First of all, it has been two weeks since I traveled to Manila. No COVID-19 symptoms so all good! I am happy to report that I was not infected during my Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 exam.
This is my biggest concern actually, not because of myself, but I worry about passing it on to others, especially my parents. That would be a bummer.
Fortunately, we have no bad news like that, and even more good news, because I passed my exam:
- Hören: 21,58 von 25 Punkten
- Lesen: 23,24 von 25 Punkten
- Schreiben: 23,24 von 25 Punkten
- Sprechen: 24,90 von 25 Punkten
- Gesamtpunktzahl: 93,00 von 100
- Prädikat: sehr gut
This means I am qualified to talk to cats, and on a good day, be able to keep up with the conversation of German toddlers. Not to brag, but I also know how to say, “Yes, I also like potatoes” and “Please speak slower because my German is not good”.
Interestingly, listening is my lowest mark and speaking the highest. I expected it to be the exact opposite. Life is really surprising sometimes.
To celebrate, I had a brownie and cheesecake at the same time, for every meal of the day, including breakfast. Okay, this is a lie. I do this whether or not I receive good news.
Some take-aways from this process:
- Learning a language on your own is possible;
- There are free quality tools available online;
- Keeping learning fun is the key to success;
- Results depend on our level of training;
- Not being afraid to fail always helps; and
- Brownies and cheesecake together is glorious.
I will continue my German studies because I find it fun to do. My intention is to pass the A2 exam at the start of next year if life flows in that direction.
Thank you to everyone who wished me luck the first time around! You are all so nice. Vielen Dank!
Markus + Micah 
Congratulations Micah, though it’s a bit late already. And goodluck for the second one..😍
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Many thanks! It was a lot of fun and I just continue what I have been doing before. Hopefully, I am able to learn something new every day.
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Yeah. That’s a challenge.😁 Looking of something to learn everyday.😊Otherwise life is boring, if you’ll agree.😁 Anyway, best of luck.😍
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Agree. As you know, we enjoy trying stuff, too. Reminds me of your aerial yoga post – that was a fun, novel thing to try, right!
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Wow 93/100 is actually cool! I got 85 for my French Delf B1 level exam. 🤭🥳
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Thank you! But this is beginner German, nothing fancy, really far from your B1 levels. Why did you take the French exam?
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Oh just for a progress check before going ahead with the B2 level. I haven’t practised it in years though, that was a long time ago. But I love learning languages and French had always been one of my favorites. ☺☺
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Oh, you take these tests just for a hobby? That is cool!
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Yeep. Only one test, didn’t go for the beginner levels but our teachers at Alliance Française realy recommended we take the intermediate level. 🙈
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*really
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Wow, that is cool! I wish I had that kind of confidence and skill, too.
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Bravo, Micah. Great news on all fronts.
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Thank you!
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Congrats on doing so well on your German exams! No small feat! xo
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Thank you. Did you also learn foreign languages?
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I’ve tried, but I’m horrible at them. 😛
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Congratulations Micah! This is all wonderful news! Especially the cheesecake and brownie part haha! 😄 You are so humble but I knew you would do great. 😊
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Thank you. And yes, every day deserves a celebration!
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you go girl!!!!!!! congrats, you deserve it!!
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Thank you. I wish the Goethe Institut handed out German bread and pastries after the exam though.
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Congratulations, Micah. May you have continued success with your German studies 🍰🍰🍰 What a fabulous looking cat.
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Thank you. I will keep going. It is now a bigger challenge, isn’t it? And this cat is a fat boy from a cat cafe in Ubud. Markus was so nice to take me there. My, saying that made me miss Bali. Have you been actually?
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It is good to keep going, Micah. Yes, it is a bigger challenge. I can attest to that. Lol – he seems a fabulous cat. Cat cafes are great. That was very nice of Markus to take you there.
No, I haven’t been to Bali. I am about the only Aussie who hasn’t 🤣 I would like to go one day, though.
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It says a lot, since we both are allergic to cats, but I really like them, and he took me there for a bit to have fun, and of course, tea. OMG, yes, everyone in Kuta Beach is from AU. Haha!
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Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳
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Vielen dank. Ich kann jetzt mit Kinder sprechen. Haha!
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Congrats!!
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Many thanks! I checked the result online first, then my certificate arrived. It was really fun. If only the next steps will be all like this. Haha!
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I wish you luck with your future Deutsch endeavors!! 😁
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Many thanks. I try to learn something new everyday and take it easy, keep it fun. So far, the A2 materials are more challenging, as it should be, but I will get there!
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Oh! Herzlichen Glückwunsch! 😊
Bleibt beide weiter gesund! VVN
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Dankeschön. Woher in Deutschland kommen Sie?
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Congratulations!!!!
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Many thanks, Michelle. Did you also learn any foreign language before?
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I had to take 2 years of Spanish way back in high school. I remember some of it, but not a lot. I can say yes, please, and thank you! haha!
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That is enough phrases, I think. Haha!
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Congratulations 🎉
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Thank you, Ariela. It was a fun experience, which says a lot almost a year into the pandemic.
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I knew you would! Congratulations! Hope you had a wonderful celebration.
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Thanks for the confidence. It is nice to know I know the basics. And now for slightly advanced things!
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This is awesome! Congrats to you! I hope to get back on my Spanish studies someday.
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Thank you, and yes, I hope the Spanish picks up again. It is fun to learn a foreign language, if not to give us something new every day.
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I can agree with that.🙌🏽
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Congratulations for passing your exams, although I am the least surprised you did. 🙂
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Thank you. It is great – on top of7 not having Covid. Honestly, the exam was the least of my worries. Traveling, how not to get infected, these stressed me actually.
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Marvelous! Congratulations! I’m so proud of you. You did it!!
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Many thanks, Anne. My certificate arrived. I wrote this after checking my result online. I was so excited! Unfortunately, there is no way for me to find out if the others on my exam passed. I sure hope the best for them, too.
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I’m still laughing that you are certified to speak German with toddlers.
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It is true though. And don’t forget the German cats!
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Congratulations–how wonderful! I think this is great that you’re doing this. About ten years ago I studied Spanish with a women from South America who was living in our area. We met in a coffee shop and talked ONLY Spanish for an hour. Wow, that was INTENSE! She moved away…and I haven’t pursued this since. But your story is inspiring!
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Oh wow, that is cool! Must have been a fun experience. Do you just talk about random things? Maybe you could write to her only in Spanish!
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Well done! Nothing wrong with brownies and cheesecake, but surely not at the same time! 🤣💌🙏
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When you visit us here, I will teach you the way. Haha!
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I look forward to reading about your conversations with German toddlers. They are known for having the best ideas! Congrats on passing your course.
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Thank you. I will be sure to update you. I will try not to pick fights with them.
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Mahusay!
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Thanks! Does a Tagalog certification exist?
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I don’t really know because I studied Tagalog all by myself: the living proof that self-education rocks
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It does!
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Congratulations!!! 😀 😀 😀
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Thank you. You know any German toddlers I can talk to? Haha
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Ausgezeichnet! (I have no idea if I spelled that right…see I remember a few words from my German class in high school. LOL)
Seriously though…great work! Brownie and cheesecake sound like an excellent way to celebrate!
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Thanks, Michelle. Foreign languages are fun, aren’t they? It kind of makes you feel like the world just slightly became bigger. And yes, I love dessert. It is the main reason why I workout.
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Wuhu!! Congratulations, Micah!!!! So happy for you. ❤️
Good luck for level 2! You’ve totally motivated me to pick up a foreign language too.
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Thank you. I take it easy with my studies and keep it fun. Seems to do the trick. Good to know you also feel like learning a foreign language. Any candidates?
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Foreign languages: Spanish because it sounds fun and is a more commonly spoken language (thank you colonizers, I guess 🙄). I’m also intrigued by Korean/Mandarin but they seem sort of difficult. 🙈
But I’m also tempted to pick up more Indian regional languages.
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So many fun choices. I hope you manage to pick one and enjoy learning. My mother tried to learn Korean but her effort only lasted a few days. Learning the alphabet was not fun for her.
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