How a YouTube couple led me to a new student:
Phuong's journey into German

How it all began: A coincidence that enriched my life

Sometimes life deals you the most interesting cards. That's what happened to me when I came across the YouTube couple Stephan and Phuong by pure chance. Stephan, a German with a penchant for adventure, and Phuong, a cheerful Vietnamese woman who until recently didn't speak a word of German. Their videos not only show breathtaking places, but also their shared journey through different cultures. This fascinated me immediately!

As a language teacher for German, English and French, I am constantly looking for new challenges and exciting projects. And there she was – Phuong. Her energy and curiosity literally jumped out at me from the screen. But what particularly appealed to me was the fact that she was obviously struggling to find her way around the German language. Especially because my German friend Stephan didn't speak Vietnamese. I just had to do something!

The first contact: From the screen to the classroom

After a few clicks and a short research, I was actually able to contact both of them. I wrote Stephan a message in which I briefly introduced myself and offered to teach Phuong German. To my delight, they were both immediately enthusiastic about the idea!

Just a few days later we had our first online meeting. Phuong was a little nervous, but also very motivated. I explained to her that the most important thing when learning a language is to enjoy it and to be interested in it – and she clearly had that. So we started our journey into German together.

The first steps: From the basics to the first conversations

As with every new student, I started with Phuong from the beginning. We started with the basics: greetings, simple phrases and everyday expressions. It was incredibly exciting to see how quickly she made progress. Of course, it wasn't easy for her at the beginning, because German is not exactly an easy language - especially if you come from a completely different language family. But Phuong was persistent and had an admirable willingness to learn.

We laughed a lot in our first few weeks. Especially when it came to the famous German articles, which can often get on your last nerve. But Phuong took everything with humor and I could see how she became more confident hour by hour. It didn't take long before she was able to hold simple conversations. These first successes motivated both of us incredibly!

A special video: Phuong's progress on YouTube

One of the most exciting experiences in our class was definitely when Stephan and Phuong decided to make a video about their German learning journey. They wanted to show their followers how Phuong is dealing with the new language and what progress she has already made. The video is a wonderful testimony to how dedicated and hardworking Phuong is.

In the video you can see how Phuong has developed. In the first part, Phuong moves awkwardly during a visit to a restaurant, but in the second half of the video he speaks a prepared text almost fluently with better emphasis and in a way that is understandable for every native German speaker. It was an incredibly proud moment for me to see how far she has come. Of course, there is still a long way to go, but we celebrate such milestones with great joy!

The challenges: language barriers and cultural differences

Of course, not everything always went smoothly. Language barriers and cultural differences sometimes made learning difficult. For example, we discovered that certain phrases or concepts in German were more difficult for Phuong to understand because there is no similar thing in her native language. But that is exactly what makes language learning so fascinating – it is not just technical learning, but also a cultural exchange.

Through Phuong, I learned a lot about Vietnamese culture, which enriched our lessons. We often talked about differences and similarities, which not only deepened her understanding of the language but also our mutual intercultural understanding.

What the future holds: plans and goals

Our journey together is far from over. Phuong and I continue to work intensively on her German skills. Our next big goal is for her to be able to express herself more confidently in everyday situations, whether while shopping, in a restaurant or when talking to new acquaintances. And who knows, maybe the next YouTube video will follow soon, showing even more of her progress!

For me as a language teacher, it is a wonderful experience to be part of Phuong’s language trip. It shows me how important it is to remain open to new encounters and challenges. Because sometimes a chance click leads to a wonderful collaboration that is both professionally and personally enriching.

Final thoughts: Language learning as a bridge between cultures

This story with Phuong and Stephan shows once again how valuable learning a new language is. It opens doors, builds bridges between different cultures and creates new friendships. Phuong's journey into German is a perfect example of how languages bring us not only new words, but also new perspectives and connections.

I am looking forward to our next steps together and to continuing to support Phuong’s language development. And who knows, maybe this story will inspire you to learn a new language and embark on your own language journey!

See you soon and stay curious!

Best regards,

Silke