How are my German skills going? And what are my plans for the future? This blog will answer it!
To refresh your memory
Language goals 2024 (English)
Mijn studieplan voor Duits ’24 (Blog only in Dutch)
German completely to B2 – focus on conversational skills
I think this goal has been on my list for the past two years. Unfortunately putting a goal on a list doesn’t automatically mean that I reach it. Learning a language takes time and you cannot force it. However, there is a but, because I have definitely made progress in the past two years. Since the end of 2023 I can finally read German fluently! This means I achieved B2 level with my reading skills.
My plan for 2024 is to focus on conversational skills. I can converse basic conversations such as in a store or restaurant. However, sometimes I still find it difficult to pronounce certain words, but fortunately people are happy to help when they see that you are making an effort. This year I will work on getting to B2 level in speaking. I am lucky that my mother’s second language is German, so I can practice at home. Later this year I also hope to go on a city trip in Germany to give myself even more practice.
What do I need the language for?
– Because I like the language, so just for fun. There is no pressure behind it.
– To be able to communicate better with my German friends.
– Next year I plan to visit different places in Germany.
– Useful for my work as a manuscript reader, I am already picking up German manuscripts, but I would like to learn more nuances to become better at my work.
What is my language goal for this year?
German completely to B2 – focus on conversation.
Where was I at the beginning of this year?
In terms of listening skills, I was at B1/B2 level and my reading skills were somewhere between B2 and C1. I could speak at B1 level. Writing is difficult for me to say, because I use that knowledge the least. But I think it was also somewhere at B1 level.
What did I do in the first two quarters?
My goals for Q1:
– Read manga to gain a higher vocabulary.
– Learn sentences focused on my travels to Germany and what I need to communicate well there.
– Look up things I want to do in the different cities and, for example, look up the history in German and practice possible conversations I can have about it.
My goals for Q2:
– Practice speaking skills while traveling.
– Practice listening skills.
– Test my knowledge at the end of Q2 to see what I need to focus more on in the second half of the year.
I did every single one of these! I am beyond proud of myself of how much effort I put into this. Yes, there is still a lot of work left for me to do, but I can tell the language is flowing in me. It doesn’t take much time for me anymore to switch my brain from Dutch or English to German. Also conversations are starting to be more natural and it helped a lot that I got to practice on my travels to Germany the past few months. There might be gaps in my knowledge, but because I feel more at ease with the language, conversations go really well.
Also my reading skills have been put to the test multiple times when reading for myself and for work. Lastly, talking to native speakers was not the only thing I did to enhance my listening skills, I also watched multiple German shows and films.
Where am I now after the first six months?
My knowledge got broader, but I don’t think I leveled up with everything. In terms of listening skills, I think I am now almost at B2 level and my reading skills are still somewhere between B2 and C1. I can speak at B1 level with more flow and without thinking too much about it.
How am I going to continue studying the language from now on?
My goals for Q3:
Have fun! No other plans. In the next few weeks I want to focus on Korean, and that is possible since my German is now at a level that I can easily put it down for a second. And at the same time I can just pick it back up when reading or during my travels.
I do hope however to go on a weeklong trip to Germany later this year so I can practice my conversation skills even better, but nothing is set in stone as of yet.
Love,
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