Having a fellow Canadian friend to share the good and bad times with makes a world of difference. A little bit home sick during the holidays but a visit from my family and going on a European Christ- mas Vacation with them definitely helped boost my spirit. It’s quite difficult to notice day-by-day progression but there are other ways to tell if you’re absorb- ing the language based on subconscious actions. Recently, I’ve actually found myself thinking and reacting in German. It’s a weird sensation because it doesn’t seem natural but it’s so fulfilling at the same time. I’m waiting for the night I have a dream in German! I’m also still working on how to be funny.... that’s a tough one. The most important (and cliché) tip I could give language learners is to allow yourself to be vulner-
able and make mistakes because that is the only way it’s possible to make progress. After one week, I told my German friend that I only wanted to speak with her in German. Now, I’m ramping up my game; I recently made a rule for myself that I will try my best to only speak in German with anyone who can speak German (at my level or higher). As long as I stick to it, I believe this will significantly help my language skills and direct me towards my goal. Always order in German: “Ein Mal halber Meter Bratwurst, Bitte!“
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2020
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