Before I started regular classes at my german high school, Otto Hahn Gymnasium in Bergish Gladbach, my exchange agency told me that I must have German classes in a language school or academy for a few weeks in the downtown from Cologne, Germany. Truly fabulous! After the course, my german level would increase and help me engage better in conversations.
Until then, English was the only language spoken with my host family (and everyone else) because it was certainly difficult to understand German yet; therefore, not enough to fend for myself.
This post and many more are related to my Exchange Year in Germany from 2008 to 2009. In this country I lived with various host families and learned German too. Click in the link below to read more.
Table of Contents
The Condition
To attend the language school, there was a condition:
- My exchange agency would assume 1/3 of the cost.
- I would have to assume the other 1/3.
- If my grades were good or outstanding, my agency would take over the remaining 1/3.
My only task now was to learn the language and exceed everyone's expectation. It seemed fair enough for me.
The Start of the Language School
On August 10 of 2008, I went to my first classes. The classes were located in Academy of Foreign Languages. There were other exchange students, like me, who also wanted and needed to learn German.
I was thrilled to meet them. Their country of origin was:
- 1 student from Argentina.
- 2 students from Taiwan.
- 4 students from USA.
- 6 students from Mexico.
- 2 students from Brasil.
I was the only student from Ecuador.
Receiving unconventional Feedback
I sent the previous picture to a friend in Ecuador. He replied with an edited image indicating which girl I should make out with and with whom I should definitely avoid any physical contact at all. I laughed out very loud haha.
Meeting Familiar Cultures
It was very nice to also meet other Latinos, since we speak the same language (Spanish) with local variations. Mexicans have very different colloquial phrases, for everything. It was super funny to hear them speak; meanwhile, I was trying to pick up their accent.
Guasa and Zhalo had both ‘López‘ as their maternal surname. To me, this meant that they had to be relatives in some way (eventhough very very far and distanced). I told to Guasa:
- [Juditova] Hey Guasa, this guy (Zhalo) might be your relative. {Spanish}
- [Guasa] But why? His surname isn't the same as mine. {Spanish}
- [Juditova] Because both of you have ‘López‘ as their second surname. {Spanish}
As soon as I finished saying this, the two of them, at the same time, laughed out loud. I didn't understand why ‘López‘ was funny. After their (loud) laughter and scandal was over, they told me that half of Mexicans have the exact same surname, so it really is difficult for them to be relatives. My classmate from Argentina told me afterwards that in his country the same case applies for the surname ‘Pérez'.
Meeting Unfamiliar Cultures
Previously, I had a classmate in early school in Ecuador whose parents were from Taiwan. We used to talk in Spanish since both spoke it natively and lived in the country already for years. However, now I was in this meeting in a language school with 2 classmates from Taiwan and the culture difference in communication were explicit. It was intriguing to meet Asians despite the cultural barrier. Our “lingua franca” was English, since it was the only way to communicate.
Changing the Language School
My classmates were just beginning to learn German basics but I had already seen that topic 1 year ago. I asked to be transferred to a intermediate level so I could learn more. The language school agreed.
In that academy, I stayed for one more week. A different class was assigned to me near Rudolfplatz with different classmates: Camilo from Argentina, who would be my friend for the rest of the exchange year. I also met Dragana, who came from Serbia and Gary from a country that I don't remember. We were at the academy until approximately September 3. I learned quite a bit of German and grammar rules which helped me a lot to learn to converse, at least for a longer time. To my advantage, I finished the language course with good grades and my exchange agency assumed 2/3 (around € 600).
Back to School?
After the language school, I should be ready for immerse myself in the german culture, in an authentic german school, completely in German, right? … Right? … RIGHT?
Well, no.
In fact, it was just the beginning. In the next posts, I will continue to share about my experiences integrating in the german society!
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