Hi. I am El, a 17 year old girl from France, and have been learning German for as long as I can remember. Germany fascinates me, with its modern industry, its dedication to sustainability, its multicultural capital. I was lucky enough to spend the last two weeks at the GLS Berlin campus. It was the perfect setting for a first trip alone (and abroad), as the campus offered comfort, security, as well as an easy way to make friends.
On my first evening, I was given the key to my flat and got to meet my new roommate. Having a flatmate is perfect for younger students, it is an occasion to get to know new people. I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodation, with a properly furnished kitchenette, a nice bathroom and a cosy mezzanine up a flight of stairs (with proper blinds to block out the light!). My bed corner has to be my favorite spot on campus.
On Monday, the first day of class, you are interviewed casually over a cup of coffee, so as to assess your level and direct you towards the right group (A1 to C2). I joined the B2, subgroup 1, class. The classes welcome a maximum of 14 students : these small groups are ideal as we get to participate a lot during the lesson.
As the week went on, I enjoyed my lessons more and more : we always get to speak up, ask questions, and often work in small groups discussing different topics. It is complimentary to an academic/ university course : in GLS we do less grammar and spelling, and instead more speaking and listening comprehension. My vocabulary and ability to converse in German skyrocketed in these two weeks. Practice came from classes, but not only, as many students continue to chat in German at the breaks, out at lunch and so on.
When out visiting Berlin, do not forget to look up from your phone, as you may discover you are standing on a bicycle lane ! Unlike most cities, there is no sign on the bike lane, it is only identifiable by the difference of paving material used. Achtung !
Anecdote aside, Berlin is very tourist friendly when it comes to public transport. It is extremely reliable and you can truly get from any point A to any point B using the plethora of transport options, be it the tram, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, bus or rentable bicycles...
Now for some places to visit : Alexanderplatz is obviously a must...
... but so is Gendarmenmarkt ! Just next to Alexanderplatz and the Museum Island. Here you can climb up the stairs of the Französischer Dom (much cheaper than going up the Fernsehturm) and get an amazing view of the monuments Berlin has to offer! If you are lucky like me you might spot a rainbow too.
The Hamburger Bahnhof (Museum for Contemporary Art) houses such a beautiful contrast, between the graceful beauty of the old train station, and the vibrant cheerfulness of the modern artwork. Definitely worth a visit, though I would recommend booking in advance to avoid the queue !
If you have a free afternoon, Schloss Charlottenburg is the place to go ! Beautiful 17th and 18th century royal paintings, furniture and porcelain. In my case it was pouring with rain so the gardens were to be admired from inside. I was particularly sensitive to the two galeries in the new wing of the castle, glorious high-ceiling rooms which reminded me acutely of the Galerie des Glaces in Versailles.
This castle is a labyrinth of German history, taking you through the centuries, the monarchy, the unification under Kaiser Bismarck, the Prussian Wars, WW2 and reconstruction thereafter.
My personal favourite, just next to Schloss Charlottenburg : the Bröhan Museum. this hidden gem doesn't attract many tourists, and yet it is truly beautiful. The pieces in this museum are the fruit of a careful selection by collector Karl H. Bröhan. A kaleidoscope of Art Déco and Art nouveau objects awaits, from teapots to paintings to chairs to porcelaine statues. Art through every day objects is fascinating and never bores, there is always something new, new shapes, new colours, to look at.
Let's not forget about gls activities !
Every monday there is a meet up, where you can chat with new students. During the week, there are also visits, films and seminars organised by gls, which I definitely recommend paying attention to. Those that interested me the most are : the seminar on the Weimar Republic, this nuanced time in german history leading up to the Third Reich ; and the visit of part of the Berlin Wall, complete with descriptions of life in West/ Est Berlin, the construction of the wall and so on.
To conclude, I am very pleased with my two weeks on holiday at gls. The lessons did not feel like work at all, and yet I made significant progress after only 10 days of class (monday through friday for two weeks). I am much more confident expressing myself in German. The teachers were dynamic, motivated, always encouraged us and adapted the lesson to best benefit us. The atmosphere, inside and outside of the classroom, was very friendly. fellow students were dedicated, enthusiastic to better their knowledge of this language, which was overall very uplifting.
I am considering coming back next year. If you are reading this whilst considering joining gls courses, I hope this was of some use to you and provided a bit of insight.
Thank you so much to my teachers and to gls for this opportunity !