Today I’ll share my experience in Germany during my first two years without knowing much German. When I first arrived, I thought it would be difficult to survive without a good grasp of the language. Although I had a little knowledge from studying A1 German on YouTube, it wasn’t enough. I had only learned theoretical grammar and had no practical skills in writing, speaking, or reading. Essentially, I felt like I had no usable knowledge to help me navigate daily life in Germany.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be. It was quite easy for me to communicate in Germany using my English because Germans are very welcoming to foreigners. They always want to help, even if they don’t know much English. At the end of the day, I needed to get my work done, right? And I managed to accomplish my tasks much more easily than I had anticipated.

On my first day in Germany, while searching for directions to my hotel, a local German couple, who appeared to be around 50 years old, helped me out. Interestingly, they couldn’t speak any English, and I only spoke English, which made the situation quite challenging. However, this couple was incredibly kind and patient. Despite the language barrier, they constantly tried to assist me. They asked where I was from, and after I answered, they indicated for me to follow them, as they knew the hotel I needed to get to.

My luggage weighed 32 kg, and the husband noticed this. He kindly offered to carry my luggage on his bicycle. Can you imagine that? How nice can people be? They guided me all the way to my hotel. That was my first and most memorable experience in Germany. I salute them from my heart and will never forget their kindness.

In this article, I’ll share some tips based on my real-life experiences about surviving in Germany as a tourist or as a foreigner who is thinking about coming here for study or work purposes. So, let’s get started…

Navigating German cities With having zero knowledge of German

In big city areas, such as Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf, you’ll find that they are very foreigner-friendly. You can do almost everything using your English skills. From my experiences in these major cities, I’ve noticed that when I approached ticket counters, the staff often began speaking English to me before I even had to ask, which was a pleasant surprise. In many shops and restaurants in these big cities, you won’t feel uncomfortable due to having zero or minimal knowledge of German.

When I went to restaurants, whether during travel or at normal times, I just pointed to the items on the menu, and the waiters understood what I wanted to order. Often, they would start speaking English to me. I’m emphasizing English a lot, but it’s because German locals, especially the younger generation, are very proficient in English. Sometimes, I feel like every German could score at least an 8 in IELTS if they took the test. However, it’s also true that in some areas, particularly rural ones and among older people (around 60 or 70 years old), finding English speakers can be challenging. Despite this, approximately 70 percent of Germans have a good command of English.

When it comes to booking a hotel room, it’s even easier than face-to-face conversations. You just need to go to well-known hotel booking websites like Booking.com, where you can change the language settings as needed. Once you arrive at the hotel, the staff will take care of you. Don’t worry about whether they speak English or not; in hotels, every staff member must know an international language to communicate with foreigners, so they must know English.

As I mentioned earlier, most Germans speak very good English, so you don’t need to worry about asking for help, especially in situations where you need assistance. For example, several times while exploring village areas or cities, I found myself lost and had to ask someone for directions to my destination. Sometimes even Google Maps can be confusing. I’ve faced this kind of situation many times. So, don’t hesitate to ask someone if you need help in any situation.

How to communicate with locals and get around without knowing German

Germany is where you can enjoy your travel time however you want. I understand the feeling of being in a new country without knowing the local language—it can be frustrating. I’ve been there, and I know the situation well. However, German locals will ease that fear by interacting with you in a way that makes you comfortable. Don’t know their language? No problem. They will speak English with you. They will switch from German to English to make you feel comfortable when you’re in front of them. Trust me, I know them well; they care about making foreigners feel welcome.

On the other hand, I had to deal with some Germans who had zero knowledge of English. Despite my hesitation due to my limited knowledge of German, it was surprisingly easy to communicate with them. You can’t imagine what they did—they used gestures and body language to communicate with me. They even tried to speak some English words, despite struggling. I also tried using some German phrases, and they understood me. This friendly approach made me feel they were my people.

These experiences made me fall in love with the amazing people of this country. After that, I no longer hesitated to communicate with Germans, whether they knew English or not. I tried to speak a bit of German, and they understood me. Those who knew English started communicating in English, while those who didn’t tried their best with a mix of German and English. I enjoyed these interactions, and language was no longer a barrier.

At last, I can say that if you have any hesitation about the language barrier and feel shy or uncomfortable because of it, you’re not alone—I was in your situation once. However, after coming to Germany, all your concerns about the language barrier will disappear. You will have a great time with this amazing nation.