From Kazakhstan to 6 Languages: The Secret Method That Changed Everything | Leila Berg

From growing up in Kazakhstan to mastering 6 languages, Leila Berg shares her interesting journey of language learning. We talk about how a well known artist made her learn Spanish. She also shares some tips on how to learn different languages.

Leila is Berlin based freelance language teacher, podcaster and video creator. She grew up in Kazakhstan in an environment characterized by different languages and cultures. She studied linguistics at the Humboldt University of Berlin with a focus on Spanish and Russian.

Leila's Socials
Instagram | Website 

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Third Culture Talk Podcast is about people living in different cultures. Different than the culture they are from. Culture meaning, way of life, culture a person raised in, or place of birth. Guests ranges from third culture kids, artists, to comedians, to everyday people. We all are living in changing cultures and have a story to tell

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Music: "Chill Day" by Lakey Inspired

Transcript

00;00;00;00 - 00;00;27;14
Unknown
When I came here. I can't say that I speak them properly, like 100%. No, it's like some, English. It was maybe B1, a2 German, A1 Kazakh, I don't know, like it's my mother tongue. Yeah, but also not the professional level. Rational, of course. gut level. So when sometimes the person say I speak a lot of languages, you have to ask also what level to speak now, what level do you have?

00;00;27;17 - 00;00;45;13
Unknown
Welcome to the Third Culture Talk podcast. I'm your host Nya Yeanafehn. In this podcast we talk of people that are raised in a culture different than their parents. Home culture or way of life or nationality, and now they're living in today's culture, which is vastly different than it is of our parents or even back in the day. So let's go.

00;00;45;13 - 00;01;09;25
Unknown
In today's episode. Hello, how are you? Hello. I'm fine until I'm doing good. Can't complain. It's, sunny, so it's good. Yeah, it's very good. Yeah. Finally sunny. Oh, yes. The zone it is drowsing. Yeah. The sun is frozen. Endless. Yes, yes. So, so how you been? You've been, good here in Berlin. Yeah. I'm living here since.

00;01;10;00 - 00;01;38;22
Unknown
Since 2000. 14. Oh, wow. Yeah. Almost ten years. Wow. Ten years in Berlin. Yeah. Wow. And how's Berlin treating you? Fine. yeah. Sometimes bad, sometimes fine. But it's actually okay. I get I get used to, to the weather, to the people, to the culture, to the language, to everything. Oh, wow. Okay. And Berlin. And now where did you live originally?

00;01;38;22 - 00;02;02;01
Unknown
Before Berlin? I also lived before in a small city in Germany. it's called, I don't know if someone knows, but I don't think so. but it's close to Cologne, so it's not too far away from Cologne, but, small villages, are not so fine for young people. Wow. That's so good for young people.

00;02;02;01 - 00;02;23;20
Unknown
Yeah. Wow. Small village. okay. With 300 people. 300 people? Yeah. It was super. Boring, I would imagine. Yeah. I mean, what did you do for fun when using? I usually if you want to have fun, you go to another next village.

00;02;23;22 - 00;02;49;22
Unknown
because in our village, we didn't we didn't have any, bakery, how? Houses and, Yeah. No, bakery. Bakery. Yeah. Yeah. Right. So, and and a so you have to go to another village to, to get something. Wow. That is a real village. Yeah. And it was, only, three busses like, per day.

00;02;49;24 - 00;03;14;01
Unknown
And also, if you, if you didn't catch the one, you have to go by car. So next village or, I don't know, bicycle by feet. Yeah. So it was not so good. Wow. I mean, how long did you live in this small village? what do you think? I mean, hopefully a year or two years max.

00;03;14;01 - 00;03;33;00
Unknown
One month. Oh, my. Okay. Oh, yeah. All right. Was like, okay, you escaped. You didn't stay there long enough. Yeah, yeah, it was too, too boring for me. Wow. And what made you move there? I mean, was that the first place you came to when you moved to Germany? yes. I lived, with, gas family. yeah.

00;03;33;03 - 00;03;55;07
Unknown
I work there as a nanny. And then I understood. Now, it's not a good place for me. And, connection with the family was also not so good. because I come, from Kazakhstan and people in cars that are more warm. So our culture is more warm. So I was singing and like, the people, here in Germany.

00;03;55;07 - 00;04;31;02
Unknown
So Germans are also like, really gas friendly and, so friendly, but it wasn't. Wow. Yeah. So that's why I decided to, we had also some conflicts. because, I don't remember even why we had conflicts, but. So after one month, I decided. So I need to escape this escape. Yeah. That's something interesting you brought up about the, the the warmth, you know, and culture, you know, like, you have some cultures are very warm sometimes it can be very hot.

00;04;31;04 - 00;04;47;12
Unknown
They have some cultures a little colder or too cold. You have noticed that. All right. Yeah, I have, yes. I thought it was me at first. And then when everyone starts saying it, I was like, okay, this is a German thing. Maybe. For how long you lived here? I lived here for about a year now. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

00;04;47;12 - 00;05;14;01
Unknown
Oh, okay. You're still exploring? Yeah. Still exploring. Yeah. Yeah. But, Yeah. So the difference is they you, like, felt like what was like a moment you felt like, okay, this is different in terms of, like, the warmth and culture. I think the at the first minute also, when I came to the airport, the guys from a family also came to the airport, and I was imagine, like, they will like, I don't know how to, hug each other.

00;05;14;01 - 00;05;36;01
Unknown
And the other one, like, hello? And I'm like, okay, hello. I was thinking maybe it's only first minute will be like that or. But not now. It was the whole months like this. Wow. So no hugging at all. And you do you do babysit. You just the nanny, right? Yeah. And so you babysitting the kids, and now one time, they at least gave you a hug once.

00;05;36;01 - 00;06;07;14
Unknown
Yeah. Wow. That's cool. Yeah, yeah. That's called. Oh, they're called circle. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I don't know, if it's, only with the Germans that live in, religious, maybe they are more, close, like, they are not so open, but people, or Germans who are leaving for example, in, big cities are more open minded and more warm, I think.

00;06;07;16 - 00;06;32;13
Unknown
yeah. Also people who, have lived abroad, so they are also warm, I think. but it's of course it's, individually, so of course. Yeah, yeah. I mean, that is a common stereotype about Germans being very cold and stuff, but but, yeah, that's true, but partially. Maybe not. Not complete. Yeah. I mean, I met some warm, you know, Germans.

00;06;32;15 - 00;06;50;13
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, too warm sometimes. okay. Yeah. Okay. So you're lucky one year into two warm people. Yeah. I mean, to me. Yeah, I'm learning a little bit of German, so, like, I speak a little bit German, and then they will speak full German to me. Yeah, I will not know. So I like, to me, like my Deutsche is Nick.

00;06;50;13 - 00;07;17;28
Unknown
They're good and they're like okay. And then speak more German. And I'm like whoa, okay. And like continue to ask me questions in German. I'm like, oh, but here also two points. What I want to say that you are American and Germans, normally usually like Americans and two second part is that, people you have met, they are they were grow up in a big city.

00;07;18;00 - 00;07;37;12
Unknown
Maybe also because of that. That's a good point. Okay. Yeah. I didn't really think about it like that. Okay. So, before we get into your time here in Germany. So you're originally from Kazakhstan, right? And, Kazakhstan. How long you was there for with you born and raised there, right? Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Okay. And, and how's Kazakhstan?

00;07;37;12 - 00;07;59;01
Unknown
I mean, we talked to. I talked to a few people. I think we actually have friends. Yeah, they have a mutual friend who's, from Kazakhstan. but, you know, the only thing I know much in that, Hello. Hi. it's crazy that, you know, the world is so small, you know. Yeah. but she talked to her, and then another person told me about how big the country is.

00;07;59;01 - 00;08;27;23
Unknown
But not too many people use the land, or so it's like, the population is small, but the land mass is big. Yeah, yeah. So I guess with your upbringing was it similar to, like, I don't know, small town type of thing or, cousin is very big. Yeah. But for example, if you compare a big city with, village here, the village, in Germany is more, developed.

00;08;27;25 - 00;08;55;03
Unknown
Yeah. for example, if you go in a small city, they have like better structure of infrastructure or, or, I don't know, bazaars or supermarkets, I mean, not the village, what I mentioned before, but a bigger village. but for example, in, my city, we still, don't have metro. yeah. Really? Yeah, we have, I think 700,000 people.

00;08;55;05 - 00;09;30;14
Unknown
not 1 million. Not even 1 million people. But I wish we had we have had Metro. But yeah, maybe if the government of Kazakhstan is listening to me now, activate needs metro. Wow. So for me, how did you guys get around? You have to drive everywhere. by bus. trolleybus? yeah, by bus and trolleybus and taxi and actually, like, every average, person has their, car, a car.

00;09;30;17 - 00;09;57;10
Unknown
But I wish we had more, possibilities to, like, transport possibilities. Yeah. Well, I think transportation, is the driving good there. Like, I mean, since everyone has cars are people very good drivers, and, Kazakhstan, people. I can't say right now because I'm living here since, two, ten years now. Right? Right. I can say, but before, when I was young.

00;09;57;12 - 00;10;24;16
Unknown
Yes. Okay. Yeah, yeah, I know it's a random question, but, you know, I, I've heard some things about Kazakhstan, not the positive things I'm just curious about, like, you know, the details of, I can't say many details, about now because I don't know how it is now. Yeah, but usually people drive normal. Fine. Yeah. Not like in India or something, you know, because I heard that in India that the traffic is super crazy.

00;10;24;16 - 00;10;42;13
Unknown
Or in Turkey also. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean even my country and and Liberia like the I mean you have to beep all the time. You always got to honk the horn. Like because cars are scream, you have to guard the window like, hey, I'm turning. Get out of the way. And and that's how the balcony got to where I'm making a right baby.

00;10;42;13 - 00;11;00;02
Unknown
And then that's how you know. So needs to make a right. Yeah. no. In fact, about in my city, it's not like this, I think. Yeah. Oh, before ten years or ten years ago, it was fine. Okay. Yeah. And then, like, you know, after you, after you grew up there is kind of like, I'm heading out.

00;11;00;02 - 00;11;28;02
Unknown
I'm leaving. Yeah. Wow. So, so you went to school there and stuff? Yeah. Okay. And, I guess, did you go to, to university there? Yeah, I started, to study there. but I didn't finish, so. Because, I wanted to, move to Germany and I wanted to take academic year, so it's like one year of break.

00;11;28;04 - 00;11;55;05
Unknown
but they said no. So I, I finished the university, and then I said, okay, bye bye. Love you. Then give me the break. So I will go, Wow. Okay. So you so from university, you came here to Germany? Yeah. And, Germany. Germany is an interesting place, right? I mean, you know, obviously a lot of history and, like, each part of Germany is a different, like, you know, Frankfurt is different.

00;11;55;06 - 00;12;16;11
Unknown
Hamburg is different. Dresden, Leipzig, all these places. and when you came to Berlin, you've been in Berlin for ten years now, you said. Right. Yeah. And how was Berlin when you first got here? Like how was it like, you know, between that small village you came from in Germany to Berlin? How how was the difference?

00;12;16;14 - 00;12;46;07
Unknown
It was, very interesting because people are, super open minded here and people are, friendly, more friendly than in small village. And I'll, I also like that they have, like, events here, a lot of events, different events, everything. What do you want, like about cinema or music or comedy, you know, so everything. What do you wish you can find anything here?

00;12;46;09 - 00;13;07;13
Unknown
Wow. Yeah. That was, That was a good point, because in small way, this year you have only one event. For example, in, in, in a week. And if you don't like so you then go, or if you like, I think maybe now it's better. Maybe they have like more programs, like for different, tastes now.

00;13;07;15 - 00;13;25;22
Unknown
But here you have everything. Oh, yeah. I mean, Berlin is like, so many things, I don't know, it's like you have, like, the even the dancing, like the salsa, the. Yeah, this. And then you have other different culture. It's like so much. Yeah. And you can also try something new or not like for example, this week you go to salsa.

00;13;25;22 - 00;13;49;26
Unknown
Next week you go to Japanese workshop class. next week you go, I don't know, to play, cards, squash, I don't know, basketball like different stuff. Oh, wow. Sound like you played all those things. Yeah, I actually, we have also, mutual friend is Aisha. We met, on the basketball player. What? Yeah. Wait.

00;13;49;28 - 00;14;09;20
Unknown
Yeah. I'm learning something new about both of y'all. Oh, no. So y'all play basketball? Yeah. Wow. Yeah, but not professionally. Just for me. I mean, for fun. Yeah. Wow. Is that okay? So did you play basketball growing up or, like, was that something that you just picked up when you got to Berlin? No, it was in school in Kazakhstan.

00;14;09;20 - 00;14;32;03
Unknown
So we had some classes, but only for six months. And then I stopped. what I regret, actually, because basketball was really a cool game. And then when I was here, I always wanted to find the shrine. I know that's where I'm close, and, but I, I'm learning German to you. Yeah. So, like, organization or something like this.

00;14;32;03 - 00;15;00;10
Unknown
I always wanted it. And this year, 2024, I set a goal. Like to close everything. What I want to do like to, start, to going to the dances, different dances. start to play, basketball. I'm also doing boxing. So different stuff. Wow. So, okay, so you're a basketball player? your boxer. You got to be a dancer soon.

00;15;00;10 - 00;15;23;27
Unknown
Yeah. Wow. You did okay. You really taking Berlin in? Yeah. So if the if the if I have, nice offers, why not? I mean, true. Yeah. I mean, we can always learn, from as a person, and you don't have to think like you. You know, everything. No is necessary. There are so many things in your life.

00;15;23;27 - 00;15;51;07
Unknown
What you can learn, what you can learn easily from other person. And this amazing. Especially in Berlin. Berlin has a lot of talents. Talented people. Yeah. Oh, yeah. So. And this possibility you have to use you have to choose and use. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow. That is so strange. I don't know, because, you know, again, coming from America, coming here when I hear about, like, you know, basketball ball and things, you know, it's always it's almost like, wow.

00;15;51;07 - 00;16;14;10
Unknown
Okay. You know, these sports are universal. They're everywhere. And you so you played baseball. You said basketball only for six months in Kazakhstan. That's cool. Yeah. Okay. Was you good. Was you like the best. You know the best. But I mean I enjoy going to play and I think that helps me also to, to get stress out of my body.

00;16;14;12 - 00;16;35;13
Unknown
So and I like to run, I like to play, I like to, interact with, other players. So, Yeah. Okay, cool. It's not about professional to be a professional just for fun. Yeah. I mean, yeah, of course, basketball is what was. I mean, I don't know how it is here. I know basketball can get very competitive quick.

00;16;35;20 - 00;16;51;03
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, that's not a nice game where you're like, oh, I think you could take the ball. No you can. I don't want the ball. You can take it. You like. Oh you want to. Yeah. So basketball player yeah yeah yeah I played basketball growing up. So like that was a game where. Yeah there ain't no nice nothing.

00;16;51;04 - 00;17;08;04
Unknown
Yeah. Different level or different level. You know you nice with a ball. Somebody snatch the ball at your hands that this you know like oh you sung you know you got to be very defensive. Yeah. Oh yeah. So yeah basketball is a very tough sport. But now, I can't play basketball because I broke up my, finger.

00;17;08;05 - 00;17;24;17
Unknown
You broke your finger? Not broke, but almost. And I was, I went to the orthopedist yesterday, and he said me for four weeks. No sport, no contact sport, no contact sport. yeah. yeah. I'm really sad.

00;17;24;19 - 00;17;45;27
Unknown
Because I, I enjoy. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you do some physical activities. I mean, that definitely would slow things down. Yeah. And that did I come from basketball today? No, no, that's, yeah. That's worse. Yeah. Yeah. It's not. Yeah. It's not a easy sport. No no no no no not bad. actually, I went, last time to the mixed group.

00;17;45;29 - 00;18;05;28
Unknown
It was men and women. So then I got hurt now. But when I play with women, it never happens. Well, they have a Mexican with the the the guys and the women. Yeah. For basketball. Yeah, yeah. How was that? Because, I mean, yeah. You see, Indians.

00;18;06;00 - 00;18;29;19
Unknown
That's that's just a result. How was it? My fingers broke. All right, daddy? Yeah. Oh. That is I never heard that before, but that's interesting. Yeah, yeah. Berlin always has something different, I think. I think it should be, separated. Yeah. I mean, because, yeah, basketball is no joke. I mean, yeah, that is heavy pushing, shoving.

00;18;29;22 - 00;18;47;08
Unknown
You know, you got to really put your body into it, you know, and then like, look at your thumb, you know. Yeah. You know, now you can't do any boxing. you know. Yeah. Now. Yeah. But also boxing. Boxing is is it separate. Is it, like, mixed together? it's you don't box with another person. You box with,

00;18;47;10 - 00;19;04;09
Unknown
Oh, with the bag. Yeah. Oh, okay. It's my workout. More workout. Yeah. It's. I found it, an urban sport club, if you know that. Yeah, yeah. Urban sports guys like that. it's like the, group of gyms or something, right? Yeah, yeah, you can that. That's amazing. Point of Berlin, That's a cool point.

00;19;04;12 - 00;19;29;17
Unknown
Then what about sport club? You can, go and do some different activities every day. Yeah. You can go to basketball to ball then to swimming pool to, I don't know, volleyball. So different stuff. Box. Yeah. Everything. Yeah. So many. Yeah. Wow. So okay so you the box and everything on well not this yoga also.

00;19;29;17 - 00;19;50;25
Unknown
So you do but you do all that too. Yeah. Yeah, I met this. Amazing. That's really cool. So that's why I'm talking to you. That, in the small village or in a small cities, you don't have this type of, I don't know. but here we have, like, everything. Okay. So. So let's go back to Kazakhstan.

00;19;50;25 - 00;20;22;02
Unknown
Right in Kazakhstan. What was like the funding to do? What was the thing that everyone was like looking forward to or or did for fun? ten years ago? I have to think back. Okay. yeah. I think when I was, young, younger, we did sports also. Yeah, we went out and, I don't remember what what what what we did for fun.

00;20;22;05 - 00;20;54;20
Unknown
Usually I left that pass behind me. yeah. I mean, I'm. I'm a German. yeah. I don't know what we do, what we have done for fun. I don't know, sounds like it wasn't too much fun. Then. maybe. no. You know what's interesting about Kazakhstan? Well, I can say one thing. That, for example, now with the social network Instagram, TikTok, now, you, see that one hobby is super popular.

00;20;54;22 - 00;21;16;00
Unknown
Everyone is doing this. so every teenager is doing this, then. Yeah. Yeah. later. You see, this is not more popular. Okay. You you go to another hobby, and here it's not like this here. It's like you have different types of hobby. And every person that you ask, for example, Germans. Arizona. What are you doing? Oh, I don't know.

00;21;16;00 - 00;21;36;10
Unknown
I go, Clairton, Boulder, Boulder now or something. Oh, I don't know. I go to play squash, food, blah blah blah. So different stuff. And there. What are you doing? Okay, I'm doing this. Okay. What's your friend doing with friends? He's also doing the same. yeah. Oh, wow. So I guess, would you say that this work, conformity.

00;21;36;11 - 00;21;59;14
Unknown
Like, people say everyone's the same. You know, it was the same societal was I. I'm assuming I was a thing out there. Maybe that, you know, wasn't so diverse or so in. Yeah, in terms of what people did. Maybe it's also about collectivity, in our culture. Yeah. Because our countries, are more like, okay, we have to be together in like, in a group.

00;21;59;17 - 00;22;26;25
Unknown
Yeah. And here the people. So a Western, or individually, like, they want to, decide for themselves what they are doing and working. Doing for fun. So. Yeah. Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah. About collectivism. against, collectivism versus individualism. Yeah. That because that's a definitely a cultural thing that always is it always creates conflict.

00;22;26;26 - 00;22;47;27
Unknown
Yeah. You know, because you know, obviously with collectivism you, you're expected to do certain things. Yeah. Based on your role or based on where you stand in the family. Individualism is like, nah, do whatever I want. I want to go bouldering tomorrow or boxing today, whatever. Yeah, I won't say that's conflict, but, it's, it's it's what I learned here.

00;22;47;28 - 00;23;16;19
Unknown
No, that's, you can decide as an individual, what you want to do. No. They're. The family sometimes decides what you have to do, for example, with your life now. But here you are, 18. Okay? You go and you decide what you want to do. You go to make house building, or you go to make a tour, or you go, I don't know, take a gap year or you don't do nothing, so you just sit at home.

00;23;16;22 - 00;23;42;07
Unknown
Yeah. But there in Kazakhstan, for example. No, you have to follow the rules. You have to go to the university. After the university, you have to marry, after marriage, you have to bring first, to China and then second child and then third child, then 4 or 5, six, seven and, yeah. Wow. So, okay. Yeah. No, that's that's true.

00;23;42;07 - 00;24;01;13
Unknown
I mean, even my culture two is a thing where you have to go to university or not even university. You got to be a doctor, engineer or lawyer or accountant. okay. So the the the the, the professions are not so diverse. Diverse. Yeah. No, no, no. If you say, hey, I'm going to university, be an artist about, you made a mistake.

00;24;01;13 - 00;24;22;04
Unknown
Go back, and then you become those 3 or 4 things with you. Yeah, because whatever makes the most money. Yeah, exactly. Which I mean, look, I get it, because let's be serious. Anyone who goes to university for art may not make that much money for you. Yeah, yeah. You know, so yeah, it's I think it's also comes from the, old culture.

00;24;22;05 - 00;24;44;26
Unknown
Maybe so where the economic was not so stable. So the, the, grandparents also wanted to have like more stable profession. Like if you are doctor. Okay. I know that you will have a lot of money now. So it comes from this part time maybe. Yeah. Our culture. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, even now I know that things are expensive.

00;24;44;27 - 00;25;03;22
Unknown
You know, these are people that I know that have, like, psychology degree to kind of like, you know, then I go there, had to go to college for that. I could have just read some guy's mind and then gotten that same information, but but the, the times, changed already, so you can be an artist.

00;25;03;22 - 00;25;27;09
Unknown
Of course, but you have to be quick, I think. So you have to also like you do not. So you post everything, you make promotion everywhere so the people know you as, interview, as, a stand up comic. So like to be, in your part, the best. Yeah, yeah. Trying to be in your part. The best.

00;25;27;11 - 00;25;53;00
Unknown
The time. what? I mean, until, under the times I change. So we have the instruments to to be the best artist. For example, when we produce, material or when we do marketing stuff and stuff and. Yeah, this is. Yeah. No, this is very true. Yeah. And I think, also, in addition, I think when you hear in Europe there's a more support for art, artists as well.

00;25;53;03 - 00;26;12;23
Unknown
you know, whereas in America is not so much in America, it's like straight, you know, if you don't got the money, even for you to become a successful artist, sometimes you need the money to push you or, yeah, you need a job or something, you know, to. I feel like here in Europe, there's a support that you can just be an artist for as long as you want and support these people here to support you, which is a beautiful thing.

00;26;12;23 - 00;26;41;12
Unknown
Yeah. And also what nobody's talking about is, that you can, get, financially, help from government for the wrong course. Yeah. For example, if you, register as a director or screenwriter or, I don't know, different types of artists, but you have to make a product what helps to each other. So what, makes the life of community better?

00;26;41;14 - 00;27;02;06
Unknown
so then you can also get some help, which is like. I mean, that is, once somebody told me about them like that exist. So they so this is money out there for someone as long as they can prove they can make something that is there. Yeah. The way is not so easy. Of course now because you have two on track house full and all the command staff now.

00;27;02;07 - 00;27;24;15
Unknown
Yeah. But it's possible. Yeah yeah yeah I need look into that. Yeah. I just got to write a paper. Right. I'm maybe someone, of your, friends. So I don't know, a person who is watching have done that and can help you. I know some people have done it. It's just that, it brings me back to college where I have to write, like, a paper or report or something.

00;27;24;16 - 00;27;40;08
Unknown
I'm not. It's like drama, you know? It's like, oh, I got to write a report. I gotta write an essay. Yeah. how many pages got to be, What? I got to talk. I got to write, you know, but there's money on the line, so I need to do it. At least that's another point of, Germany.

00;27;40;08 - 00;28;08;08
Unknown
So it makes you to be more organized? Yeah. It's, push pushing here to make, be organized. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was a culture shock. Everything people were here in Germany, you know? Bureaucracy. Yeah. Oh, there. Too much bureaucracy. Yeah. Oh, man. Yeah. So, so you've been in Berlin, you know, you trying all these things? you know, I'm assuming that when you got here, it was just like, oh, my gosh, like, I can do anything.

00;28;08;08 - 00;28;25;23
Unknown
You know, there's there's so many things that are going on. And, what was like the first area you lived out in Berlin, like, was the first part of Berlin? it was trip to park. Oh, okay. You know this? Yeah. The Air Force, not the effort, but the air. The the big park, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

00;28;25;24 - 00;28;44;15
Unknown
Jumped off. okay. That's off the, the S-Bahn that goes. Yeah, yeah. Right. And then they have that. Okay. You go further. I got that one memorial thing. Yeah. Okay. So how was that like around that time when you were living there. Was it like because hip it's kind of cool now. I don't know how it was ten years ago.

00;28;44;17 - 00;29;07;27
Unknown
It was actually also cool because next to the park, there's a harness, you know, slash store. And slash stores like super hip and super interesting. So you can find a lot of bars, restaurants there stuff. So it was cool also to live close to this part. Not in this part but close. Yeah. Not inside but yeah yeah yeah.

00;29;08;00 - 00;29;31;29
Unknown
Enough to where you can like, you know, go inside and leave when you have to. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Okay. And when you move to Germany at this time, did you know how to speak Dutch? I came actually already with A1. Wow. from Kazakhstan. I got, this level there because I was, learning German in a school.

00;29;32;02 - 00;29;58;07
Unknown
and then I did some private classes, so I came prepared already. Oh, but it was different, German. Because what you learn in book and what you hear here on the street, it's not the same, because what I was learning is like, where is voice you take? What? we can underscore off. And so asthma.

00;29;58;09 - 00;30;27;16
Unknown
But here and the streets is different. Well, yeah. So what was that for? The bibliotheque. Yeah. Okay. So how would they say on the street Bibliotheque. as a mechanism. So usually you ask it like, oh, you know, the, the problem is what we, we, we come now to another point, because, the, books. Right.

00;30;27;18 - 00;30;52;02
Unknown
The, learning book, was to my book was too old, because in this time when I was learning so Google Maps was not existed now. So, but now, for example, nobody's asking you where the bibliotheque was. If be able to check why? Because you have every thing in your phone or. Yeah, you see, the program is still all in the books.

00;30;52;02 - 00;31;21;01
Unknown
Literally. Yeah. Technology is like far past the books that you learned the German from. That is one. Yeah, that's. Voice the tech. Yeah. They're like what? Yeah. Yeah. But was yeah. Wow. So that's an interesting point you bring up. And it's actually interesting for me because I'm trying to learn Deutsch. Yeah. And, you know, the way I'm learning is not, I don't know, is it's happening.

00;31;21;04 - 00;31;46;01
Unknown
you know, I learn words on Google Maps, and I just talk with people and see what happens, and then we'll go from there. But you mentioned some things and how people they learn from the book. and then they try to apply it on the street and it doesn't work. Yeah. Like what? some other things that, you know, that I guess what I'm trying to ask, right, is like, what were some of the things that you learned from the book that you found, like, shocking?

00;31;46;01 - 00;32;10;09
Unknown
I mean, it's off the bibliotheque, like, or some other thing. I know one word. Yeah, I know one word. Okay. it, it means nah, nah, it's what I learned in book. I was thinking like, I will need it matter. It means, like, stupid guy. That's what you learn in the book. I saw it once.

00;32;10;09 - 00;32;36;13
Unknown
Yeah. And I was like, okay, I have to learn this word. Maybe one day I will need it. Yeah, but, then I came here, and once I wanted to use it, then I'm like, double standard, and then, like, what? Why are you using this word? Nobody's using. But it was like, really old German word. Yeah. 100 years before, like a year ago.

00;32;36;13 - 00;33;01;11
Unknown
They use it maybe. Wow. But now. No, now they say Birdman or the same blood. Or that my sickness. I don't know the Mr. Blood. Yeah, something like this. Blood? Blood? Blood. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. And I mean, stupid man, you know that. I mean, that I, I wanted to learn to use it, but, Yeah, it was fail.

00;33;01;13 - 00;33;26;20
Unknown
Wow. And not wow. And, I mean, stupid man. He said, That's funny. They taught you that in a book, like, hey, before you go to Germany, you gotta learn who's smart and stupid. yeah. Very practical. Like, hey, I talk to the smart people. I didn't know it was like 12 years ago. 15 years ago. But I still have this word in my mind.

00;33;26;22 - 00;33;54;03
Unknown
Oh, that is so funny. well, the teacher guide, the book. Oh, good. All right, well, that's good to. That's good to know what, other countries teach, people, you know, when they want to learn German and they teach, you know, certain things that are different. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So at this time, before coming to Germany, you learned you knew how to speak Deutsch a, A1 and then, obviously, Kazakh.

00;33;54;06 - 00;34;22;13
Unknown
not obviously, but Kazakh. Yeah. and then, Russian as well. Right. Yeah. So, so you had three languages, before I came? Yes. Wow. Yeah. in English, a bit in English. Okay. So. Yeah. Four. Yeah. Wow. So already superstar, you already have four. Not not superstar. Because we have. I don't know if I can tell that, but we have in Kazakhstan a, problem with Kazakh language that, most mostly of people, not, must have people.

00;34;22;13 - 00;34;55;13
Unknown
They speak Russian better than Kazakh. yeah. it's, it comes from Soviet, Union times. So, I did my school in Russian language and the Kazakh I had, also in school and I spoke Kazakh with my grandparents. So my Kazakh is actually not the not the super, but I can like, speak, I can talk, I can understand everything.

00;34;55;15 - 00;35;21;25
Unknown
But I would say my Russian is better because everything what I, read or movies or I don't know, with friends even we did it in the Russian language. But now, for example, times have changed. Now, when I came last year there, I was talking with my, relatives who was my, cuisines cousins, and they, more Kazakhs speaking.

00;35;21;27 - 00;35;45;29
Unknown
yeah. Yeah, I've heard this. Yeah. From, DeNiro. She said, yeah. About Kazakh. And I was spoken more and more. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, Kazakh. Is that a difficult language? You learn? it's, not so hard as Russian. I think Russian is, harder. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Russian is yeah. Actually I have a Russian aunt and when she speaks Russian is just like,

00;35;46;02 - 00;36;06;18
Unknown
Yeah. That's hard. Yeah. Difficult. Yeah. Very hard. Yeah. But, Kazakh is close to the Turkish, language. Really? Because it's in Turkey. Because Kazakh is a part of Turkic, language. languages. Oh. Group of languages. Yeah. Wow. I guess they they share some history or so that, you know, or is just like, okay. Yeah.

00;36;06;18 - 00;36;39;27
Unknown
Yeah. We are Turkic folk actually. Yeah. Really. Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh wow. Yeah. Okay. So yeah I every time I learn about history I hear I'm like what. Yeah. We are Turkic folk and our ancestor really close with, Turkey, Turkish, Azerbaijan, Uzbek is we are more brothers with them, as then with Russian, for example.

00;36;39;29 - 00;36;57;27
Unknown
yeah. And also we look different now. Yeah. I mean, yeah, you know. Yeah. So and I guess you also learn in Turkish, Turkish as well. I mean, was is it easy for you to learn that language in, Turkish? I'm learning. Yeah, but, it's easier for me because I speak Kazakh, so. And it's a same language group.

00;36;58;00 - 00;37;19;07
Unknown
So imagine if you learn, for example, Spanish and Portuguese, they are also in the same language group. So it's easier for you to learn Portuguese if you speak Spanish. Okay. That's interesting. And oh, okay. So you know, yeah. Here in Berlin and then, as you here because, you know, what you do primarily is that, you teach other people how to speak different languages.

00;37;19;10 - 00;37;39;02
Unknown
Exactly. Right. That's what I'm doing. Yeah. And how, like, how was that journey? Right. Because, I mean, at this point, you learned you knew for, languages when you first came to Germany and then. But I want to say so. Excuse me. Yeah. That, when I came here, I can't say that I speak them properly, like, 100%.

00;37;39;02 - 00;38;02;10
Unknown
No, it's like or some, English. It was maybe B1, a2 German, A1 Kazakh, I don't know, like it's my mother tongue. Yeah, but also not the professional level. Russian, of course. a good level. So when sometimes the person say I speak a lot of languages, you have to ask also what level to speak now, what level do you have?

00;38;02;12 - 00;38;23;17
Unknown
That's a good point. That's a very good point. Thank you for correcting me on that. Yeah. Because, you know, I could be like, oh, you speak this and you be like, I know two words. Yeah, but I don't speak it. I actually just, you know, know how to say the words. Yeah. So you let's just say you had, languages of various levels under in your belt or so, coming to, Germany.

00;38;23;20 - 00;38;52;28
Unknown
And then what led you to start wanting to, you know, learn more languages, you know, from the ones that you already kind of knew already? I started to learn Spanish in 2000, 18, I think. Yeah. 18. Yeah. because of music. Because of music. Yeah. Okay. The talk about that, you remember, from, one day to another day, the Latino music was everywhere.

00;38;53;01 - 00;39;15;16
Unknown
Yeah. Here in Germany as well. Yeah. Wow. It was super popular I think in the world. Yeah. I mean definitely United States. Yeah. Yeah. And, and the East Coast but you know out here too. Yeah. Yeah. Everywhere. And I was like wow what the singing about I want to understand it. I was like, wow. It's super interesting and it sounds not so difficult.

00;39;15;16 - 00;39;38;00
Unknown
So I was only, understanding, like Corazon Miami or something like this. And I was like, okay, but I want to understand more. Yeah. So because the music, you started learning it. And now what was your process of learning Spanish? Was it just learn, listen to the lyrics of the songs or did you go to school? Did you read a book?

00;39;38;02 - 00;40;01;22
Unknown
Yeah, I went, I went to the school, to the first floor. So, Shula, first of all, it's, how do you say that? The school, the language school from the government. Actually, not language school. Like school for everything from the government. And the courses are not so, expensive. There. So I went there and I had, my first Spanish teacher.

00;40;01;22 - 00;40;29;13
Unknown
She was German. Anya. and, I fell in love with her, lessons because I was like, wow. She's teaching very well. I, I would love to continue to learn this language because how she explains it, it's, seems too easy for me. I can understand everything. What she explains. And then I, thought, okay, I want to go to another level, not only A1.

00;40;29;13 - 00;40;56;20
Unknown
I want to also learn A2, B1 and stuff, but, her courses, so she has only A1 course. and then two A2, I had to go to another teacher from Mexico. She was not so good. Yeah. That's, one point. What? I want to also mention that you think sometimes that, teacher should be, a native speaker, but not.

00;40;56;22 - 00;41;26;09
Unknown
No. Yeah. Teacher, has to be to be, no, native speaker of language. So I went to this A2 course and I also learned parallel, in YouTube and, Instagram and Netflix also a movies I watched a lot. I, heard a lot of music, and then I understood, okay, I want to, be better in this language.

00;41;26;11 - 00;41;54;23
Unknown
And I decided to, studied and the diversity. okay. You see studies university as well. Yeah. so I went to university to study that, because I was like, okay, I just to know grammatically it's not, enough for me. I want to know everything about Spanish language, about culture or literature. yeah. Everything. Yeah. So this is this.

00;41;54;23 - 00;42;20;29
Unknown
Wow. What song did you listen to that got you really into? learning Spanish as well? Yeah. Yeah, I think, my first, artist, Spanish artist who brought me to the day to learn, the Spanish language was J Balvin. Wow. Shout out to J Balvin. You got people going to university to learn Spanish? Yeah. Know J velvet different.

00;42;21;02 - 00;42;42;08
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. So you see, sometimes artists can inspire you also to, to make, big ideas, make big projects and stuff. So but it's my first time hearing of art is that made someone go to university to learn. It was a big journey. I can say that J Balvin brought me to his university. Sorry J Balvin, I thought, yo, you, you're good enough.

00;42;42;08 - 00;42;55;24
Unknown
You're good. You know you're still good. Yeah, yeah. But, he took part, took part. Yeah, yeah. You was you had an impact. You had an impact. Exactly.

00;42;55;27 - 00;43;21;01
Unknown
Yeah. And now I'm learning French also because of music, actually. Oh, yeah. And it's okay. Well, yeah. So many languages. And I'm so curious about this because I'm also trying to learn, you know it. Right. And the way I'm learning is, you know, I don't know if it's the right way, the wrong way and stuff. So, one question I have is like in terms of, A1 to A2, right?

00;43;21;03 - 00;43;47;05
Unknown
like the jump between those two levels is a big is it like hard, hard, difficult to go from A1 to A2? I think it's something in your head. It's not, only what it's, in, in the book because sometimes I, I went to different schools, language schools. I went with a lot of Chinese people, to school.

00;43;47;07 - 00;44;17;01
Unknown
And they have certificate of, say, one German. But when you speak with them, they don't even know how to say a sentence without, error and error, you know, but they have certificate. Yeah, yeah. So that that's the problem. What do you have written? No, what? The certificate says it's not always that. What you can, No, that is a problem of, levels.

00;44;17;04 - 00;44;44;04
Unknown
that's why I'm saying that everything is in inside your head. Yeah, if you understand what they are saying. And if you can't answer, of course, with errors, it's not. It's not a problem now. But if you can understand, if you can express yourself. Yes, you are on A2 different topics. For example, first, how's your first day along presentation about yourself?

00;44;44;04 - 00;45;23;12
Unknown
First among, VR as t you. Ello young or something, right of it. Yeah. Jeremy I could spell boy. yeah. so I'm in the, if you can understand what the, what the people, talking to you in German, in Deutsche and you can answer in different topics or not in different topics. So you have already A2 you know, you're like the second person I've heard this from in terms of, you know, having this level of like certificate for the in the language you speak, but not being able to really speak it.

00;45;23;13 - 00;45;41;25
Unknown
Yeah. And I'm always curious then I'm like, how can you, how can you gauge what level you're at when is not really based on I mean, I don't even know how to even grade you then on the level like, did it do you, do you have a piece of paper? You just write out the correct words. Multiple choice.

00;45;42;02 - 00;46;04;10
Unknown
Now the problem of, if we talk about, exams, the problem of exams are the it has three parts. Three parts, what, reading part and one part what? When you talk in one part, when you talk, it's only 15, 20 minutes. In 20 minutes, you cannot understand if the person is, able to talk with you in this language or.

00;46;04;10 - 00;46;32;00
Unknown
No. But reading part, you can learn everything like a machine. Yeah. because of course, you have to be able to know these osseous chromatic parts. Yeah. un certain level. But I think that, the speaking part, it's two to small to little to define your level. 20 minutes. It's not enough to understand if you can speak or not, because you can also learn this text before.

00;46;32;03 - 00;46;54;02
Unknown
But if I ask you something out of the box, you can't answer. that's a good point. Yeah, that's something I was told. And that. Yeah, to what you're saying is true. so that's good. This that's good. You mentioned that, you know, people are not like I have see to you like, we get to the end, but, that, nine you like.

00;46;54;02 - 00;47;16;19
Unknown
All right. Well, I have C2 certificate now. You do? German. Yeah. Nice. I'm pretty sure you speak clearly. you know, more you probably like. I don't know my level. Yeah, but, the the the exam was super, difficult. It was. Yeah. Yeah. Because they then they ask you about topics. What, is not included in the material.

00;47;16;19 - 00;47;39;18
Unknown
So like to, to understand if you can express your opinion or not. Yeah. So how long did it take for Deutsche for you going from A1 to C2. Oh I don't ask. sensitive topic. All right. No 100 years You know, there's there is a meme. there is no, not, one life.

00;47;39;18 - 00;48;00;22
Unknown
It's not enough to learn German and something like this. Wow. Okay, so that's even me. I have C2 certificate, but sometimes I read some words and I'm like, what is it? Yeah. All right. What is motivating, you know. All right, I'm pretty sure I will learn German in no time. That's that. That is a good point in there.

00;48;00;22 - 00;48;25;14
Unknown
Learn in the, learning. Now, when you learn something, I don't care. You. You understand one word. You don't understand one word don't care. Just read. Repeat. talk with people. Even if you understand from one sentence. Three words. No problem. But at least you understand four words from one sentence. No problem. Yeah, just talk. okay, I like that.

00;48;25;15 - 00;48;44;13
Unknown
That's more motivating. Okay. I said that's more motivating. Yeah. Because how you want to how do you want to learn a language if you don't speak it, if you don't talk it. No. That's true. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of people are nervous. You know, I have, I've been learning German, Deutsche and, Yes, I think that people have a lot for me.

00;48;44;15 - 00;49;05;07
Unknown
I'm, maybe this is why I'm learning a bit. I go into a coffee shop. I talk as if I know. That's a good. Hello. Carnation and coffee. Bitter. mit mish and, so that's, you know, that's good. Yeah. Yeah. That not that doesn't make sense. I said, miss. No in, on a miss on the milk.

00;49;05;07 - 00;49;23;04
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. coffee swatch. So that's coffee. Yeah. That's good. Yeah. But, get in trouble because then I'll speak like this confidently, and people will speak full German right back to me. And then I'll get to a point where I'm like, but it's not a problem. It's not a problem. Because now, once you don't understand, it's confusion for you.

00;49;23;10 - 00;49;41;07
Unknown
But then when it happens four times, you're like, oh, okay, I have already heard this word, you know. Right. Yeah. Then this this process is coming like first time. Of course you are like, please don't talk to me like this now. But when it happens for you five, six, ten times, you're like, I have no problem.

00;49;41;07 - 00;49;58;23
Unknown
I can I can understand the speed. Yeah. I can recognize some words. That's true. You right. Yeah. Because now I'm more comfortable. Or if I make an order for everything now I can order everything in German like that I can do or even if I'm like I don't know the, it got a bit, or something.

00;49;58;24 - 00;50;20;29
Unknown
Then they give it to me and then, you know, I'm like, okay, I don't know how to say this word or something like, Hanshin mit Brot or something. Yeah. You know. Yeah. Good advice. And I see, you know, you know, I like to. I like to order stuff a lot. Yeah. Okay. Then, you go to the next topic because you are already good at math.

00;50;21;03 - 00;50;39;15
Unknown
Yeah. no, no, I got to express myself. That's a big one. Yeah, yeah, the weather I can talk about. Yeah. The weather. I can complain about it and talk about it. So that makes me German. Try to expand these topics. like restaurant you have already. Now, whether you have already. Okay. Now. Yes. Left. No.

00;50;39;17 - 00;51;08;17
Unknown
shop. Okay. Next up. Hobby. not next topic. I don't know. What else. Yeah. Basketball. Basketball basketball in the use us for example. All right next topic. So try to expand it. Yeah definitely do. So because I definitely speak more you know German. Yeah. So okay so this seems like the jumps in levels is not relevant because it's all about how well you speak in person.

00;51;08;23 - 00;51;32;00
Unknown
Yeah. in me for me. Yeah. Okay. For you and. Yeah, I mean, of course it's different for anyone else. So in terms of the other languages, the academy, now you're learning so many different languages, how are you able to learn this many languages at like and still keep up with them? You know, like you learning different language but then still being able to speak the other languages that you have learned.

00;51;32;03 - 00;52;01;05
Unknown
How are you able to do this? I think in the first three years of my learning journey, I was like, oh, I'm confusing, because I was really confused and to separate the words, but it took time. It took me time to understand. Okay, I have three different, how to say, Regal. Regal. Okay. Yeah. Regency.

00;52;01;05 - 00;52;26;27
Unknown
Yeah. No, I got oh, we got, oh. Okay. That's a good I have three difference cabinets. yeah. Yeah. And I have to, separate them. Yeah. Even now, you know, I, I'm nervous a bit because, really, English is not my first language, so, and I never. I have never done before interview in English. It's my first time.

00;52;26;29 - 00;52;48;02
Unknown
Oh, look at that for. And you, you doing great. You I mean, no, no, I would have never known this. This is your first time speaking English in the camera. No, this is great. Thank you. I hope someone also will, invite me in the future. Interview? Yeah. Don't hurt the English. Is there good. There. That's that's my feel.

00;52;48;02 - 00;53;06;03
Unknown
Where is it? Yeah. So I'm in, in the first three years, I need, I know, yeah, I took it, took me three, different time. I and I forgot what I say. I said in Dutch.

00;53;06;05 - 00;53;34;09
Unknown
nine. Yeah. It was difficult for me. okay, let's keep this, let's keep it going. Yeah, yeah. But, so, yeah, many different languages. And then you learn. And so you have this, so you have this. So you now you're teaching other people how to speak different languages. Yeah. And what's the name of that, program or so that you have or the, the, I don't know, they give business like, what's the name of the business that you have?

00;53;34;11 - 00;54;04;03
Unknown
I'm, teacher. Okay. So. Yeah. Personal teach. Okay. Yeah. I teach, Russian language to, German speaking people. I teach German to, Russian speaking people, and, I teach Spanish also, sometimes Spanish to German and to Russian speaking people. Wow. Yeah. And and how? I mean, which which one is easy out of all the ones, like, which is the easiest for you and which one was the hardest?

00;54;04;05 - 00;54;35;04
Unknown
I think, in the beginning there's no difference. But then starting from A to by one. Yeah, that's the there is there was a difficulty. Difficulties are beginning. yeah. German is fine Spanish is, hard starting from B1 because they have some grammatical stuff, that and don't exist in different languages like subcontinent for example.

00;54;35;06 - 00;55;00;12
Unknown
Yeah. But until a as all A1, a2 Spanish is fine. Yeah. Yes. The Spanish is I guess because in America we learn Spanish early on like do our school all the way. Are you, can you speak Spanish. un poco un poco. Pero in, aprender espanol, see? What are you in? Yeah. Got us. yamo.

00;55;00;13 - 00;55;34;14
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Yum yum. Lila, the dangerous, I know this one, where the diner is. Where are you from? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I say I'm from, almost have it, I forgot. Yeah, yeah, you're, you're something soy. You're soy. You, America. They. America, they make, you USA. Yeah. It's. America is so big.

00;55;34;14 - 00;55;56;13
Unknown
Yeah. Oh, you can also say your soy the, Estados neighbors. oh. Status. Do you need us? Yeah. the pronunciation I can kind of get, you know, but the Spanish is like, you got to drive me in Spain and then. Or in any Spanish speaking country. Then I start, you know? Yeah, yeah. the one I get it a yo two area is nosotros nosotros and Aaron like, so I use arrows.

00;55;56;14 - 00;56;19;19
Unknown
Yeah. So any like verb like. So you know who got to play. Yeah. There you go. Hey, guys. Who? Gammas, can you learn it by playing basketball? Because you have a lot of, Spanish speaking players now. Yeah. I mean, that works out. I mean, that's that would make sense. But no, I just I don't know, I just have a, a it was like, always the play I like to play.

00;56;19;22 - 00;56;37;21
Unknown
Hogar. I like to play, so. Oh, wow. Cool. And I always had that box in my head. The yo to, I call it the I, the u the we, personal tournament. There you go. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So they're always the. And I think German has some of the similar. Yeah. Every language. Every language. Yeah.

00;56;37;25 - 00;57;00;27
Unknown
So even okay. So let's try this a Russian. Right. So how do you say play and and how you say to play in Russian. Egret. Egret okay. Great. So how would you say I play. Yeah. Great. Yeah I got a oh. Whoa. Whoa. Okay. I thought it was gonna be easy. Whoa, wait, wait, wait a minute. oh.

00;57;01;02 - 00;57;29;29
Unknown
Oh, let me gather myself here. Oh, that. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Israel. Israel. Yeah. Oh, sure. Okay. Oh, I you say you play t e grayish. I say the first way t t e grayish. You got eyes. Okay. And I say we play, we play movie. Movie. You Graham a game. Good. Oh you have nice pronunciation actually.

00;57;30;01 - 00;57;48;10
Unknown
Oh thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Because you can pronounce e movie. Yeah. And O0I might, you know, I might have to learn Russian a little bit, you know. Yeah. I think because you grew up with Spanish language. Yeah. oh I don't know, maybe that's a different actually, you know, this is a good point because, I also grew up.

00;57;48;10 - 00;58;11;01
Unknown
My mom speaks one language and my dad speaks another language. What languages? So the my mom, she speaks, Pele is Cape e. That's like a, specific dialect in Liberia. Yeah. Then my dad, he speaks a mono is M a and o and that's another difference. And it's all tonal. so, like, while I was grown up when I was younger, I was able to speak, my mom's language a little bit.

00;58;11;03 - 00;58;27;29
Unknown
Yeah. So tone is something I'm able to so even, like, say, if somebody speaks Arabic or so. Yeah. So depending on, I can know what they're talking about based on the tone. Yeah. So somebody is talking like bad about somebody or somebody is like complaining or somebody telling us about good things that are just talking themselves. Yeah, I can know.

00;58;28;01 - 00;58;53;23
Unknown
So that means, if you are learning German now, you have to listen music also because, it helps you to understand better the words and the pronunciation because you're most, part what you can use. It's, audio. yeah. Yeah, I listen to podcasts. Maybe music is the next step. Yeah. What music do you suggest?

00;58;53;25 - 00;59;18;16
Unknown
in German or. I love Mark foster. Mark foster you. No, no, no, I, whose Mark? It's a pop singer, actually. Okay. Oh, Rammstein. You can listen. Rammstein, right? Oh, Rammstein. It's rock. Rock. Okay. Yeah. I'm past last. You don't know last. No, I heard, I heard the the statement dust, but, Yeah, it's cool music.

00;59;18;21 - 00;59;47;06
Unknown
Okay, I listen, so what advice would you give to someone who's trying to learn a new language? Oh, I think I gave already many advices, but once the top one. so if it depends when I, For what are you learning a language for, just for your interest or just for work or, because you have friends or different.

00;59;47;08 - 01;00;19;04
Unknown
But, if you learn it, if you want to have it professionally, like, for example, in one year you reach B2, you have to, put yourself in, artificial, atmosphere where only this language exists. for example, as I told before, like listening to music to podcast speak only this language. Talk only in this language.

01;00;19;07 - 01;00;41;12
Unknown
read only the spoken, this language. Also, when you have free time, do like Duolingo or Babbel app only in this language like to to put yourself artificially in this in this area for example, if you are not in Germany now. Yeah, yeah. If you in Germany is easier because you can talk to the people here on the street.

01;00;41;14 - 01;00;59;20
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a good, that's a good point. I heard this from many people, but the way you said it, an artificial environment. Yeah. Environment. Exact. Yeah. That's, I really like. I really like that. Yeah. I'm putting everything on. And that has also helped me out to, like, you know, even go to the coffee shop here, like the lady, she doesn't speak any English.

01;00;59;22 - 01;01;14;22
Unknown
And then, for me, I have too much pride. So I don't want to let people know that I don't speak German. So, like, I'll play it off. Where? To speak to me for up like, Yeah, I don't know. Ask me a question like. Yeah, yeah, I did like, you know, blah blah blah. I'm like un nine and bit.

01;01;14;23 - 01;01;35;17
Unknown
Oh okay. But I'm like, okay. Yeah. All right. I said the right thing that was the same with me when I was in the small village, at, in the guest family house. Yeah. They were, they were like, asking me, cans to beat the store's organ. You know, there's no I no, no, no, I, a vacuum cleaner, like, I know, vacuum cleaner.

01;01;35;17 - 01;01;58;10
Unknown
Yeah. can you please, to clean it to. Yeah. Everything was vacuum cleaner, and I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like, can you turn it on? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And and in my head I was like, what they, they're talking about I don't understand. That is so funny.

01;01;58;17 - 01;02;25;22
Unknown
You tried it for one hour. Just not doing it. But, it's been an hour. Yeah. have you vacuumed? Yeah. No, but, of course, it helps, even if you don't understand, just to improvise as you do in a coffee shop, like. Yeah. Yeah. okay. So that does, Okay. No, of course, I don't recommend it to do it in, rat House or, if it's exam, for example.

01;02;25;25 - 01;02;56;01
Unknown
Yeah. Oh, no no no no no, it can be, dangerous. that is for. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, try to communicate. Try to listen. Try to talk. don't be afraid. Yeah. Okay, so I got to be brave. Be brave? Of course. Learning a new language, it's, already, so it's a challenge. So challenging. Yeah. yeah, it's a big challenge.

01;02;56;01 - 01;03;23;10
Unknown
Especially with, you know, German, you know, so many, you know, the feminine masculine, and, you know, the D there does. And. Yeah, all that stuff. I also know some person who, to practice, found a job, with, older people. Wow. Yeah. Because older people usually don't speak English, so they put themselves in this, environment where they have to speak German.

01;03;23;12 - 01;03;44;03
Unknown
They didn't want to to work with elder people now, but it's a good practical practice. I think that's a I know that's a good idea. might have to try that out. Yeah, yeah. It can be interesting. Of course. I mean you know. Yeah. You might talk and some, some things might come up by over

01;03;44;05 - 01;04;11;04
Unknown
All right look can we move on, talk about something else. Yeah. Because I have a lot of stories. Yeah, yeah, a lot of stories. Yeah, yeah. that's a good idea. Okay. So, one last question I'd like to ask you. Right. And, this is a question I'd like to ask everyone that does this podcast. So you've been to multiple different cultures, from Kazakhstan to a small village in, in Germany to Berlin.

01;04;11;05 - 01;04;33;15
Unknown
I'm pretty sure you travel to other places in the world. I live in Spain. You lived in Spain? I mean, yeah. Okay. So now I can see the Spanish, you know, which, so. Okay, so you've been to all these different cultures, right? What's the number one advice you can give yourself? what was the what's the number one advice you would give your younger self.

01;04;33;17 - 01;05;05;03
Unknown
go to all these different cultures. And so or that's good question. be brave. As we mentioned before. And just do it because, a lot of people have this, I'll just say configurations. Yeah. And in their mind, like, the world can be dangerous or. No, don't go there or don't do that.

01;05;05;03 - 01;05;27;03
Unknown
Don't learn, don't learn it. For example, when I was young, people, in my country were laughing at me, like, why are you learning German? German is a fascist language. Still now, after 60, 70 years there, they were talking to me like German. That's a bad language. And I was like, no, but Germans, good language has a beautiful structure.

01;05;27;09 - 01;05;51;22
Unknown
And now I'm talking more like a linguist. But I was in love with the language and, Yeah, don't listen to what other people are, telling you. They have their configuration and they have their mind. But don't be afraid. Just do your, what you love and love what? What do you do? that's a good.

01;05;51;24 - 01;06;12;19
Unknown
And I like that, too, about people having different configurations in their mind. Yeah, and not to pay. Not to align your life with their configuration, but to align your life with your own configuration. Yeah, that's interesting actually, because, when I talk with my, schoolmates, they're like, oh, la la, how is la life in Germany? Like, fine.

01;06;12;21 - 01;06;46;24
Unknown
And like, I remember you, have always learned German language. When we were learning English in the same time. you went to the German school when we're, we're learning English and I'm like, yeah, now I'm here in German because I was learning German. It makes sense in the same time. Yeah. it'd be weird if you learned German and you went to America and, like, was the, bibliotheque, a lot of of my schoolmates, they wanted to go to America, actually, when we were young.

01;06;47;01 - 01;07;13;02
Unknown
But me, I was never interested, to go to America. Really? Yeah. Why not, I don't know. Yeah. I think it's amazing. Country is beautiful. I've never been there but I want, visit one day, but like I didn't have the time here. have it here. Like I don't want Europe. Actually I wanted to go to Austria.

01;07;13;05 - 01;07;32;27
Unknown
Austria. Really. Yeah. Austria. Yeah. But then I don't know, some stuff. And I get into Germany. Yeah, I mean, you you made the right decision. I mean, it says a lot if I. If I lived in America and I moved here. So it sounds like you're in the right place. If people are moving here from America and other places.

01;07;33;01 - 01;07;55;07
Unknown
But, have you always dreamed to go to, Germany or. It was spontaneously? Yeah, that's a good question. I guess maybe the. So there's like, So I always wanted to come to Europe eventually, to some degree. Right. I didn't know where, but I always wanted to when I first visited, London, not London. So Edinburgh was like years ago.

01;07;55;10 - 01;08;16;29
Unknown
But in terms of Germany, what I did is, to meet a friend of mine, comedian friend was doing a comedy tour, a little comedy tour. We did a couple of cities. Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam. We came to Berlin. And during that time of Berlin, it fell in New York City in a way like similar. Like how the people, the the, the environment and many things to do.

01;08;16;29 - 01;08;33;29
Unknown
The stand up comedy was good. And then from Berlin went back to Paris, me, my friend. And then I was just kind of thinking like, wow, it's very nice there. I met some people actually from Berlin. I was in Paris, we met, they told us about among Us. Berlin's in school. After that I didn't go to Berlin by myself.

01;08;33;29 - 01;08;52;27
Unknown
My friend went to London and then in Berlin I was here for three weeks. And over time I started now being, I started doing things in the city, some of the restaurants or there's a couple activities I, you know, did this. I'm like, wow, I can see myself living. This is actually myself living here. And then one of my friends told me about how to get an artist visa.

01;08;52;27 - 01;09;15;27
Unknown
So then that also helped me out to really think about moving here. Yeah, but it was definitely on a is on a is spontaneous very. Yeah. It was something I came first time in April and I move that August. I sold everything in New York City. I sold my, sold everything in my apartment. But everything into a carry on suitcase and a book bag and just came out here, with no place of me.

01;09;16;03 - 01;09;32;25
Unknown
Yeah. I was like, I'll figure it out. So you're enjoying here? I'm enjoying here so far. Yeah, it's the stand up comedy is good. maybe not enjoying it as much as what people say. I should enjoy it because, you know, you still got these different clubs that are out here and people like, Yeah, we've been to we've been to Chicago, we've been to Berghain.

01;09;32;25 - 01;09;53;22
Unknown
I'm like, I don't think I'm ready yet. Yeah, I don't think I'm ready. No. Just do, what you love and, love what you do and you'll be the best know in your path. Should be a motivational speaker. Something I took you? yeah. No, I love psychology. That's why. Oh, you know psychology. Yeah. oh.

01;09;53;22 - 01;10;12;06
Unknown
That's a whole different. Yeah, maybe we'll talk about that another time. Psychology. So, yeah. But, but, yeah, this is a good talk. Thank you very much for doing this. Thank you for inviting me. Yeah. No problem. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, guys, thank you for listening and or watching to the Third Culture Talk podcast and your boy Nya Yeanafehn

01;10;12;06 - 01;10;14;14
Unknown
I'll see you guys in the next one. Peace.