From A1 to Goethe C1 while working, traveling, and raising a child (Case Study: Alexandru)

Alexandru is an expat living in Bern (Switzerland).

He works at Belden Inc. as a Product Line Manager for Wireless solutions.

When he first came across my program, he was a bit skeptical:

I encouraged him to give it a try without taking any risk.

A while later, he decided to give it a try.

He joined my program ‘From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day‘ at A1, with a clear intention to follow it all the way through to C1.

Last month, he passed the C1 Goethe exam with an 83% score in Speaking.

Here’s an interview I did with Alexandru, so you can learn directly from his journey through the program.

Let’s jump right into it.

What did you try before joining my program, “From Zero to C1”?

At first, I tried to learn on my own. I was basically just memorizing words by heart, I think I got to almost 4,000 words in about a year, and at the same time I was studying from a regular German book.

But in the end, it didn’t really work for me at all. I knew nothing.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while learning German?

The biggest challenge was finding a program that actually fit my schedule.

I have a pretty demanding job (definitely not 9–5), I travel a lot, have a small child, and I’m usually just trying to catch some sleep, so my days were always packed.

My availability was limited and all over the place.

On top of that, the way we were taught in school wasn’t what I was looking for;

I wanted something more structured and well thought out.

What kind of program were you looking for?

I was looking for a program I could follow on my own, whenever I had time, but that would also keep me motivated so I wouldn’t give up.

Hearing the constant podcasts with people going through the course and improving was amazing.

​Dan’s progress​, especially, motivated me a lot.

What motivated you to start learning German, and what goal were you aiming for?

This might sound funny or strange, depending on how you look at it.

I moved from Romania to Switzerland for work, and no one ever really asked me to learn the language, everyone spoke English.

But I wanted to do it for myself.

I was starting to feel frustrated that I couldn’t speak the local language.

My main goal at first was simply to understand what people were saying to me, and then eventually to be able to have decent conversations.

What struck you the most when you first came across my program?

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical about the program at first.

I still remember writing to Manuel and asking him for “proof” that it was really that good.

A few months later, I decided to give it a try.

You might say I’m biased now, but honestly, if I could find another program with the same structure for a different language, I’d start it in a heartbeat.

What really got me was that it was designed for busy professionals like me, it was exactly what I was looking for.

What was the moment you realized this program worked differently from anything you’d tried before?

I noticed it almost immediately after I started.

Just a couple of lessons in, I could really feel my German improving, I didn’t have to wait until the end of the program to notice it.

I started at A1 and worked my way up to C1, and the improvement was constantly visible in different ways.

Was there a specific habit, lesson, or tool inside the program that made the biggest difference for you?

At the beginning, Memrize was really helpful.

Once I reached B2, the focus shifted mainly to podcasts, and the immersive approach using them was amazing.

I could listen while commuting, traveling for work, or even late at night.

Also, early on, the technique of writing a text, reading it while writing, and then reading it again was super helpful.

What results have you achieved so far, and what impact have they had on your life or studies?

Even before I passed the Goethe exam, I was already writing emails in German and having small conversations with my colleagues at the office.

I could even understand letters from the government.

My life probably wouldn’t change that much, since I knew from the start that Switzerland was just a temporary professional stop.

But maybe the biggest achievement is that, through Manuel’s program, I actually learned how to learn a new language and that’s something that’s really useful in life.

How did you prepare for your C1 exam?

I started with the A1 module and worked all the way through to C1, so I completed the entire program.

From day one, I followed it every single day.

For almost two years, I basically never took a break from German, in one way or another, I was doing something every day, even during holidays or at Christmas.

That really helped, because it became a routine. In the first year, I was spending about three hours a day, then around two hours later on.

I also followed the program exactly as Manuel recommended, and that made a huge difference.

How long did it take you to prepare for your C1 exam?

After finishing the program, I officially started preparing for the exam.

By that time, I had changed jobs, so it took a bit longer.

I bought two books with mock tests (seven tests in total) and went through them multiple times.

I also used Manuel’s preparation program and spoke with Dan, and I can definitely say I wouldn’t have passed the speaking part without their support.

Overall, it took me about six months of preparation after completing the C1 program.

What was the most difficult part of the exam?

For me the most difficult part was Hören, even though there I scored much better than at Lesen, which was very dry, I could say much harder that what I did in the practice books.

Which specific resources were the most helpful to you along the way?

As mentioned, I followed Manuels program entirely and that helped the most.

After that I had the preparation calls with Dan and really prepared for the Sprechen Teil.

Also I used “Mit Erfolg zum Goethe-Zertifikat C1” and “Prüfungsvorbereitung: Goethe-Zertifikat C1 – Prüfungsziele, Testbeschreibung”

How did you stay focused and motivated throughout the program?

What really kept me going was the progress I could feel I was making.

That was a huge motivator.

Plus, the program’s structure was amazing, I never felt bored, and there was always something new to learn.

How did you fit German learning into your daily life or work schedule?

In the first year, I was waking up at 4 a.m. to study until 6, then listening to podcasts while exercising from 6 to 7.

On my commute to and from the office, I’d listen as well, and in the evenings I was studying again.

That pretty much became my routine.

In the second year, I started waking up a bit later and focused more on podcasts in the evenings and during my commute.

What did a typical daily learning routine look like for you?

As I mentioned before, I was trying to fit language learning into my schedule wherever I could, taking advantage of every little opportunity.

For example, I’d study while waiting for my flight at the airport, on the train during my commute, in the gym, or even pushing the stroller while listening to German.

(Fun fact: I honestly don’t even know what it’s like to listen to anything other than German podcasts!)

What aspects of learning did you emphasize the most?

The Podcasts / or active listening helped me a lot.

I listen most of the podcasts even 4 times.

What was your biggest obstacle, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest obstacle was after finishing with the program to start preparing for the exam.

But there also the calls I had with Dan & Manuel helped me.

What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?

Listening helps a lot, you don`t even know or notice but the words are in your mind and then you can start using them.

Also practicing like talking alone helped me a lot. I am still far from fluency, but I know which is the way to get there.

What helped you the most to overcome your fear of speaking to others?

I still get a bit of fear about making mistakes, but I don’t let it bother me as much anymore.

At the beginning, that was the biggest thing holding me back.

Also, when I speak with natives, they don’t always have the patience and sometimes switch back to English, but I still try to speak in German.

No matter what I know that`s normal.

What’s one misconception about learning German that your experience proved wrong?

That you need to memorize lots of grammar rules and that helps.

Manuel`s program proved that this is wrong and you don`t need to repeat constantly the same structures or words to get them to know.

Looking back, what would you do differently if you had to start over?

The only thing I would change, is that I would start earlier.

Otherwise I wouldn`t change anything.

What’s next for you in German or beyond?

Now I focus on reading books in German and of course, ever single day I listen different podcasts in German.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to learn German but struggles to find the time due to a busy life?

All I can say is that if I was able to get through with Manuel`s program, everyone can do it.

Give it a try, you don`t have much to lose and I bet that you will be able to learn the language in an interesting innovative way, not the old way we learned in school.

“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.