How I Learned German in a Year from Scratch
Lessons of humility and perseverance in going from zero to C1 within a year
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When I first sat in a meeting where everyone spoke German, I couldn’t understand a single word, and I had one year to change that.
As a polyglot, I’m deeply aware of how language shapes expression. I strive to read books in their original version, listen to podcasts in multiple languages, and watch movies without subtitles whenever possible.
My journey with languages has been a significant part of both my personal and professional life.
One formative experience was working in a multilingual environment in the Netherlands, where we used three languages daily: French, German, and English. Most of us had international backgrounds and spoke at least two languages fluently, with a third, often weaker, picked up on the job.
For me, my native language is Italian. I’m almost bilingual in French, having lived in France for many years, and I’m fluent in English and Spanish thanks to other chapters of my life abroad.
But when I started this job, I couldn’t understand a word of German. And I had just one year to reach a decent level and obtain certification to keep my role.
Learning German One Episode at a Time
I threw myself into it:
A week of immersion in Frankfurt with a German course at a language school: I called the school before enrolling and asked about the nationality of the other students for that week. Indeed, I noticed that in most courses attended by people from languages I can speak, I don’t progress, because as soon as I take a break, I switch to their (or my own) language. So I was happy to hear that the attendees were mostly from Asian countries that week, so I could really immerse myself in German.
Grammar books piled on my desk: Unfortunately, dust spent more time with them than I did…
30 minutes a day with the Assimil method: I use this method for every language I learn. It works well for me because I can fit 30 minutes into a busy day. In this brief period, the method offers grammar, vocabulary, and listening exercises based on everyday topics.
One month of intensive courses organized by my employer in the Netherlands: I met my best friends from this period during this course. We were all from different countries, had different native languages; for some, it was easier than for others, but we helped each other and each individual’s success became a collective one. Learning German creates strong bonds.
Six hours per week at the Goethe-Institut for six months: I have mixed feelings about this course. On the one hand, since I attended it in the Netherlands, all the other participants were Dutch. Because Dutch is so close to German, their approach to learning the language was very different from mine as a native speaker of a Latin language. Moreover, during the breaks, they all spoke Dutch, which didn’t help me practice German. So while the course didn’t really help me progress in the language itself, it was very useful for understanding the exam structure and the key elements needed to pass it.
Die Deutsche Welle Deutsch lernen in my ears on every commute: This app offers exercises, articles, news, music, and podcasts for all levels, so you can practice every aspect of the language, anytime and anywhere, at your own pace!
And… Peppa Pig on Netflix.
Yes, learning a new language requires humility.
Surprisingly, the topics on Peppa Pig aligned perfectly with the wording of the Goethe B2 exam: travelling and holidays, family composition and rituals, environmental concerns (like waste sorting), friendships…
I spent several evenings with Peppa and her family. Those episodes helped me broaden my vocabulary and visualize how words shape everyday life.
Two Turning Points
True progress came from two transformative experiences:
A Language tandem: I partnered with a German learner of French, and we bonded over dinners and conversations, using Spanish as a fallback when needed. This practice made the language tangible and alive, helping me internalize its syntax and structure.
Multilingual meetings: My boss had a brilliant idea. Initially, our weekly meetings were held in English, but he introduced a rotation: one week in French, the next in German, the following in English.
This approach had multiple benefits for the team:
It ensured fairness for colleagues with varying language strengths.
It empowered both native and second-language speakers.
It allows skill development for everyone.
A Milestone and a Limit
In less than six months, I reached the B2 level required for my role. A year later, I proudly obtained the C1.1 certificate from the Goethe-Institut. It remains one of the achievements I’m most proud of.
And yet… German never truly put down roots in me.
The people I connected with most were two German friends: one had lived in Barcelona, so we spoke Spanish; the other had lived in Lyon, so we naturally switched to French. German was useful, even impressive. But it never became a language of emotion.
It never grew roots.
Brushing Off the Dust
Still, when I think back to that intense year, I feel pride. I learned a new language from scratch in a country that wasn’t even German-speaking. That determination is part of who I am.
And perhaps it’s time to reopen that drawer in my mind, to blow away the dust.
I’m planning to spend a couple of weeks in Germany, where my best friend now lives, combining immersion with courses. Restarting my Assimil routine, 30 minutes a day, and tuning in to German podcasts.
Maybe I’ll skip Peppa Pig this time. Or maybe I’ll watch it again, out of nostalgia.
Every language I’ve learned has reshaped the way I see the world and left its imprint on how I communicate. German, for instance, taught me the art of active listening, of waiting patiently for the verb at the end of the sentence. In that sense, it is still part of me, even if it never grew deep roots.
💬 Tell me about your own language journey — successes or struggles, every story matters!
I feel like language learning is like a strange quilt. No two people learn it the same way, everyone gets different vocabulary depending on where they apply the language.
Still, I think it always feels like a muscle. You can get it back, but it takes some power lifting…I’ve let French, Russian and that little bit of Italian go in favor of training only in Dutch.
I fully agree especially about your decision to study in Frankfurt without having the problem that during the break you would switch to french.
The idea of your boss to do multilingual meetings is brilliant!