My German Journey: Learning About Learning in Deutschland

Okay, deep breath. It’s been six months since I moved to Berlin, and let me tell you, the biggest surprise wasn’t the beer (though that was pretty amazing!), it was how seriously everyone takes learning – especially about learning. I came here to work as a freelance web designer, but quickly realized I needed to level up my German, and more importantly, my understanding of how people here think about education and staying curious. It’s completely different from how things are back home, and honestly, a little intimidating at first.

The First “Schule” – Beginner German Classes

The first few weeks, I signed up for a beginner German class at a local Volkshochschule (VHS). It was… chaotic. Everyone was so enthusiastic, so eager to speak. I, on the other hand, was a nervous mess. The teacher, Frau Schmidt, was fantastic – patient and really good at explaining things.

The first conversation went something like this:

“Hallo, ich bin Alex. Ich komme aus London.” (Hello, I’m Alex. I come from London.)

Frau Schmidt: “Ach, sehr schön! Und was machen Sie in Berlin?” (Oh, very nice! And what do you do in Berlin?)

Me: “Ich bin Webdesigner… aber ich lerne Deutsch!” (I’m a web designer… but I’m learning German!)

She smiled and said, “Das ist gut! Lernen ist wichtig!” (That’s good! Learning is important!) – and I realised, this wasn’t just about conjugating verbs. It was about a whole attitude.

Gespräche über Weiterbildung (Continuing Education)

I started noticing conversations everywhere. I was sitting in a Biergarten with a colleague, Steven, and he was talking about his evening course: “Ich mache einen Kurs in Künstliche Intelligenz.” (I’m taking a course in Artificial Intelligence.) He explained that it’s really important for him to keep his skills up-to-date in his field. He said, “Man muss sich immer weiterbilden, sonst veraltet man schnell!” (You have to keep learning, otherwise you quickly become outdated!).

Later, I overheard a conversation between an older gentleman, Herr Müller, and a younger woman at the supermarket. He was asking her about her job at the library. “Haben Sie vielleicht noch Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten?” (Do you perhaps have any continuing education opportunities?) – it wasn’t a question, it was an assumption. It struck me that in Germany, continuous learning isn’t seen as a luxury; it’s almost a necessity.

“Ich habe mich selbst beigebracht!” (I’ve Learned It Myself!)

I’ve also encountered a fascinating phrase: “Ich habe mich selbst beigebracht!” (I’ve learned it myself!). I heard this from a friend, Lisa, who’s been teaching herself graphic design using online tutorials. She explained, “Es ist wichtig, selbstständig zu sein und Dinge zu lernen, die einem Spaß machen!” (It’s important to be independent and to learn things that you enjoy!). There’s a huge emphasis on self-directed learning here, alongside formal education.

I made the mistake of thinking that just because I was paying for a class, I was automatically committed. But I realized I needed to be proactive. I started using Duolingo every day, and started reading German news articles – even if I only understood about 50% of them!

Fragen nach dem Studium (Asking About Studies)

When I met my landlord, Klaus, he asked me about my education. It wasn’t a casual, “Where are you from?” It was, “Wo haben Sie studiert?” (Where did you study?). And then, he followed up, “Haben Sie ein Hochschulabschluss?” (Do you have a university degree?). He wasn’t just interested in my past; he wanted to know if I was continuing my education. It’s a really different perspective.

I explained my freelance work, and he said, “Das ist auch eine Form der Weiterbildung, nicht wahr?” (That’s also a form of continuing education, isn’t it?). I suddenly realised that my job, being self-employed, could be seen as a kind of learning experience too.

My Next Steps – Learning Wie to Learn

I’m still a long way off from being fluent, but I’m starting to understand something crucial: in Germany, learning isn’t just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about developing a mindset. It’s about embracing curiosity, seeking out new experiences, and constantly questioning things. I’m planning to join a workshop on digital marketing – just to see what it’s all about.

“Ich bin gespannt!” (I’m excited!). And honestly, that’s the most important thing I’ve learned so far – the joy of simply being interested and wanting to know more. “Viel Glück!” (Good luck!) to anyone else starting this journey with me. And if you hear someone saying “Man muss immer weiterbilden!” – don’t be intimidated. Just keep learning!