I recently took a German course at the school in Lindau and had a fantastic time. I loved the proximity to the mountains, and the clear skies and warm weather which engulfs the island of Lindau in Lake Constance (Bodensee). You can observe where the borders between Austria and Switzerland lie with a naked eye from a number of turrets that have existed since the 14th century.
It’s now Sunday; my first week of learning German in Hamburg and most of the weekend is over and I am actually looking forward to going back to school tomorrow! I was surprised with how much I could learn in my first week but also how quickly I could make some great friends.
The class I am in contains a really nice group of people and Friday night we all went to a house party of a Swedish-Iranian women who lives in Hamburg with her German boyfriend. We met at Barmbek subway and didn’t have the best directions, but after asking German taxi drivers for the way… in German… we found it very quickly! There were exactly (she’s counted) 92 steps to her apartment in an old German style building, so the first drink of the night was very welcome!
Well for some reason I was a little nervous on my short trip to school on Monday morning; maybe it was the fact that it was early, I hadn´t had any coffee and was still recovering a little from Saturday night; maybe I was reminiscing the last first day I had at school, who knows – but I found out quickly that I needn´t have been.
The street (that the school is on) was much busier now it was a weekday and the cafes were full with people getting a quick fix before they start work – or in my case school! I thought it best to go straight in and in doing so was met with glances and many smiles from fellow international students. I was then greeted by one of the school´s directors who told me what class I was in and the times I will be in it: 8:50 – 13:00 with a 15 minute break in between. The school owns buildings of each side of the street and a bookstore also. My classes were opposite the bookstore on the third floor. There’s a lift, but since I am in training (ahem, cough, cough) for the next season of volleyball I thought I´d run up the stairs instead.
Well I’m here safe and sound and all is good. I flew Ryanair to Hamburg Lubeck – arriving Saturday and the bus to the city centre could not have been simpler. It was 8 Euros and coincides with the flights, so if your plane is late it will wait – which is reassuring. It took about an hour and I had the back seat to myself, so that was nice! I was met by my friend at Hamburg’s main bus station but if someone’s not meeting you (if you are thinking of coming) then don’t worry. You are right next to the metro and can easily get around for just 1 Euro 30 cents.
Hamburg’s metro is not like London´s with barriers everywhere. You could get around a lot and not have your ticket checked, but I know I couldn’t go ticketless. If you are caught the fine is severe! That reminds me – I must figure out how to buy a week’s ticket. I’m sure it’s not complicated.
Well it’s about time that I was properly taught German. My only experience of it before was from a not very nice Scottish teacher (with a thick and confusing accent) in an English classroom. My sisters used to also help me with my homework, so it was probably the subject as school I knew least about.
It is Friday and I have started to wrap things up at work, ready for my 2 week break in the excellent port city (Hafenstadt) of Hamburg. My German friend is on an internship at the Trend Buero in Hamburg so why not take the opportunity to visit her and learn German whilst I am there?!
I have already completed a level test, which really pointed out my non-existent knowledge of German grammar. The problem I believe is that I have no decent concept of English grammar and it is hard to change my mind on what I believe is the only way to construct sentences. I am sure you are aware but in German you can’t simply translate sentences as they are written in English… if only it were that simple!
What comes first into your mind when thinking about Germany? Good beer, sauerkraut, veal sausages and pretzels, dancing the Schuhplattler, traditional bavarian costumes… Of course that doesn’t apply for all of Germany but if you want to experience this culture and lifestyle then Munich is the best place for you! Furthermore, Munich is the most beautiful city in Germany I’ve ever been to.
The best time to go to Munich is spring or summer. Then you can go to the English Garden and enjoy a cold beer or other refreshments in the beer garden near the China Tower or lie down on one of the huge green spaces on the waterfront of the Isar. It’s a really good place to picnic and to relax.
I’ve been living in Berlin for the last 6 years, and you can still see the city changing – it’s exciting! If you are thinking of learning German in Germany, you probably won’t find a place that is more interesting than Berlin! Its history makes the city one of the most special and outstanding cities in the world. After the Berlin Wall fell down, the city became a large construction site, both in the literal and in the figurative sense. After 40 years of separation (28 with the wall) a lot had to be rebuilt, and the city attracted a lot of people that wanted to take part in the process of building and shaping a new city.
Möchten Sie in Deutschland Deutsch lernen? Are you considering learning German in Germany? Whether you are a complete beginner or already very advanced, just listen to someone who has taken four language courses in Munich!
I started learning German in middle school, and my parents encouraged me to go on a language courses during holidays. I was lucky enough to have family friends who lived in Munich, and invited me. They recommended that I take a course in a local language school, and the result was I went back several times!
Tell anyone that you’re visiting Hamburg, and chances are that they will say something like ‘Ah, the Reeperbahn!’ often accompanied with a smile and a wink! However, although Hamburg’s infamous red light district is undoubtedly an important part of Hamburg’s character (actively promoted by the tourist board) there is so much more to see and do in this wonderful city!
Getting to Hamburg is easy. The low cost airlines generally fly to Lubeck which is an hour’s drive from Hamburg by shuttle bus (or approximately half that time if you get a lift as I did in a big BMW and take the autobahn!). You can also see pictures and information on the German language school in Hamburg I visited.
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