Every new language is like a new soul
David comes from Spain and has been living in Vienna for about a year. He is a sociologist & economist and as a self-employed consultant for government companies, he has a wide range of interests – including producing his own podcasts. He takes great pleasure in emphasising his love of Austria & the German language. Brand new: This time our portrait is available as a video interview!
Want to learn a new language too? Find out here how David has benefited from the German course programme at our language school. Let’s go!
Experiences of learning German in Austria
He has been learning German intensively for around 11 months and he will definitely miss the time (two months) and the courses at DIALOG, because after the C1.2 course he will take a short break from learning. Of course, like many of you, he had to start from scratch on his adventure abroad in Vienna. Not only does he like the great cultural programme here, but also the location in the heart of Europe.
He compares learning German to climbing a mountain, and a pretty high one at that. But David loved the way up, even though it can be quite rocky. Ultimately, he has never regretted his decision to learn German, because: “With every new language you learn, you gain a new soul.” David is fascinated by the many nuances of the language, which gives you a new perspective on things.
Courses at DIALOG & tips for learning German
David found DIALOG simply by doing a Google search, and the good reviews piqued his interest. He was particularly impressed by the informal atmosphere at DIALOG: “Everyone sits round a table, you feel really welcome, the atmosphere is warm and the teachers are excellent.”
David has already taken part in various courses– from conversation courses and intensive courses to Grammar Active, a course with 5 modules that he finds extremely practical. Another highlight for him is the free Study Help, which he has never seen at any other language school. For David, one thing is certain: “DIALOG is a safe bet if you really want to learn German.”
In addition to his positive experience, David also shares valuable tips for anyone who wants to learn German:
- Start clear & motivated: “Come with a clear motivation, this will give you the necessary perspective.”
- Switch your mind to German: “Set your brain to German and immerse yourself in the language.”
- Use digital resources: “Google Translate, ChatGPT, Reverso etc. – everything helps to keep the language alive.”
- Don’t be afraid of mistakes: “Use German actively, it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes. People have enough patience.”
- Be patient yourself: “Learning German is like a marathon that you can’t run at sprint speed.”
David’s insider tip for social life
In our interview, David also shares his secret recipe for a fulfilling social life in Austria: take the initiative. “If you don’t get invited to the party, just organise the party yourself!” he says with a smile. In his experience, Austrians may seem a little reserved at first, but as soon as you take the first step, they are open and happy to make new contacts. In this way and through various groups, David has already made valuable friendships.
Finally, he talks about his big goal in learning German: the C1 exam. But for David, it’s not just the goal that’s important, but above all the journey there: “The learning process alone was a reward.”
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Melde dich jetzt für einen Deutschkurs in Wien an und lerne effektiv Deutsch in Kleingruppen und mit hochqualifizierten Lehrkräften.
If you would like to get to know DIALOG as a language school and experience David’s experiences for yourself, click here to get started. We wish you just as much success in learning German.
Here you can get an insight into our additional material: Präteritum (exercise with solutions here)
November 2024
