard packages and “Traditional exercises” great for the exam preparation.
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program?
I enjoyed learning German to be honest. It felt great when I was able to talk to the person at the supermarket or in the bakery. When I started to communicate slowly, it was awesome and that gave me the push to learn more.
How did you manage to combine a full-time job and learning German on the side?
So this was an advantage as I was not working full-time during my B1. So I was able to practice a lot from the different learning techniques in the learning system.
What did a typical daily learning routine look like?
I practiced for about 2-3 hrs from the “Traditional Exercises”, some 20 mins from the Flashcard packages, and listened to some German, maybe for another 20 mins.
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
On an average I spent 3-4 hrs during the weekdays.
What did you emphasize the most when learning?
I focused a lot on listening and reading.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
The biggest obstacle was forgetting new words very easily. I used to write them down on a piece of paper and went through them often.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
Listening is very effective and sometimes trying to speak on my own was also helpful I feel.
What helped you the most to overcome the fear of speaking to others?
The more I spoke, the more confident I used to become.
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 not anything else, listening to comprehensible input is a must-do.
“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.