German (Intermediate): Ian Eccles

Ian, a member of the public, studied Intermediate German at the University Language Centre (ULC).

Why did you choose to study a language at The University of Manchester?

I wasn't able to carry on with German in higher education due to subject clashes at college. I decided to take the opportunity to give something a go that I felt I'd missed out on, and The University of Manchester had the right course for me.

Apart from class time, how much time did you spend a week on your studies?

2-3 hours.

How did you find your course in terms of level?

I found the B1 course to be a leap in difficulty from A2. I found this challenging, but appropriately so. No one said learning a language would be easy.

What did you most enjoy about your course?

I enjoyed the camaraderie of the other students in the class, which definitely helped make it feel like an open environment, where no question was a stupid one.

Have you been able to put your newly acquired language skills to use outside the classroom? If so, please tell us how.

Halfway through the course, in January, I visited Würzberg and Nürnberg with my partner, where I had the opportunity to talk to locals at our hotels and at bars and restaurants. Though I was a little nervous, it was great to apply what I had learnt so far.

What advice would you give to someone intending to study a language at the University Language Centre?

Make sure you're willing to put the time in after class and take advantage of the conversation classes if you can. It will make for a better learning experience.