Good afternoon, y’all. I’m sitting in the gorgeous University of Leipzig Library getting ready to start my third week of classes. I signed up for the intensive German classes offered by InterDaF (the German as a Foreign Language branch of Leipzig University), and I was initially very nervous about it- not only because this is my first time doing a study abroad program, but also because this would the first time I had to take a class that was not taught in English. I’ve previously taken German courses, both in high school and at Temple, but there was always an element of English instruction, even at the higher levels, so this was a very new experience.
I tested into B2 fluency (the third highest CEFR [Common European Framework of Reference] level of fluency in a language, and the second most advanced class offered by InterDaf), which I was very proud of. However, I also felt as though I didn’t really deserve it, as I tend to have difficulty speaking. Another challenge is that I tend to have issues with listening comprehension even in English, which is exacerbated when I’m listening to German speech, especially if the speaker talks fast, quietly, or with a nonstandard accent. Fortunately, I needn’t have worried too much, as the instructors were very understanding, and would correct me on my speech gently and without judgment. As for my listening skills, I do think I have gotten better at comprehension, but I still have a bit of difficulty.
Thankfully, both my instructors and my classmates are very patient, and will repeat themselves without taking offense or making fun of me. Speaking of my classmates, I have never met such a wonderful group of students! While the majority of students studying at InterDaf are from Temple, there are also students from other American universities, and international universities as well. Everyone is so kind and motivated to get better at the language. We all have the same goal, trying to improve our fluency, and that fosters a certain level of camaraderie, where we can bond over accidentally using the wrong conjugated verb in class or commiserate over difficulty communicating with the locals. Relatively few people in Leipzig are fluent in English, which means that I have more opportunities to work on my German, but it also means that it is more likely for me to experience communication breakdown if my vocab fails me or I am unable to understand. My best solution is simply to practice, preferably in the classroom or with my classmates.
Outside of class, the most practice I get is when I’m ordering food. I’m not a big foodie, but one of the things I worried about was what I would eat, as I had heard horror stories about German cuisine being bland or almost entirely red meat, cheese, and pickled cabbage. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that not only is German cuisine not as bad as I feared, but I have access to some of the best Vietnamese and Turkish food I have ever had. The Germans know how to make some damn good sausages and bread, and Turkish and Vietnamese food are relatively inexpensive, filling, and delicious, thanks to there being significant diaspora communities here that date back to the Cold War. I am particularly fond of the Vietnamese food here, and I am certain that I will leave this trip being 65% pho (and will continue to remain as such, thanks to Tai’s and Yummy Pho back on campus).
Now, on a slightly more serious note, not everything in Leipzig is wonderful. While I do feel that the city itself is relatively safe, it lies in Saxony, which has a higher-than-average level of support for the AfD (Alternativ für Deutschland) and other anti-immigration parties and movements. Leipzig has less support for these movements than the rest of Saxony, but if you’re a person of color, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially on Mondays, which is when the AfD and Neo-Nazi groups are allowed to protest and march in the streets. Unfortunately, what has worked for me is either staying at home during Monday afternoons, or if I must be out, then I do so with some of my White friends. If you plan on traveling on your own time anywhere else in Saxony, I would do so in a group and exercise safety precautions. I will admit, I do not know a lot about racial tensions in former East Germany outside of what I have been told, but I have been told that the person to follow is Katharina Warda, a scholar and freelance writer who writes on right-wing extremism in the area, with a focus on racism.
That’s all from me this week! I’ll see y’all soon! Learn more about studying abroad during the summer!