Our winners Igor and Tomasz in Berlin, Part 112. June 2025 by Humboldt-Institut

Im June we could welcome two winners at the Humboldt-Institut in Berlin-Mitte. Last December, Igor won the first prize in our Advent Calendar competition and Tomasz was one of the lucky finders in the Course Catch. We talked with both of them about their experiences and learning German in Berlin. Let’s get started with part 1:

Can you briefly introduce yourself?
I am Igor from Kazakhstan and I have been learning German for several years. As I don’t speak German regularly at home, I needed to brush up my German and that’s why I came to the Humboldt-Institut. The lessons here are relaxed and we can always discuss any questions we have with the teacher and we always get support with any issues.

You said that this is your first time in Berlin, but it’s your third time in Germany. Where have you been to?
I’ve already been to Göttingen and once to Frankfurt. When I won the course in the Advent Calender, I could choose between two cities, Constance and Berlin.

And why did you choose Berlin?
I asked a good friend of mine who is often in Germany for advice. He immediately recommended Constance. But this friend travels to Germany very often and I think he’s just tired of big cities. But I like it when there’s always something going on. Like here in Berlin, with lots of culture and lots of different people.

When and why did you start learning German?
I studied German at university many years ago. After that I worked as a teacher and taught for a few years. However, there was a trend in Kazakhstan to teach more and more English. As I could also teach English, it became English only and I couldn’t teach German anymore.

That’s why I forgot a bit. Fortunately, you don’t forget a language completely. But you always have to practice or watch movies or talk to someone. It doesn’t always work at home, because you’re tired after work or you have other things to do. Here at the Humboldt-Institut, I can concentrate fully on German and that helps me and the other students to brush up on our skills quickly and make progress.

What level are you at?
I’m now at level C1, which is currently the highest level here at the Humboldt-Institut. Of course, it’s a bit difficult because we’re always dealing with challenging tasks, but it’s a good fit.

How does it feel as a teacher to suddenly be a student again?
Yes, it’s difficult to be in the shoes of a student again, but it suits me well because I used to attend a lot of seminars as a teacher. And it’s great not to have any responsibility for a change, but just to be able to enjoy learning.

And how do you like the leisure activities?
The activities are great and well organized. The staff are wonderful and always make an effort to bring the students together and create a good atmosphere. People are often a bit scared of going on a language trip or traveling to a country where they don’t speak the language. I was picked up from the airport in Berlin and taken to the Humboldt-Institut. There, the counselor explained to me how everything is organized and what is included in the program. Everything runs according to plan and the schedule is put together in such a way that there are different activities, at least two, every day.
In short, even if you don’t speak the language yet or don’t speak it very well, there is always someone to look after you. And little by little you get better and better

Which activities and excursions did you take part in?
For example, Street Food Thursday at Markthalle 9 in Kreuzberg, which I thought was great. There were stalls representing different cuisines from around the world, from Thailand, Italy, Germany and Ukraine.

And many excursions have a historical background. For me, Berlin is also interesting because of its history. I’ve already been to the Bundestag and also to the Holocaust memorial nearby. I was very impressed by this place. I also like going for walks because I can get to know an unknown city better that way. You can see a lot more this way than if you take the subway.

How did you find out about the Advent Calendar?
That’s a good question. I think I was looking for German materials for my lessons, maybe in October or November last year. Then I landed on the Humboldt-Institut website and I happened to see the results of the 2023 Advent Calendar competition. And I wondered whether such a competition takes place every year. So I checked the website again at the end of November or on December 1 and it really was there. And I took part just for fun. I simply opened the Humboldt-Institut website every day at breakfast and answered another question. And then I won the first prize after just the first week!

Was it fun to participate?
Yes, and although I had already studied German regional studies at university, I couldn’t answer all the questions without the internet. There were hints, for example, there was a text and then there were questions with multiple choice answers. Some of the questions were quite easy and I was able to do them without the internet. But I couldn’t answer about half of the questions on my own. With my current knowledge, I could organize an excursion myself (laughs).

How do you like the language and what challenges do you face when learning it?
I like the language, that’s why I became a German teacher, but you never stop learning in life. The brain needs a challenge. There is a lot to learn, especially when it comes to vocabulary, for example in which context you can use certain words and also phonetics. I could always ask my teacher Christina about this and she gave me good advice.

Do you have a favorite German word?
Schmelztiegel – melting pot, a place where different cultures come together and are represented, just like in Berlin!

Will you continue learning at home after the two weeks at Humboldt?
Yes, I still have to repeat the many new words and expressions that I have learned so that I can see in which context I can use them. I will also continue to watch and listen to the news in German. A language is a living thing and is always changing, so you learn new words and forget the ones you may have learned ten years ago. In class, we were given a list of slang words like Alter [dude] that are used a lot these days. In a few years, there will be other words again.

Thank you very much for the interview, Igor!

You’re welcome! I wish the Humboldt-Institut all the best for the future and many new students from Kazakhstan!

The next edition of the Humboldt Advent Calendar starts on December 1. Save the date!

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