My German Course in Constance – Tania from Colombia8. March 2023

Our student Tania recently started her German course in Constance on level A1. In the Humboldt Blog, she writes about her experiences in Germany in general and at the Humboldt-Institut in particular. We hope you enjoy reading!

My name is Tania, I am from Bogota, Colombia, and I am 25 years old. I started my German course in Constance three weeks ago, and it has been such a great adventure. I was very happy and anxious to start my new journey, and I feel so thankful for this opportunity and excited every day to learn and improve my German.

During my short time in Germany, the experience of learning a new language in a foreign country has been nothing short of a welcoming environment. With an exceptional learning facility of passionate teachers and students who have the same awe of diving into this unique and diverse culture. Every day has been such a different experience, from learning a new language, getting to know people from other countries, trying to express myself in another language, exploring exciting new cities, trying all kinds of foods and drinks, and learning the history and culture of Germany.

Constance is a beautiful place surrounded by mountains and a shiny lake on one side, where I will be swimming as soon as summer hits. I love the way the buildings look here, the design and the style of the architecture is so interesting. The city has a lot to offer from restaurants, bars, coffee shops, malls, everything you need and a lot of fun activities to do.

The institute is close to the city and really close to the bus station where you can go anywhere! Also, it’s super clean and cozy. The lake is a couple of minutes away where you can go and relax and have an amazing view.

In my first class, I felt nervous, and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew I was ready to learn, but I was a bit afraid as well. As soon as it started, I felt good and comfortable, everyone always has the best willingness to help me and learn as well. Teachers are always there for you to explain or clarify whatever you need or just to ask about how your day is going which I found awesome.

Classes are fun, we sometimes play games, listen to songs, watch videos, or sometimes just do grammar. Every Monday we have an exam to check what we have learned as well as homework, I think that’s great because you will be more ready for the level test in order to pass to another level like A2 or B1.

Every Wednesday and Saturday the adventure is calling, we go to different places to get to know Constance and other cities with their local culture. It is so much fun, and it’s something I always look forward to. I have already been to different places like Tübingen, a colorful university city close to Stuttgart, that features a beautiful historic center. In the above image, you can see me in front of the beautiful houses in the historic center!

We also took the ferry to Ravensburg on the other side of the lake, and I have to say that the view of the sunset above the Alps was breathtaking!!! Besides that, we went to Ulm and climbed up 738 steps to reach the top of the tallest church tower in the world, what a good workout!

But our adventures weren’t just in Germany, we went to Stein am Rhein, a small town in neighboring Switzerland, beautiful and fancy. Traveling outside of Constance, I had the opportunity to discover new cities, which I have found delightful and fascinating, and I can’t wait for the upcoming trips and new experiences.

For me, going out with my new classmates has helped to improve my German. Some things that I had the opportunity to be a part of are visiting museums, playing card games, exploring the city, having a beer at the local pub, and eating a currywurst, which have all given me more knowledge of the language and have allowed me to interact with more curiosity and enthusiasm. I was here while one of the most famous carnivals (Fastnacht) in Germany was happening, and I was part of it. Everyone was wearing costumes, celebrating, dancing, laughing, and having so much fun to welcome spring. One thing that really caught my eye was the amount of color in the festival, it looked so alive!

What an excellent opportunity to be here. The program has heightened my love for German culture, and I am positive that during the rest of this program, my attraction will grow even stronger. I couldn’t have asked for a better learning environment, and I am happy to call this place my home away from home. I can’t wait to become fluent in German! And be able to pursue my dream of applying for a master’s program and exploring the many possibilities that this great country has to offer.

Gracias Humboldt!