Over the years, I have taught countless people, and remarkably, their stories about past language learning experiences are often strikingly similar. That’s why, at the beginning of each course, I ask my students to raise their hands if they can relate to any of the following:
Raise your hand if:
- You studied a language for several years at school but still couldn’t hold a basic conversation.
- You bought a language course but gave up around page thirty, somewhere in chapter two.
- A teacher’s explanation left you more confused than the language itself.
- Grammar books reminded you of complicated furniture assembly instructions.
- You’ve ever doubted your ability to learn a foreign language altogether.
Almost without exception, every student raises a hand – often laughing, as these experiences seem nearly universal, yet unfortunately, they tend to be negative.
Interestingly, my own early language learning experiences were much the same. In fact, when I ask these questions, my hand is the first to go up and stays raised through all the examples.
However, these challenges have also had a positive impact. They have shaped the teaching approach you will experience in this course. With this method, you will not only learn how to communicate effectively in German but also gain the tools to express your own thoughts and ideas confidently.