Dimitra is an Expat living in Aachen (Germany)
She is a Research Assistant working at Access e.V..
She started my program “From Zero to C1 in 25 Minutes a Day” at A2.
My program offered her a structured learning system that she could easily integrate into her busy life.
Step-by-step she has been improving her German by developing a better understanding of grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure and growing her confidence in expressing herself when speaking.
A few weeks ago she gave it a try and took the official B2 Goethe exam.
She was able to pass the exam with an incredible 91% score in Speaking.
- Reading: 90/100 (90%)
- Listening: 83/100 (83%)
- Writing: 86/100 (86%)
- Speaking: 91/100 (91%)
Here’s a complete interview I did with her so you can learn from her journey going through my program.
Let’s jump right into it.
Dimitra,
What did you try before starting with my program “From Zero to C1”?
I did a course at university for a semester and I was also learning with duolingo.
What was your biggest challenge you faced with learning German?
The traditional way of learning was boring for me. Filling typical exercises in traditional books or being physically in class was not what I wanted to do.
What kind of program were you looking for?
Mostly something that would be interesting and fun, so that I do not lose my motivation for learning german.
What was your goal when you started?
First of all to learn the basics and then feel comfortable in speaking.
What struck you the most the first time you came across my program?
I definitely liked the way you explained grammar concepts. Effortlessly I could remember the rules, which helped me to realize directly whether something that I say is correct or not.
What was the big difference between my program and the way you learned German before?
The biggest difference was the fact that I did not need to ‘generate’ extra time for learning German.
What are some of the results you’ve achieved so far going through my program?
l feel much more comfortable speaking in German than before. Also, through your program I created this skill of connecting the meaning of a word or a grammar concept with something that I know, which helps me to learn faster.
How did you prepare for your B2 exam?
After I finished the B1 course from your program, I did a mock exam of B2 to see if I could pass it. I felt that I could do it if I practiced and then I started solving more tests for the B2 Goethe exam. For Listening and Reading I practiced on my own. For Speaking and Writing I did not only practice on my own but also with you and your “Pass Your Official Exam. “Guaranteed!” program.
How long did it take to prepare for your B2 exam?
After finishing the B1 course of yours it took me two months to prepare for the B2 exam.
What was the most difficult part in the exam?
The most difficult part for me was the Listening. It is tricky since all possible answers usually are mentioned in the podcast. With a lot of practice I became better at it, but still it was the hardest part for me.
Which specific resources helped you the most along the way?
The podcasts that you talk with other students were very helpful for me because you used the grammar topic of the specific level. It was also interesting to listen to another student speaking at the same level as me. Most of the time he / she made the same mistakes that I would do, so I could improve myself by listening to your corrections.
How did you stay focused and motivated through the program?
I used to listen to podcasts and do verb-juggling during household jobs. It may sound funny but I was looking forward to cleaning or cooking because I would listen to podcasts at the same time. Those activities were not boring anymore 😀.
How did you manage to combine a full-time job and learning German on the side?
As I state above I did not generate extra time for it but I was learning while doing other activities.
What did a typical daily learning routine look like?
Every day in the morning I was doing verb-juggling while having a shower and then continuing with a podcast while commuting to work. For two or three times in the week after work I continued again with the podcast while cleaning or cooking. For the preparation of the exam I spent every day two hours in the morning solving tests and only then I went to work.
How much time did you spend daily on average for your learning?
In total, with verb-juggling and at least a podcast, I would say one hour daily on average.
What did you emphasize the most when learning?
Once I learned a new grammar topic or just vocabulary I tried to use them in my everyday life. This helped me to remember what I listened and learned in podcasts.
What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
At the beginning it was hard to continue with the course after I took a break, for example after holidays. Once I connected the podcasts with other everyday activities, it was easy to get back into the flow of learning.
What was the most important thing that helped you become more fluent in speaking?
Basically to encourage myself to speak even if I make mistakes.
What helped you the most to overcome the fear of speaking to others?
To accept that I will anyway make mistakes and that’s totally fine.
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?
With Herr-Professor’s courses you can do it as I did, listen to the podcasts while doing some other activities – which of course do not require that you think – like cleaning or commuting to work. Even five minutes a day is more than zero. ;)
“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.