Meet Julia from Finland – Winner of the Humboldt Advent Calendar22. May 2026 by Humboldt-Institut

Julia is one of the winners of the Humboldt Advent Calendar 2025. She chose Constance as her course location and is currently taking a B1-level German course there. In our interview, she tells us why she’s learning German and what she particularly likes about Constance. Enjoy reading!

How did you react when you found out you had won the Advent calendar competition?
I was really surprised. At first I thought it couldn’t possibly be true, and then I remembered that I had actually participated.

Why are you learning German? Do you want to do something with German in the future, do you have specific plans for it?
I really like languages in general. I started learning German during my year abroad in Spain. After that, I took two German courses at my university in Finland. I think I might be able to combine German with other languages in my career later on. I’m not quite sure what exactly yet, but maybe something in the field of communication.

What do you like about the German language?
I find all Germanic languages very beautiful. German and Swedish, for example, have many similarities. Swedish and Finnish are both official languages in Finland, and my knowledge of Swedish helps me learn German. That motivates me.

Have you ever been to Germany or Lake Constance before?
Yes, once in Stuttgart on vacation.

At Humboldt, you had the choice between Constance and Berlin. Why did you choose Constance?
I like smaller cities. I looked at photos of Constance, and the nature and the buildings in the old town immediately caught my interest. But the biggest reason for me was the nature and Lake Constance.

You have a lot of lakes in Finland too, don’t you?
Yes, my family’s house is on a lake in Finland and we have our own dock there. That’s quite normal in the countryside. There are about 150,000 lakes in Finland, so really a lot.

Is there anything you particularly like about the classes here or that’s different from learning German in Finland?
I think the classes here are very professional. I also like the small groups of about ten people. That’s much more pleasant than being in a classroom with 30 people.

What’s it like learning German together with people from so many different countries?
It’s good, haha! For me, that’s not so surprising because I’ve learned many languages before. People who study languages are usually very nice and open. I think you don’t just learn about Germany here, but also about other cultures. It’s also easy to make friends because the atmosphere is very relaxed. We eat together every day, and the activities also help you get to know new people. During those activities, it’s easier to strike up a conversation with others.

You took part in a lot of leisure activities – what did you enjoy the most?
I think pretty much everything! The field trips are great, but I also love just going to a café with others and hanging out together. I found Lucerne in Switzerland very interesting. But I liked the activities in Constance best because you’re sometimes pretty tired after class.

Is there anything you particularly liked about Constance?
The streets here are very safe. I felt very comfortable. The city is also very beautiful. I also find it interesting that Constance is so close to Switzerland. I’d never been there before, for example. Plus, the nature is amazing! I knew beforehand that it would be beautiful, but everything is even greener than I imagined.

How would you describe your time in Constance in three words?

• A great experience
• Social – you have to talk to others a lot to learn German
• Happy

Would you recommend that others take a German course at the Humboldt-Institut?
Yes, definitely. If you have the time and the opportunity, you should go to the Humboldt-Institut. I’m very satisfied.

Thank you very much for the interview, Julia!

P.S.: Don’t miss the next edition of the Humboldt Advent Calendar starting on December 1, 2026. As usual, we’ll announce the start on social media and via our newsletter.