Ranjiv is an Expat living in Zürich (Switzerland).
He’s an IT Specialist working at Accenture.
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 TELC exam.
He was able to pass it with an incredible 91% score in Speaking and 100% in Writing:
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.
Ranjiv,
What did you try before starting with my program “From Zero to C1”?
I started learning initially with Duolingo and then joined a traditional German language center. I had to travel to the center and usually get tired after work. Also the wavelength didn‘t match with other students,so,many times it was either boring or lacked speed and depth. I used to wait for the class to finish so that I can go home.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
The biggest challenge was lack of structured learning. I always felt I learned something but never felt progressed. I lacked confidence and felt less competent.
Also time management with learning, especially going to the learning center and then doing homework, was quite challenging.
What kind of program were you looking for?
I was looking for a program which is structured and takes me from point A to point B. I wanted to leave the treadmill and conquer some real distance.
What was your goal when you started?
One of my main goals was to get certified which is required to obtain a Residence permit. Secondly I wanted to communicate fluently with colleagues, thereby opening up more and more opportunities.
What struck you the most the first time you came across my program?
I‘m also an Engineer and that’s why I also prefer things to be structured. This course is very much structured and explained well in English. So the time spent learning is 100% worth. In traditional learning centers, it’s almost impossible to acquire 100% of what they teach in German.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German before?
Your 5 step approach to learning each module really makes a big difference. Also it didn‘t take a lot of personal time. I enjoy my walks, gym, my commuting time learning German. It gave me a sense of achievement without any guilt of missing my other important tasks. Also since the teaching is fully in English, it kept holding my interest in it.
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through my program?
I‘m able to converse with my colleagues and also able to communicate with my landlord and in shops etc. I‘m also able to read and understand any official communication that I receive without translation.
How did you prepare for your B1 exam to pass it with flying colors?
I completed all the lessons in the module and did a few exercises recommended in “From Zero to C1”. Then I also did several model tests to get confidence with exam. I also improved my conversation skills in your additional advanced Speaking Coaching Program. The exam preparation by Manuel boosted the confidence. I scored 90.6% in speaking and 100% in writing, only because of special preparation with Manuel’s program.
How long did it take to prepare your B1 exam?
Even though I started the course from A2, I directly attempted B1 exam. I learned the course in not so continuous manner due to other demands from my work from time to time. However I took somewhere around 2 months to focus on exam preparation.
What was the most difficult part in the exam?
I learned that some candidates in exam center can express their stress overwhelmingly and try to spread it. I was also a victim of this case. That’s probably why I had some misses in Listening module. I also unusually found 3rd part of reading a bit difficult in the Telc exam.
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
Nothing outside of this program. All the contents of Manuel‘s course are very important. I even didn‘t find enough time to do the recommended exercises of the program but still I was good enough for the exam. Memrise packages however were very good to immerse with Vocab.
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program?
My office and work related tasks always demanded more time from me and I had to prepare and write exams there as well. However, it was easy to continue the pace here with German learning, since at least I could hear the audio while commuting and during Gym.
How did you manage to combine a full-time job and learning German on the side?
As I mentioned before, it is this specialty of this course that makes life easy and productive time management. I improve daily step by step by listening to modules while communicating, lunch breaks etc.
How did a typical daily learning routine look like?
I dedicated some time to finish a module completely. Then, I use to daily listen to podcasts almost with all non work activities; literally headphones on ears during gym,walks, shopping, waiting etc.
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
I would spend 1 to 1.5 hrs and sometimes just 30 minutes.
What did you emphasize the most when learning?
I emphasized most on grammar and proper structure formation as I believe proper foundation in these will help with further learning progress.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Time management was the biggest obstacle. Once I booked for an exam date, I got a goal set and so I did all that I can to succeed in it.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
Being brave enough to speak with colleagues and attending official meetings in German helped me a lot. Also the thing which gave me the platform to improve my ability to express fluently is the additional advanced Speaking Coaching Program.
What helped you the most to overcome the fear of speaking to others?
My initial response used to be ‚Sprechen Sie English?‘. Later I changed myself and started encountering German. People supported me and encouraged me. My confidence improved day by day.
What’s one piece of advice would you give to someone that wants to learn German but finds it hard to find the time due to his busy life?
Identify and set a Goal that is difficult to resist achieving. Think about the consequences, if you don’t achieve the Goal. This will give you a push towards your goal. One step daily forward is required even if its small and you will realise one day that you have learned a lot of German by then.
“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.