My First Semester: School Subjects and Time in Germany

Okay, deep breath. It’s been six months since I moved to Berlin, and let me tell you, it’s been… a lot. The culture shock was intense, the bureaucracy is a beast, but actually learning German has been surprisingly rewarding. And right now, it’s all about getting a handle on my course schedule and actually being able to talk about what I’m studying. It’s felt like a massive hurdle at times, but I’m starting to get there.

The “Was studierst du?” Conversation

The biggest thing I’ve realized is that asking “Was studierst du?” (What are you studying?) isn’t just a polite greeting. It’s the starting point for pretty much everything related to school here. I stumbled into this quite a few times, especially in the beginning. I’d excitedly tell someone I was studying ‘Marketing’ and they’d look at me like I’d grown a second head! Turns out, “Marketing” translates to “Marketing” but the German word Marketing is pronounced completely differently.

The first time I genuinely connected with someone about my studies, it was with a guy named Steven in my Sprachkurs (German language course).

“Hallo Steven! Ich bin Liam. Ich studiere Wirtschaftswissenschaften.” (Hello Steven! I’m Liam. I study Economics.)

He replied, “Ah, Wirtschaftswissenschaften! Das ist interessant. Ich studiere Informatik.” (Ah, Economics! That’s interesting. I study Computer Science.)

Just saying those phrases felt… powerful. I still make mistakes, but I can at least start a conversation.

Time Expressions – A Real Headache (and Opportunity!)

This is where things got seriously complicated. German time expressions are not like English. Don’t even get me started. I was trying to explain my timetable to my flatmate, John, and nearly had a meltdown.

“Ich habe Deutsch von 9 bis 12 Uhr.” (I have German from 9 to 12 o’clock.)

John blinked at me. “Aber, Liam, ‘bis’ means ‘until,’ not ‘to’!”

He was right, of course. It completely threw me. “Von 9 bis 12” meant “from 9 until 12,” which, in my panicked brain, translated to “I have German from 9 to 12!”

He patiently explained that “bis” means “until” and to use “bis zu” to say “until” and “von… bis…” to say “from… to”. It was a tiny shift in thinking, but it felt huge.

Here are some useful phrases I’ve learned:

• Um… Uhr (At… o’clock) – “Ich bin um 8 Uhr in der Uni.” (I’m at university at 8 o’clock.)
• Von… bis… (From… to…) – “Der Kurs geht von Montag bis Freitag.” (The course goes from Monday to Friday.)
• Am… Tag (On… day) – “Ich habe Englisch am Dienstag.” (I have English on Tuesday.)

My Schedule – A Chaotic Mess (for Now!)

My timetable is a… well, let’s just call it interesting. I’m taking German, Economics (Wirtschaftswissenschaften – as I’m slowly getting used to!), and a little bit of Psychology. It’s a mix of morning and evening classes.

Yesterday, I had a particularly stressful morning. I was late for my German class because I miscalculated the travel time from my flat to the university.

“Entschuldigung, Frau Müller!” (Excuse me, Ms. Müller!) I blurted out, breathless, having missed the beginning of the class.

She just smiled and said, “Kein Problem, Liam. Das passiert.” (No problem, Liam. It happens.)

That little exchange highlighted something important: Germans are generally very understanding, even if you mess up. It’s okay to make mistakes – it’s part of the learning process.

Practical Tips and Things I’ve Learned

• Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. Seriously, don’t. I’ve asked so many questions – about times, dates, directions – that people probably think I’m a complete newbie. But it’s better to ask than to pretend you understand and then make a huge mistake. “Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?” (Could you please repeat that?) is your friend.
• Write things down. I have a little notebook where I jot down important times and dates. It’s saved me countless times.
• Listen carefully. Germans speak quickly! It takes time to get used to the rhythm of the language.
• Use online resources. Duolingo is great for building a basic vocabulary, and Google Translate is a lifesaver (although, as I’ve learned, don’t always trust it!).

Ultimately, learning German about my studies and my schedule is proving to be a challenge, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve done since moving here. I’m slowly building confidence, and with each conversation, I feel a little bit more connected to this new life. Jetzt, ich muss jetzt lernen! (Now, I must learn now!).