That’s a stupid question, I hear you say! Walking a marathon is a physical challenge, learning German isn’t!
True, but they are both challenges.
Imagine:
You’re looking for a challenge and decide to walk a 26 miles marathon. You book your place and as it’s quite a while before the walking date, you’re not really worried about it.
You’re looking for a challenge and decide to learn German, You book your place at an evening class and as it’s quite a while before the course starts, you’re not really worried about it.
The date of the walk nears and you’re getting worried: Have I trained enough? Will I be able to walk the whole 26 miles? What if I can”t do it?
The start of the course nears and you’re getting worried: Have I booked the right course? Will I be any good at learning a foreign language? What If I can’t do it?
The marathon starts, you’re off. The first few miles are easy and you’re wondering why you were worried about it. Walking 26 miles is so easy – piece of cake!
The course starts, you’re off. The first few words or even lessons are easy and you’re wondering why you were worried about it. Learning German is so easy – piece of cake!
Then it’s going uphill and suddenly you’re struggling. It seems as if nobody else has a problem. You’re getting worried: Will I be left behind?
Then you’ll learn the first bit of grammar and suddenly you’re struggling. It seems as if nobody else has a problem. You’re getting worried: Will I be left behind?
No, you’ve managed the hill, it’s going downhill again…. until you reach the next hill!
No, you’ve managed the grammar, it’s getting easier again …. until you get to the next difficult bit.
And so it carries on. Sometimes you feel as if everybody else can walk the 26 miles without any problems and you’re the only one who is struggling. Sometimes you meet fellow walkers who struggle the same. Sometimes you overtake them.
And so it carries on. Sometimes you feel as if everybody else can learn German and you are the only one who is struggling. Sometimes you meet fellow students who struggle the same. Sometimes you understand things which they don’t.
You may get a blister or two, or you walk comfortably throughout the whole walk.
You may get a headache or two, or you attend every lesson without problems.
And finally you feel over the moon when you get to the finishing line and receive the medal/ certificate …
And finally you feel over the moon when you’ve passed an exam/ managed that conversation, held that presentation …
