Hey there!

Today is my last post and also today it was my first day in the December course.

This month is quite different because instead of 4 days a week is 5 and instead of 4 weeks it lasts for 3. That’s all because of the Christmas.

For my last post I want to talk about how much we learn joining a course like that.

For example, today the teacher asked everyone which languages we speak. It is so interested! People who learnt Hebrew, others who come from a country where they have 200 different languages, Europeans comparing which languages learn at the school, and so much more.

I love this small talks that suddenly happen during the class, we talk about cultural differences in german, so you get good practice and some interesting knowledge. What else can I ask for?

I am really happy to study german in an international atmosphere.

As a goodby, I share a picture of this morning on my way to the Deutschakademie, the first day of snow! Soooooo beautiful…

Chiara 😊

How is the weather in Munich?

We are still in Autumm but winter is coming, for sure.

I arrived the first week of October and it was quiet cold -comparing to Spain. But it was the most beautiful time so far. The landscape was so beautiful, with this shiny green colour and a special yellow.

I enjoyed so much walking around looking at the trees. And that is something we talked about in the course because most of us were stunned by it (the teacher was surprised hahaha).

After some days, the leaves started to fall, and that was also so nice since I really could feel they autumm.

Now, the weather is much colder and some days it snow. It is so beautiful to see the mountains with the white tops and I can’t wait to see the city white.

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Christmas is here and you can see it around.

Today the topic is the Christmas markets! One thing I love about living in this part of Europe is that I will live and enjoy them!

Where I come from we don’t have such a thing. Of course there are some but it is not like here.

The main Christmas market here in Munich opens this Friday (29/11) but there are already some small ones open.

I plan to visit the one in Nuremberg, which is really famous and hopefully the one in Salzburg. I was so lucky when I was in Innsbruck that the Christmas market was already open!

I think they are special and beautiful. And it is a nice way to enjoy also the winter time.

I am not a Christmas fan but nobody can resist this atmosphere: they have food, hot wine, music, and it makes the city look so so nice!

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Hey there!

Let’s talk about how living abroad is. There are many different situations where you could end in Germany joining a German academy. In my case, I have chosen to come here for 6 months just to study German, so, learning German is the one and only reason.

In the Deutschakademie I met people who are here for other reason. Some of them found a job here (in English or their own language) but since they are going to live in Germany they want to speak the language. Others just decided to pack all their stuff and move from another countries to Germany and see what happens; for obvious reasons, they are interested in speak German and start their lives here. Another reason I saw is that their partners have found as a job here (or the company transfer them) and you are moving with him or her and suddenly you are living abroad.

As you see, every person has his own story. But we are all in the same situation: we live abroad, we live far from home, far from our family and friends. And, of course, this is not easy.

I have lived abroad many times, in different countries and in different situation. And I really enjoy the experience of not being in my comfort zone, but that does not mean is easy. You have better days and worse days but is always hard.

When you move with a friend, your couple or family, it is still difficult but when you move alone, every small step feels like a huge one.

You will miss things like your bed, your parents, your favourite restaurant… but also things you would never have imagined you were going to miss. Being abroad makes you stronger and braver. It is an amazing experience with all the goods and all the bads.

For me, joining the Deutschakademie is my favourite part of the day -and I am being honest. I learn the language (which is the point of the whole story) but I also meet people who are in the same situation than I am, and that always feels nice.

I embrace you to let aside your fears I make a step forward.

Good luck to all of you.

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Hey!

I did talk about how many beautiful cities Munich have nearby in a post earlier.

Indeed, last weekend I went to Innsbruck by bus (only 2 hours) and it was sooooo nice.

But today I want to point the beautiful landscapes we have in the suburbs of Munich.

Some weeks ago I visited a lake with my host family that is only 30 minutes (by car) away. I believe you can also reach it by public transportation.

My visit was at the end of October so the amazing colours I could see were so impressive to me: a stunning green was everywhere.

There are many lakes in the nearby and most of them reachable by Sbahn. This kind of landscapes are beautiful here in Bavaria and a nice way to disconnect of your daily routine and the city.

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Hey!

So, what am I learning in the DeutschAkademie?

Currently I am doing the B1.1 leven in german.  Although there is a lot to do, my teacher is the best I ever had and she deals with the chapters very well. 

About vocabulary, we have extended the words in fields such as the family, animals, the apartment, the adjectives…

In grammar we went through topics like präteritum, conjugations (obwohl, troztdem, falls, wenn…), passive, future, adjective declination…

Paying attention in class and understand what the teacher explains (obviously making how many questions you need) os as important as study at home: making the homework and writing some essays from time to time is the key.  

See you in the next post,

Chiara :) 

Hey there!

Let’s talk about why to join a group course.

In my current group we are 11 people, all of them from different countries. The average age I would say is 26, so we are all more or less in the same mood.

I really like this group not only because they have a good level but they are really nice. I have fun during the lessons, we laugh quiet a lot. Also, everyone there understands each other, since we are all in the same position: trying to learn this tricky language. So, when it is difficult to someone to express him/herself or when somebody does not a word, everyone is there to be patient and help.

You can also learn from your collages. Many times, one of them said a word I have not heard before and I ask him/her what was the meaning. This person, nicely, explained it to me.

You can also get along with some of them and become friends. It is a nice way to meet people and you can speak in german with them!

This is a picture of the cards we use from time to time to play (and to practice) grammar and vocabulary in teams of 2 or 3. It is quiet fun but also really useful!

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Hey again!

Did you know that die Deutschakademie has a free online course?

With it, you can go through all the topics, according to you level and test yourself.

You can practice vocabulary, grammar and listening.

First, you can choose your level. Then, select how many questions you want about the topic you decide to practice. It is great!

You will see your progress and which was the correct answer after every question.

From my point of view, it is really useful and it is for free!

I like to use it from time to time so I can practice german with new activities and it is also an easy and practical way to do it.

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Hey!

The topic of this post is food! Yummy!

Germany has many different traditional food like the Würstchen, the Brezel or the Schnitzel.

I am vegetarian so what I most enjoy are “Kartoffeln” (potatoes) but also the Kasekuchen (cheesecake)! Oh my god, you have no idea how delicious it is -and I am not a person really into sweet food.

My host mum (remember I am an Aupair) cooks the Kasekuchen from time to time -here is a picture of it – and it is so good.

One thing I love about Germany is this kind of bakeries they have (that we do not have in Spain) where you can find every kind of bread and snack.

I embrace you to go out, try new things in the bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants and feel the german soul all over you stomach. Also, Christmas is coming and so many delicious things will be in the Christmas market! – as well as the hot wine :P

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊

Hey there once again!

Since I am a love traveller, today I would like to talk about what can you do from Munich.

We are just in the center of Europe, so with a car, a bus or a train you can reach any nice city but also we are so closed to the amazing mountains they have in Germany (and Austria). For example, we have Innsbruck only 1 hour away by train.

Two weeks ago, I was in Vienna and from time to time I go with my hostfamily to Tirol (Austria) and it cant be more beautiful.

Also, even though winter can be though here we can enjoy it so much skiing in the slopes that are only one hour from Munich. I know there is a train that goes to a nice one in the south and the train ticket includes the forfeit ticket.

I would like to share with you some nice pictures of the mountains.

See you in the next post,

Chiara 😊