Ever dreamed of playing soccer in Europe? Ian made it happen! Below, enjoy his perspective on how learning German helped him achieve his dreams.
"The Germans all agreed I spoke the best German of any of the Americans besides some of them living in Germany for longer."
After two short semesters of learning German with Frau Watson, I landed in Frankfurt Germany with big dreams of playing in the Bundesliga some day. Myself along with two other Americans and Mexican. I was the only person there who was able to communicate with Frau Kurzner the entire 4 hour drive to where I’d call home for the next year. We all lived in international players dorm facility with 50 other players, and in my team alone we had 13 different nationalities. The Germans all agreed I spoke the best German of any of the Americans, besides some of them living in Germany for longer. I was able to communicate on and off the field.
Speaking German opened the doorway for me to learn about so many cultures besides just Germany. I was able to pick up some French, Italian, and Korean because I was able to speak with them in German. I went on to travel all around Germany after a brief stay in Spain looking to find my first men’s team all by myself.
"Speaking German opened the doorway for me to learn about so many cultures besides just Germany."
Eventually I signed with a semi pro men’s team ,where no one speaks any English, in Frankfurt Germany. Without Frau Watson’s classes I would be struggling just as much as my teammates in Schlotheim to buy groceries or order food at the Döner shop or bakery. Instead I was able to further my German knowledge and now my German roommate in my flat thinks I am fluent. I was able to tour Germany Austria Switzerland and even Italy with my parents and translate everything for them, ordering food, speaking with locals, and solving problems all with my German knowledge. It is the most used language in Europe, after all. Now I have my own apartment, I opened a bank account, applied for and got hired for a part time job, and signed with my men’s football team, speaking only German.
"Without Frau Watson’s classes I would be struggling just as much as my teammates in Schlotheim to buy groceries or order food at the Döner shop or bakery."
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