My German Journey: Talking About Studying Abroad

Okay, deep breath. It’s been six months since I moved to Munich, and honestly, the initial shock is fading. I still get that weird feeling when I walk into a Bäckerei and everyone is speaking so fast, but I’m getting better at understanding, and mir geht’s gut (I’m doing okay) most of the time. The biggest hurdle, though, has been actually sprechen (speaking) with people – especially when it comes to my career and future. That’s where learning about educational opportunities abroad has become so important.

The First Conversation: The Career Center

I started at the Berufsförderungswerk (BPW) – the career center – hoping to find internships, or at least talk about my long-term goals. The woman I spoke with, Frau Schmidt, was incredibly kind, but the conversation was a mess at first. I was trying to explain that I’d been studying marketing in London and was hoping to continue in a similar field in Germany, but I was throwing around phrases like “building my skillset” and “leveraging my experience,” which sounded ridiculously pretentious.

“Ich möchte meine Karriere in Deutschland aufbauen,” I blurted out, feeling incredibly awkward. Frau Schmidt smiled patiently and said, “Okay, gut. But perhaps we can say, ‘Ich suche eine Möglichkeit, meine Marketingkenntnisse hier zu verbessern?’ (I’m looking for a way to improve my marketing knowledge here?).”

It felt so much more natural and less… American! I realized then that even though I knew the vocabulary, I wasn’t using it in a way that Germans would understand.

Asking About Studying – ‘Ein Masterstudium?’

After a few more awkward meetings, I realized I needed to be more specific. I wanted to explore the possibility of doing a Master’s degree, but I didn’t know where to start. So, I went to a student event at the Universität. There, I met a group of students from all over Europe.

“Entschuldigung,” I said to a girl named Lena, “Ich interessiere mich für ein Masterstudium in Marketing. Wie finde ich heraus, welche Programme verfügbar sind?” (Excuse me, I’m interested in a Master’s degree in Marketing. How do I find out what programs are available?)

Lena explained that many universities have online databases. She showed me the website for the LMU (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität) and pointed out that they had a whole section dedicated to international Master’s programs. She then gave me some key phrases to look for: “Ein Schwerpunkt auf Internationale Marketingstrategien” (a focus on International Marketing Strategies) or “Vertiefung im Bereich Digitales Marketing” (deepening in the area of Digital Marketing). It was brilliant!

Common Phrases and Vocabulary

Here are some phrases I’ve found really useful:

• “Ich möchte mich informieren…” (I want to find out…) – Perfect for asking about options.
• “Gibt es Möglichkeiten für…” (Are there opportunities for…) – Useful when asking about internships or advanced training.
• “Ich suche nach einem Praktikum…” (I’m looking for an internship…) – Always a good starting point.
• “Wie lange dauert das?” (How long does it take?) – Crucial for understanding timelines.
• “Was sind die Voraussetzungen?” (What are the requirements?) – Don’t forget to ask!

A Minor Disaster (and a Lesson!)

Last week, I was talking to a friend, Thomas, about potentially taking a language course to improve my German. I was trying to be overly enthusiastic and said, “Ich werde mich total engagieren! Das ist super!” (I’m going to totally get involved! That’s great!). Thomas looked at me, completely bewildered.

He explained gently, “Engagieren is usually used for organizations or teams. It’s a bit… strong for a language class.” He suggested, “Ich werde mich bemühen, Deutsch zu lernen.” (I’ll try to learn German). It was a tiny thing, but it hammered home the importance of listening carefully and understanding the nuances of the language.

My Next Steps: Networking and Specific Questions

I’m now focusing on building my network. I’ve joined a few marketing associations and am trying to attend more industry events. I also want to get more specific with my questions. Instead of just asking “What opportunities are there?”, I’m researching specific programs and contacting professors directly.

My goal is to learn how to ask: “Haben Sie Empfehlungen für Studiengänge im Bereich Marketing, die sich an internationale Studenten richten?” (Do you have recommendations for Master’s programs in Marketing that are geared towards international students?).

It’s a long process, and I still make mistakes. But, slowly but surely, I’m learning not just the German language, but also how to navigate this new chapter in my life. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!) to anyone else starting their own journey.