Alexey is an Expat living in Berlin (Germany).
He works for Unibrands, as Director of Growth Europe.
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 passed his official B2 Goethe exam with an 87% score in Speaking:
- Reading: 93/100 (93%)
- Listening: 90/100 (90%)
- Writing: 76/100 (76%)
- Speaking: 87/100 (87%)
Here’s an interview I did with him so you can learn from his journey going through my program.
Let’s jump right into it.
Alexey,
What did you try before starting with my program “From Zero to C1”?
I’ve studied German in Goethe in Moscow (2004 from A1 till B1) and then had 0 practice till I moved to Berlin in 2015. I had a few classes here and there, tried Goethe again, but didn’t find what I needed: a structured approach that entitles everything and binds all together -> active listening, reading, writing and speaking.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
Finding time for 3×1.5 hours of lessons a week + doing homework. I’m constantly traveling for work and I need flexibility.
What kind of program were you looking for?
Something flexible which I could do at my own pace and convenience – so that I could move forward without waiting for the other participants of the group classes.
What was your goal when you started?
I had 2 goals: pass the B2 Certificate exam and get fluent in German, so that I could express myself in any life situation.
What struck you the most the first time you came across my program?
Flexibility. Perfectly explained concepts of language, great mnemonic rules and visual memory graphs/charts.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German before?
The rules of language I struggled with before (cases, adjective endings, etc.) were explained in a very easy to understand manner. I felt like I’ve been wasting time before going to standard german classes.
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through my program?
I’ve received my B2 Certificate with great notes and I became a big fan of some contemporary podcasts in German for Germans (Eine Stunde Historie z.B.) that I listen to and understand without any issues. I feel like I got germanized :)
How did you prepare for your B2 exam?
I took the Bonus 8x30mins sessions with Manuel, where he coached me 1:1 and explained what to expect on the speaking and writing part. I felt very confident with reading and listening, so I needed more help with structuring my presentation and dialogue with a potential partner. Some tips on how to behave when your partner doesn’t speak German quite well were very helpful.
How long did it take to prepare for your B2 exam?
About 2 months in total.
What was the most difficult part in the exam?
I didn’t find any difficulties as I was very prepared.
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
I loved the “Fluency Stress Tests” and other recordings. Also the “Verb-Juggling” with a new verb every day was helpful for enriching my vocab.
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program?
It was simple: I knew when my exam was and I consistently worked towards it.
How did you manage to combine a full-time job and learning German on the side?
I made German a habit and blocked 30 mins in my calendar for every day. Consistency > motivation.
What did a typical daily learning routine look like?
I would listen to your podcasts while walking to work or during my commute. And I did grammar lessons on weekends.
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
From 30 to 60 minutes.
What did you emphasize the most when learning?
Listening. The more you listen, the better you speak.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
I think that setting the exam date helped with focus and consistency.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
As mentioned above, listening and reading a lot were crucial for a good result.
What helped you the most to overcome the fear of speaking to others?
The first session with Manuel where he explained to me that my level is good enough to talk to people and I should not be shy. It helped!
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?
I’d say the best time to start is yesterday, and the second best time to start is right now. Take it step by step, build a habit and you will get there.
“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.