Back to Deutsch

Yesterday I went back to German class after a few weeks of indulging in no-thought-required-English immersion. I knew I'd be behind, but just figured I could zone out, jet lagged style, and listen to what was going on and figure things out slowly.

Well that strategy failed to work. Because I was the only one in class yesterday. So I had an hour and a half of non-stop German speaking, Grammar, and my own personal catch-up lesson. On one hand, it was great. On the other, I was so tired!

My German teacher is very disappointed that I have not signed up to take the first official German certificate exam in September. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. It costs 270 CHF
2. It takes an entire day
3. When you sign up, you don't know the date or time of your test until you've paid. (The test could be anytime Sept 1-10). I don't know how many working and traveling professionals can just keep 10 days free while waiting for the Test Authorities to decide a date and time.
4. My in-laws will be in town that entire time and we will be traveling a lot.
5. My point of taking German in the first place was just for survival purposes and to understand if anyone is talking about me behind my back at work
6. Having a certificate and still not being able to say much would be even more humilitating than not having anything at all.

As far as I know, no one else in my class is taking the exam either. I can't say I'm surprised.