Zena’s Learning German in Berlin: My Student Study Abroad Story

Arriving in Berlin as a Language Student

Hi! My name is Zena, and I’m a 16-year-old from Ireland. I’ve been in Berlin for 4 weeks now, and it’s been such an amazing experience. I decided to go to Berlin for a few reasons, but the main reason was to improve my German. I’ve been learning German for 3 years now, but there’s only so much you can learn from being in the classroom!

The first thing that was a little bit of a culture shock was that they drive on the opposite side of the road here! It was kind of unnerving, but I got used to it. It was also snowing the day I arrived here, and it’s so much colder than Ireland in the Winter. Luckily I made sure to pack warmly!

My First Week Studying German in Berlin

My first week here went by so quickly. The school I go to is very small, there are only 11 other people in my class. Compared to the usual 25-30 people in Ireland, it does feel a little weird, but I don’t mind it. We also have to take off our shoes when we go inside, and the school does feel a lot cleaner because of it. The public transport here is so much better than in Ireland, but I did end up getting lost a few times in my first week. But I think I have the hang of it now!

Living with a Host Family While Studying German in Berlin

Living with my host family is so much fun. I was nervous that it might be a little awkward, but there was nothing to worry about. Dinner is usually pretty different everyday, but if you’re coming to Germany expect a ton of bread for breakfast and lunch. I was shocked at the sheer amount of bread Germans consume. A fun tradition that I really like is that every Saturday and Sunday the whole family has a nice big breakfast together. Having a tasty breakfast is something I look forward to every weekend.

I play the violin and really like music, so my host family brought me to the Concert Hall in Berlin, which was so much fun! We saw the National Youth Orchestra, and they were amazing. The Concert Hall itself is such a pretty building, I’d really recommend going there!

My Top Tips for Improving German as an International Student

Some of the things that helped me improve my German were consuming a lot of German media, whether that be podcasts, movies or TikToks. It’s a little confusing sometimes, but it really does help a lot. The best thing, though, is to simply speak the language. It’s scary trying to speak to other people in a language you’re not comfortable with, but it’s the only way you’ll genuinely improve your speaking ability. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve messed up, but people still understand me, which is the main point. It’s a slow process, but you will improve.

I hope this blog helps you feel just a little more confident and prepared about going abroad! It’s a challenge, and there will be ups and downs, but it’s so worth it.