Navigating Neukölln: How Learning German Helped Me Get Into the Culture (and the Arguments!)

Okay, so let’s be honest. When I first moved to Berlin, my main goal wasn’t to become fluent in German. It was to find an apartment, a job (eventually), and not completely lose my mind in a new city. But after a few months of feeling utterly lost and constantly relying on English, I realised something crucial: to really understand Berlin, and to actually participate in the conversations swirling around me, I needed to learn the language. And especially, I needed to learn how to talk about, well, everything – especially what was trending.

The Initial Struggle: “Was ist das?” and Lost Directions

The first few weeks were… chaotic. I’d be trying to order a coffee – “Ich möchte einen Latte Macchiato, bitte!” – and the barista would just stare at me, probably thinking I was completely insane. I’d get hopelessly lost, asking for directions with a frantic, “Entschuldigung, wo ist…?” and people would respond in a torrent of German that washed right over me. I kept saying “Was ist das?” (What is that?) to everything, because, you know, I didn’t understand anything! It felt incredibly isolating.

Then there was the incident with the Kulturbrauerei (cultural brewery) in Prenzlauer Berg. I was trying to find a pop-up exhibition about Korean street art, and I asked a guy in line, “Wo ist die Ausstellung über koreanische Street Art?” He looked at me seriously and said, “Das weiß ich nicht.” (I don’t know.) I persisted, still butchering the German, and he finally pointed, but I realised I hadn’t even bothered to understand how to ask the question properly.

Starting to Get the Hang of It: “Was ist eigentlich…”

Slowly, painfully slowly, things started to shift. I began to pick up phrases. “Was ist eigentlich…” (What is actually…) became my go-to. I started using it to inquire about things I saw in shops (“Was ist eigentlich das?”) or heard on the street (“Was ist eigentlich dieser Song?”). I discovered that Germans, even when they didn’t speak perfect English, were generally very patient with a struggling learner.

One time, I was at a market in Kreuzberg trying to buy some Wurst (sausage) and I accidentally asked for “Wurstl” (apparently a completely different kind of sausage). The vendor just laughed and corrected me gently, saying, “Nein, nein! Wurst, mit ‘u’!” (No, no! Sausage, with ‘u’!). That small correction felt like a massive victory.

Cultural Conversations: Streaming, TikTok and “Der Neue Star”

The real breakthrough came when I started hearing people talking about cultural trends. It’s not just about understanding the words; it’s about understanding the context.

I started noticing conversations about Streaming – everyone was talking about Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. I even heard a group of students arguing passionately about whether the new German series on Netflix, Der Neue Star (The New Star), was actually worth watching. One guy was saying, “Ich finde die Serie total überbewertet!” (I think the series is totally overhyped!) and another was vehemently disagreeing.

I was able to jump into the conversation – hesitantly at first – asking, “Was macht ihr so gern beim Streaming?” (What do you like to watch while streaming?). It was amazing! Suddenly, I wasn’t just an observer; I was part of the discussion. I learned that the arguments were often about whether the show was authentisch (authentic) or just another attempt to capitalize on a trend.

Key Phrases You Need to Know:

• Was ist das? – What is that? (Useful for EVERYTHING initially!)
• Wie findest du…? – How do you find…? (Great for opinions on trends)
• Ist das nicht… – Isn’t it…? (Used to express surprise or agreement)
• Ich finde… – I think… / I find…
• Was ist eigentlich… – What is actually… (Opens the door for questions)

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes!

Seriously, don’t be afraid to mess up. Germans appreciate the effort, even if you stumble over your words. I made countless mistakes – mispronunciations, grammatical errors, completely wrong phrases. But the more I spoke, the more confident I became. And the more I listened, the more I realised that even when people didn’t understand every word I said, they were happy to engage with me.

Learning German wasn’t just about getting directions or ordering coffee; it was about unlocking a whole new world of culture and conversation. And honestly, it’s made my time in Berlin infinitely richer. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go see if anyone is discussing the latest TikTok dance craze… “Was ist eigentlich dieser Tanz?”