Learning the German A1 Level Language: From the start to my Goethe Institute Exam Results and more!
Let me begin by saying that learning a new language is tough! There, I said it. It does not mean it’s impossible. I want to share my A1-level German language learning experience and a few insights I gained along the way.
I started journaling my German learning experience and noted down a few things, including:
- What helped me to learn better
- All the things that went wrong
- Every mistake I made during the process that made the learning even more difficult.
The entire experience taught me a great deal! And, I hope it will aid in your journey. And save precious time and help you prevent the same mistakes I made.
It’s also important to understand the duration of learning a language might differ from one person to another…
And to remember: “Every single individual is unique. Everyone processes information differently”.
Allow yourself to enjoy your own unique experience.
My first step in learning the A1 German Course
I began learning German with the Goethe Online Course — the self-learning option. It meant navigating the world of the German language without a tutor! I tell you, that was the worst possible way I could have started the process.
No language is a simple word-to-word translation! The German language is no exception. Understanding the basics of the language needs a solid foundation of grammar, phonetics, and all the rules the language follows.
The materials provided by the Goethe Online Course were great. But I still found it perplexing. From verb conjugation to the fixed sentence structure in German, it was difficult to make sense of it all without a tutor’s guidance.
My Attempt at Learning German from a Native German Tutor!
So, the next logical step was to find a tutor for myself and that is what I did. I even found a native German speaker to tutor me in the city I lived in, in India. One would think that was the best thing that could happen to anyone and again, I thought so too.
Although, not every skilled master can be an outstanding teacher. And I realized it after spending my three precious months with the online German A1 level course and a native German speaker as my tutor.
The online course with this German tutor was as per the Goethe German A1 level standards and the tutor covered all the topics. However, the explanations weren’t as simple as I would have liked them to be.
Disclaimer: I want to emphasize that my experience with this German native teacher is personal and others may not feel the same way.
So, at the end of the three months, I had made almost no progress! I was desperate and turned to social media (YouTube, Instagram) to learn German.
How I Proceeded with Learning the German Language?
Maybe social media works for some, and I believe there are great YouTube Channels out there. My personal favorites are ‘Your German Teacher’, ‘Learn German’, and ‘Learn German with GermanPod101.com’, to name a few.
However, you need to invest a lot of time to learn on your own, just with the help of YouTube videos. And, I was someone who was juggling between work, learning German, and a few other personal things that consumed a lot of time!
Spending hours on YouTube videos alone or practicing with Duo Lingo did not meet my standards for learning the language. I did not have the time, energy, or the means to spend hours in German at that point in time.
I also found that joining YouTube’s German Learning courses was out of my budget! Okay, so what next?
What worked for me and helped me learn the German A1 level language then?
Let’s jump to how I found a perfect German language tutor! I came across an Instagram channel that made learning the German A1 language seem fun and easier! Right away, I started following Payal, @germanlanguagetrainer.
And shortly; she posted in her Instagram stories that her A1 level German course is starting soon! I right away jumped to her DM and pre-booked myself for the classes!
This time, I already knew and liked her approach to teaching the German A1 level language.
She also teaches the A2 and B1 level German language as well. That gave me further confidence to join her course.
And, I tell you, that was the best decision I made so far in my journey of learning the German A1 level!
The Approach of the Big Test, followed by the wait for the Goethe Institute Exam Results.
I started learning the A1 level German language for two reasons:
- To be qualified to begin my Visa Application process for Germany.
- Once I am in Germany, adapting myself better to the lifestyle there.
I needed to clear my German A1 level Goethe exam to move to Germany. So, after attending the three-month German A1 level language course with the @germanlanguagetrainer, I applied for the Goethe German A1 level language examination.
The course had given me the confidence and much-needed preparation to take the exam. And, even during my preparations, if I had questions, Payal was available to answer them 24x7! We got training for the Goethe examinations with mock examinations.
Once, after my exams, which involved four modules: reading and listening together, writing, and lastly speaking, the exam jitters continued. I felt anxious. But, in less than 15 days, I got my results and all my worries washed away right then! I could start my visa application process for going to Germany!
I learned how important finding the right tutor who meets the requirements through this experience.
10 Steps to Perfect your German A-1 Level language learning experience: My take on it!
- Learning German on your own introduces complications we cannot foresee!
- Not finding the right tutor will delay your progress in learning the German A1 level language.
- Make sure you feel comfortable with the German tutor’s teaching style before joining the German A1 level course.
- Use the study materials provided in your course and clear any doubts you come across!
- Use extra aids available on the YouTube channels I mentioned earlier and applications like Duo Lingo to practice your listening and speaking skills in German.
- Practice, practice, and practice! Do not let your mistakes cause you any insecurities!
- Find a Fluent German-speaking partner who can converse and correct your minute mistakes with great patience!
- Read simple news articles in the German language to improve your reading skills.
- Listen to German language podcasts meant for the A1 level German language and higher on Spotify or any other medium. News in Slow German, Easy German, Slow German mit Annik Rubens, and Coffee Break German are some Podcasts available on Spotify.
- Write as many letters as you can to your A1-level German learning partners, your tutor, and your German-speaking partner to practice your German language writing skills.
Following the above steps eliminates any complications or delays in learning the German A1 level language! It also helps in determining how soon you can learn it! Clearing the Goethe A1 German level examination helps you get going to Germany on a job seeker visa, student visa, or a spouse national German visa!
This is one of the main reasons I wanted to write this article — Listing all the things that went wrong and highlighting all the lessons I learned.
I hope my experience helps make your German learning process easier and provides a better German A1-level language learning experience for you. I wish you the best of luck on your German A1 level language learning journey!
I live in Germany now and have gained more insights than there is in this blog. If you want me to share my experience so far, let me know by commenting below! I will write another blog covering, “Why Learning German in a Class is NOT Enough and What More Do You Have to Do”.