Roberta works as an internal auditor in a communication company in Turin (Italy).
She started my program ‘From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day‘ at A2.
The program gave her a clear, structured system that she could easily fit into her busy life.
Step by step, she improved her German, understanding grammar better, building sentence structures more easily, and feeling more confident when speaking.
A few months ago, she decided to give it a shot and took the official B1 Goethe exam.
She passed, and even scored an amazing 89% in the Speaking section.
- Reading: 83/100 (83%)
- Listening: 77/100 (77%)
- Writing: 91/100 (91%)
- Speaking: 89/100 (89%)
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Here’s an interview I did with her after passing her B1 exam.
Let’s jump right into it, so you can learn from her journey going through my program.
Roberta,
What did you try before starting my program, “From Zero to C1”?
Before I took the program, I attended traditional classes with teachers and classmates both in-person and online.
I also integrated individual study with the use of language learning apps.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while learning German?
The biggest challenge was to be able to talk, to have a conversation.
I have always studied constantly and did all the exercises proposed in the courses that mainly concerned grammar.
But even trying to learn vocabulary I could not remember it and I wasn’t able to put together the grammatical structure of a sentence with the right words.
What kind of program were you looking for?
I was looking for a different course from those followed until then, a course that would make me talk and do listening exercises.
What was your goal when you started?
My goal was to reach a “survival” level with German. I wanted to be able to express myself and understand the German spoken in simple everyday contexts as it happens during a holiday abroad.
The idea of taking a certification exam fascinated me but seemed unattainable.
What struck you the most when you first came across my program?
This is a program that I consider really good, very well structured. There are:
- many hours of listening to individual lessons,
- clear and easy to remember grammatical explanations which are repeated along the program so as not to forget the concepts learned,
- units dedicated to the enrichment of vocabulary,
- many practical exercises proposed
- the “fluency tests” that allow you to test yourself with the concepts and vocabulary learned.
What was the biggest difference between my program and the way you had learned German before?
The richness of the proposed material and the large amount of listening material always available represented a great difference compared to the past.
I do not live in Germany and do not use German for work; therefore I had no contact with the language outside of my weekly class time.
Since I started following the programme, the lessons have always accompanied me on my car journeys to work, while cooking and when I take a walk.
And this happens every day.
What results have you achieved so far through my program?
I have taken the Goethe certification examination at level B1.
How did you prepare for your B1 exam?
In addition to the program I did not have to do much, I thought I had already reached a good base…
I bought a couple of books to prepare myself for the exam that I wanted to take and I have been studying grammar well.
How long did it take you to prepare for your B1 exam?
From when I decided to take the exam to when I did it was about 4 months.
But I had been studying German for a long time and had taken the two programmes at level A2 and B1.
What was the most difficult part of the exam?
The part that I found more difficult and in which I take a lower score was listening.
As I said I don’t live in Germany and therefore listening to live scenes at “normal speed” is difficult for me.
Also the answers are “tricky” and look very similar, there is not much time to think or to reconsider.
Which specific resources were the most helpful to you along the way?
Regular listening to the material proposed by the program.
When I listen to the lessons I always have the impression of being present in the classroom and often anticipate the answers of the student present.
I have also read facilitated books so that I can exercise without the frustration of having to search all the words in the vocabulary.
How did you stay focused and motivated throughout the program?
I tried to be constant because German is very easy to lose, it’s a very different language from mine and words are quickly forgotten if they are not read or used.
How did you manage to balance a full-time job with learning German on the side?
Studying German is a hobby for me, I do it because I like it, I don’t consider it a burden.
The balance with work is the same that we have when we practise a hobby that we like.
What did a typical daily learning routine look like for you?
Normally I listen to the lessons while I go to the office or do some exercises in the evening after dinner.
I try to do something every day and most of the study focuses on my case at the weekend.
How much time did you spend on average per day learning?
From half an hour to one hour a day but there are also days when I can’t even do the half an hour.
What aspects of learning did you emphasize the most?
I would say that I follow all the steps of the program because they cover all the skills and competences to be acquired.
What was your biggest obstacle, and how did you overcome it?
Learning and remembering the words was the biggest obstacle.
I must say that setting a test date helped me to stay focused and also to memorize more words.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
Regular listening to the lessons of the program. I also participated in some group conversation classes.
What helped you the most to overcome your fear of speaking to others?
Acquire a broader vocabulary.
Of course I always make many mistakes in speaking but I try not to think about this but to be understood.
The interlocutor is generally sympathetic or has his own difficulties.
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?
Set a clear target, such as taking a certification exam.
It is also very important trying to have fun in the study.
I try to do something less heavy in the moments when I have less desire to study German (podcasts, movies, series, video games in German) leaving the more traditional study sessions to the moments when I am more rested and active.
“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.