Why Should You Learn German?
If you are thinking at all about taking a German A-Level, or any language’s A level for that matter, my only advice would be to go for it!
I studied both German and French throughout secondary school and studied both through to GCSE. I always really enjoyed languages because, no matter if I was ‘getting it’ or not, learning another language is always exciting and a cool way to find out about the world. Whilst many people gave up on languages after GCSEs, I wasn’t ready to. I wanted to pursue them properly and chose to continue learning German. My thought process was: if I learn German, I can go into business. It also came much easier to me for whatever reason, so that was that. I chose German, Business, and History for my A-Levels and didn’t look back.
Taking the Leap to A-level
The jump from GCSE to A Level was difficult, but as long as you still find it exciting and try to be immersed in German as frequently as possible, you will do just fine! My teacher always used to say, ‘little and often. ’ This was a great mantra, and I soon realised that there was no other subject so rewarding and interesting; you don’t just learn a language, you learn a new culture. A particular benefit to note – the films! We watched ‘Goodbye, Lenin!’, ‘Das Leben der Anderen’, and ‘Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei’. These films were a fun watch, really helpful in picking up conversational German, and the first two were very historically informative. I would definitely recommend watching these.
In my first year of Sixth Form college, I signed up for the exchange programme. Whilst it seemed intimidating, I knew the value of this opportunity. As well as understanding the personal and professional benefits of an exchange, I was excited to get the chance to immerse myself in German culture and see daily life in another country first-hand. It enriched my knowledge of the language and country massively.
Exchange Experiences
This is how it worked: My exchange partner came to stay with me and my family for a week in January 2020. She accompanied me to college for two days and did work experience at my local primary school for three days. Then, in March 2020 (right before the first lockdown!) I stayed with my exchange partner and her family at her home in Berlin. The other students in my class that signed up for the exchange were also paired with students from the partnering school in Berlin, so we still saw some familiar faces whilst we were there. It worked pretty much the same way just in reverse, for the German students. We also got to enjoy a trip to Berlin Zoo, which I have to admit was probably more entertaining than when I took my exchange partner for a walk around Newstead Abbey in rainy, cold Nottingham!
The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most iconic landmarks
This experience gave me many life skills that I think are invaluable. Firstly, it gave me much more confidence in myself, something that is so important when you’re considering going to university. The thought of even navigating an airport without my family was scary enough, but by overcoming the nerves, I became confident in my ability to be independent and cope. It also meant I made a friend for life, and I’m sure we will always exchange messages, which is a brilliant element of doing an exchange. Living with a German family and only speaking German was a bit intimidating at first, but staying there for a week made me realise my German wasn’t terrible; in fact, it only got better and better. One of the things that stays with me is that my German family were just as excited to host me as I was to be there!
Confidence, CV and Interview Conversation
An undeniable fact of this experience is the advantage it gives me in future career prospects and even as an interesting experience on my CV. It looked great on university applications, as it shows that you are able to be independent and professional. It’s also a great conversation topic in interviews.
Language exchange experiences can be great to talk about in interviews
Whilst I appreciate that this type of thing may push people out of their comfort zones, I would still recommend an exchange or some form of work / study abroad to anyone interested in languages. It is so much more than just improving fluency; it is growing as a person in the most fun way.
Now that I’m halfway through my Business Management and Marketing degree at University, I am completing an internship as a marketing assistant in a language-based travel company. I have to credit the German exchange for giving me the confidence to get where I am today.
Thinking of taking part in an exchange programme? Make sure to check out our guide to homestay for an idea of what to expect when staying with a host abroad. For more tips, check out our homestay dos and don’ts.
