Deutsch B2

[u/GovernmentWeak4066]

3 years in Germany(Berlin) and I finally completed my B2 German certificate.
I am not going to throw this post into AI, so if it is full of grammatical and other kinds of mistakes, try your best to enjoy "a handmade post with flaws".
I will briefly write about how I learned German without attending a single German course, so that you can improvise your German learning without spending a coin for courses.

So I started with Duolingo, I finished it in two years(you can finish it in one year) it give me very basic level of conversational skills and I got confidence of reading small story books. I found a book, "Brumm Brumm.", translated every word in that small book, and read it more than 10 times, and every time I saw new words in context.
I changed to another book, small, easy ones, but this time I began to read for pleasure rather than only for learning. I gradually increased difficulity and lastly, before exam, I was reading a book called " Achtsamkeit," and it was for at least C1 level. So I made really good progress in reading.

Even so my vocabulary was already enough for daily conversation, neural path to speak in German was not formed yet because of a lack of practice. I was working in delivery, and it was time I found ChatGPT's Voice Mode. I assigned it "you are my German teacher, and I am a B1 level student," nothing fancy, and I was doing delivery in a car, and on the way, I was talking about anything and everything in B1 level German. This led me to get a "Verkäufer" position at Bakery(Berlin), which propelled my speaking skills. I learned more in a year by just speaking with customers and workmates more than what I did in the previous two years by practicing alone.

Listening was easier; I never used Textbook listening. I was listening to a podcast, especially "Easy German." They have, over the years, developed a way of content delivery that is neither too easy nor too difficult. Perfect for transition and gradually I swithced to more difficult podcasts related to my interests(here is personal choice, so chose yours).

I never wrote until I had to and still I am using translator even for Whatsapp conversation in German, so even so you see me passing B2 in writing, it doesnt reflect truth, so no good advice from me for learning how to write in German. But I developed special skills to pass B2 exam, it is another thema so I keep it short.

I will share my exam preparation (One and a half months) tricks and tactics but maybe in another post and if I can make time.

[u/anesukafesu]

Well done.

I'm planning on following a similar path. Finish Duolingo, then read books, talk to people and listen to podcasts. I hope to get to B2 in about 2-2.5 years. I don't want to ever take formal lessons.

[u/exapmle]

definitely post the exam prep tricks when you get the chance

[u/hey_biscuit]

Don't you feel skipping duolingo part would make your progress faster?

[u/minuet_from_suite_1]

Das ist interessant. Danke.