--- This Blog is a work in Progress---
--- over time, as I change my mind or find new information, I may keep updating it ---
My journey with the German language began the moment I decided, in 2016, to work in Germany after graduating in Medicine. At that time, I was a fourth-year medical student, and I had a two-year window to master the German language. Until then, I had never learned a German word and had no interest in doing so. German appeared to be the most unattractive and complicated language imaginable.
Upon quick research, I discovered that the German language was considered difficult to learn due to its three genders and some peculiar grammar rules. For instance, verbs were partitioned into two parts, with one placed at the beginning of a sentence and the other at the end. This structure required precise knowledge of what to say and how to say it before opening one's mouth. The consensus was that it would take two years to get a hold of the language.
With approximately two years until graduation, I set sail on the German-learning journey. Little did I know that, like Odysseus in "The Odyssey," this journey would not follow a planned straight line.
I began with a combination of Duolingo and an A1.1 course, dedicating about two hours a week. It was a smooth start, as intended, allowing me to learn basic words and concepts in the evenings while still prioritizing my medical studies.
In the summer of 2010, I decided to attend an intensive German course in Cologne, Germany. These courses involved 4 to 5 hours of classes in the mornings, complemented by enjoyable non-obligatory activities in the evenings. In that month, I reached level A1.2. Looking back, attending this course was a brilliant idea. I experienced organic and easy learning, enjoying the process. These courses, held all over Germany, revolved around putting in a substantial number of hours under the guidance of expert German professors, within a community with colleagues, and practicing even more during evening meetings. At the end of each month, an exam determined whether you could proceed to the next level in the coming month. This meant that in about a year, one could theoretically learn the entire German language. While I didn't complete the entire process, I am confident that reaching B2 within a year is feasible, considering the rate of learning from that one month. However, this model has two downsides: it demands 100% concentration, making it almost impossible during studies, and it is expensive, easily costing 1000 Euros per month without accounting for accommodation and food.
Cheaper yet still good alternatives include intensive or non-intensive courses near your location. These may be a tradeoff between money, speed, and quality.
Returning to my story, as the course concluded, I felt optimistic about my progress and began the fifth year with great enthusiasm. Perhaps too much optimism. Believing that past performance would also translate into future results,, I neglected to book more classes and enhance my skills further. It was admittedly a tough year, struggling to keep up with medicine, and I used that as an excuse to halt my German learning. As compensation, I enrolled in the Erasmus program and secured both a summer traineeship in a German hospital and a six-month PJ (praktisches Jahr) traineeship in another German hospital for the practical and final year of my studies.
During that summer, I worked as a Praktikant in both Anesthesia and Cardiology. It turned out to be a bad and embarrassing summer. With barely an A2 level of German and no practice for a whole year, I found myself working in a real medical environment without understanding a single word. I mean, not understanding ANY SINGLE WORD. I vividly recall moments of embarrassment, being unable to communicate, ask questions, or provide answers. During those two months, not only was I deeply embarrassed as everyone thought I was plain stupid, but I was also disappointed in myself and scared for my future. And there were still another six months of traineeship ahead.
The sixth year of my medical studies began, and I had about three to four months before returning to Germany. I had learned a valuable lesson; I wasn't ready, should have studied much more, and would soon face the consequences again, for six months. This time, I took some classes, but three months of evening classes while still studying medicine couldn't compensate for all the lost time. During the following six months, I experienced the same embarrassment and shame as the previous summer. Admittedly, it wasn't as embarrassingly awful this time. I could formulate questions and, to some degree, understand answers. I had basic tasks like taking blood from patients. However, it was still embarrassing, given that German students in their sixth year were treated almost as residents, receiving tasks based on their abilities, and there I was.
Around this time, I attempted the Goethe B2 Exam. I failed.
The six months in Germany concluded, and after my final exams, I graduated as a medical doctor. Now, I found myself in an awkward position. To work in Germany, I needed to pass the FSP Exam, a medical German simulation of a clinical case. The condition for taking this exam was having a B2 level diploma. I knew I wasn't nearly ready to attain B2, and therefore, I couldn't work. Despite this, considering the possibility that I might just like to be unhappy, I applied for a postgraduate Erasmus traineeship in three different hospitals in Switzerland (Winterthur and Thurgau) and again in Germany. The idea behind this traineeship could be distilled to "fake it till you make it," and that's precisely what I did. Another six months rotating through specialties, doing my best. The Swiss part served as a reality check, and I wasn't ready for it. Swiss German is not the same as standard German, and once again, I bit off more than I could chew. The German traineeship, however, went quite well this time. Something in my brain clicked, and for some reason, I could understand most of what was being said to me. While speaking and writing remained very difficult, within my limits (which were like my travel buddies at this point), I always found a way to communicate effectively. At the end of this traineeship, I attempted the Goethe B2 exam and passed.
It was Summer 2019. Over three years had passed since I decided to embark on this two-year plan to learn German. I still couldn't work in Germany. I had already applied for the FSP Exam, scheduled for three months later in October 2019. The FSP Exam was a C1 level exam consisting of three parts (two conversations and one writing). You were supposed to understand everything and not make grammar mistakes while talking or writing. On top of that, examiners threw curveballs, such as unofficial "street" words for medical conditions and symptoms. If you didn't understand those, you would fail. Instead of booking a course to prepare for this exam, I decided, with newfound confidence, to prepare alone using notes from a Facebook group. During these three months, I must admit I did not study very hard. Three months later, the exam came, and as expected, I failed. They gave me another appointment for four months later, in February 2020.
I can't really explain why I hadn't prepared better for the exam other than "because I was burned out." However, that seems like a poor excuse to avoid taking responsibility. It is true that for the past three years, I had despised every moment related to German, Germany, and the German learning process. Not because of the German language or Germany itself, but as a consequence of my own poor decisions. I was deeply unmotivated and just very tired. It had been three years since I started learning German, over a year after graduation, and all my friends had jobs and their own money, while I still depended on my parents. And I was 25.
Nevertheless, I gave it one last push. I learned every single day, mastering every word that could possibly be said during that exam. In February 2020, I took and passed the FSP exam, thereby obtaining my German medical license. It had been about four years since I decided to start learning German.
Honestly, the German learning story doesn't even end there. As I write this, there is still much more to improve. However, I believe that the main struggles and lessons have already been shared.
Before concluding, I would like to reflect on what I believe I did right, wrong, and how I would approach things differently if I could go back to the very beginning:
Firstly, I do not regret attending any type of classes. Anything taught by a professor was a net gain, and regardless of the cost, those classes helped me achieve my goal faster. Using the same logic, any time I chose not to take German classes turned out to be a waste of time, for which I paid in the future with more time and stress. Any money saved by choosing to study by myself was money saved that turned out to be very, very expensive. This applies to both regular classes and FSP classes. If I could go back in time, I surely would have taken some classes during the time I was still studying medicine. The intensive classes I attended over the first summer were a good decision, and I should have built on that instead of assuming that everything would just be fine. The many months I spent in Germany as a Praktikant were, in my case, a mistake. Not because doing practicals in Germany is a mistake in general – that is not the case – but because I went there without knowing the language and therefore had a really bad time. I developed a hatred towards the German language that it doesn't deserve. If I had done things right, I could have had a much healthier relationship with the learning process and enjoyed it.
In conclusion, saving money might be an expensive decision. Let me explain: In Germany, you get paid about 2600 Euros for the first month and about 4000 Euros when you start doing nightshifts. Keeping this logic in mind, we can assume that every month you save and start working earlier is around 3000 Euros gained. If you decide not to take intensive classes or not to go abroad to learn because it's expensive, keep this logic in mind: if you invest 10,000 Euros in intensive German learning and it helps you start working six months earlier, you end up with a net gain of 20,000 Euros. I needed two years from graduation to start working. I wonder how many months I could have saved if I had chosen the more expensive but effective path.
Having said that, I have compiled a list of different ways of learning German that might help you, depending on your pace and budget.
Very Fast , highest quality and Very Expensive:
Presence - based Intensive classes with 4 + hours of classes per day every day of the week designed to make you absolutely fluent as fast as possible. Such academies are all over Germany and offer tailored courses based on your level. In the bigger cities some of those academies will also offer Preparation courses for the FSP and KP. They can basically guarantee you to pass if you go to their classes.
These kinds of courses cost easily 1-2 k Euros per month. If that wasn't enough, you have to live nearby, which puts your rent at at least 500 Euros for a room + 500 Euros for food. Is it worth investing a minimum of 2 thousand Euros per month? in my opinion it is, but only if you are 120% focused and not playing around. Otherwise it is just a waste of money.
Not so fast, and not so Expensive:
In this Category we can put a similar course done in your home country where we can assume it gets cheaper (at least you don't have to rent) and you can get almost the same value. The professors are certified usually for Goethe or TELC. It may be the case that you don't find such high quality FSP and KP courses there.
The typical german courses:
the classic 2 to 4 Hours per week that you can do in the evenings after classes. You won't learn so fast and so much, but if you are time limited and couldn't possibly dedicate all mornings and evenings to learning german, this option is a good compromise.
This is perfect for when you are time-limited. even if you go slower you still get to learn and have a teacher correcting your mistakes.
A cheaper and yet balanced alternative:
The main reason why classes are so expensive is not because you have to pay the professor but because you also pay for the room and building where you learn. Online courses revolutionize this by teaching you though a zoom call. The quality may suffer a little and the experience is not the same, but you can still be taught with a similar intensity without leaving your home. The benefit here is that the FSP and KP are available everywhere as well.
The following company, for example especializes in FSP and KP online courses and sells a subscription for them for under 300 Euros per year. As you can see, online makes cheap, what otherwise would become very very expensive.
I managed to have them agree for a discount of 15% for their courses for you all with the discount code “eutopia15”
Here are the Links to their website and courses if you are interested:
Cheap Cheap
The cheapest way of learning german and preparing for the FSP and KP are obviously free learning tools (which I really dont recommend to use as the single way of learning, but can help as an addition) such as Duolingo, Youtube and other Apps
When it comes to preparing for the FSP and KP the cheapest thing you can do you are already doing :D reading free online content, youtube and blogs that will give you some extra knowledge
Other than that, it is commonly said that most of the cases that land in the FSP and KP come from the most 2 typical books there are: the 80 Fälle Innere Medizin and 60 Fälle Chirurgie. These cases you dont need to memorize, but if you read through them, when they come up in the exam it won't catch you not knowing what to do. Again, this is not the only thing that you should use to prepare, but it helps
Here are the books:
80 Fälle Innere Medizin: https://amzn.to/3SLEuzF
60 Fälle Chirurgie: https://amzn.to/4916UfM
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