Learning German

Finally I took a decision. It wasn't easy. Let me explain why.

When we decided to come to Germany, we thought it was going to be more or less straight forward. My wife is German and I am not. In the last days of December, we went to the German consulate in the city where we used to live. We found out then that I had to do a test of knowledge of the German language in order to gain a legal citizenship status. (If I would be a national of the European Union, than won't be necessary, strange enough.)



As I have been with my wife for more than 7 years already, I am not that unfamiliar with the language. I did the test in January and went through it
with no problem. However as soon as I arrived in Hamburg, I started a German course. One of our objectives of us coming to Germany, was for me to learn the language. So, during one month, I took a course at the Goethe Institute in Hamburg.


The nice looking building above is where the Institute is located. In the first 4 floors is the City´s Library. On the last two floors is the Goethe along with some rooms for the Instituto Cervantes, where Germans can learn Spanish. It has an excellent location, is very central. It is a bit expensive tough.

My course just finished last week. And last Thursday we were in the "Auslanderamt" or the Federal Office for Foreigners, finishing all the paperwork for me finally been a legal citizen in Germany. For our surprise, there is a law that states that when a German is married with a foreigner, he/she must have a certain knowledge of the language. And the test I did before I thought? What about it?

First I was a bit surprised. Then a little bit angry. Later I realised that this is a subsidised German language course by the government, which is not bad at all, considering how expensive the course at the Goethe was.

On Friday I went to several language schools to try to find a place. But it looks like I am not the only foreigner with this situation. All the courses were full, and some were even booked out until June. Yesterday I tried the Volkshochschule here in Hamburg. I believe it is a public school. And again, there were no places left.

So I took my decision yesterday. I will continue with the German classes at the Goethe, and I will do the "Integration Course" next month. But I will do the evening courses, as I must find a job.

Today morning, I went to the Goethe (that's when I took the photo) and I told them that I wanted to continue. So from today on, I will be taking German classes again. I took my decision then.

Let´s hope everything goes OK.