Ekaterina Stepina, 21 years old, student at MGIMO, winner in the Wirtschaft section, level C1:
– I studied German from first grade and believe that the biggest breakthrough came when I took part in the "New Generation" program. The program sends children to a German family for three months, where they live completely immersed in the language environment. It is a free program, and I would definitely recommend school students participate in it. After it, my conversational German improved, and I developed an interest in the language.
Well, of course, you need to find native speakers. You can do it online, on specialized websites. You can find tandem partners: you teach Germans Russian, and they teach you German. At MGIMO, for example, many German students come through exchange programs. Grammar has to be learned, you have to sit and do exercises – there's no other way. I think you first need to build the grammatical foundation, and then build up vocabulary on top of it.
Natalia Shefer, 24 years old, student at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, winner in the Ingenieurwesen section, level B2:
– The secret to success is to find at least 15-20 minutes every day and learn words. Personally, cards help me: I write the Russian word on one side and the German translation on the other, and always a couple of example sentences. If you can find a friend on social networks, which is quite easy now, then definitely do it, because communication is the direct key to success.
Darya Mokhova, 23 years old, student at the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Customs Academy, winner in the Wirtschaft section, level B2:
– First of all, for success in language learning you need motivation and desire. I started learning German back in school, I love this language. It is also important to never rest on your laurels and to study every day, at least a little bit (20-30 minutes). You need to find opportunities and time, for example, to read something in the evening before bed.
Language really needs to be trained, but it's worth it. After all, a foreign language is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world around you, so it's important not to give up, to move forward. Even when it seems you're tired, that you're fed up with everything, you need to step out of your comfort zone and read a little more, do something, and then the desired result will come.
Overcoming the language barrier was not easy for me. I took a language course in Germany, and that really helps. Because there, communicating in German is an opportunity to share your thoughts with native speakers and with students from other countries.
Igor Babushkin, 26 years old, student at the First Moscow State Medical University named after Sechenov, winner in the Medizin section, level C1:
– First you have to love the language so that learning it brings positive emotions. They help and reinforce words in memory. For example, in Russian there are many words that originally came from German: "shlagbaum" (barrier), "parikmakher" (hairdresser), "shteker" (plug), "bakenbardy" (sideburns). Many Russians use them but don't think about their German origin, but when a person starts learning German, they begin to notice these words, and positive emotions arise.
I can also advise learning proverbs and sayings: when a person begins to understand literally what is being said in German, it also evokes admiration. And of course, you need to study regularly, attend classes at least twice a week, and every day read something, listen to something, watch something.
Yulia Skobleva, 18 years old, student at Astrakhan State University, winner in the Ingenieurwesen direction, level C1:
– To succeed in language, you need to watch movies. Preferably, interesting movies with a clear picture. First with subtitles, and then you can do without them. For developing listening skills, I advise just listening and waiting for understanding to come on its own. At least, I just waited.
Classes with a teacher are mandatory. I studied both in a group and with an individual teacher; each has its pros and cons. As for overcoming the language barrier, it seems to me it still remains.
Language is such a thing: it always seems that something is missing. Probably, to succeed, you need to overcome your fears. And of course, practice, because practice is the key to success.