Many adult students come to the school to learn German when the summer sun transitions into falling autumn leaves. And there’s a very good reason for this seasonal surge.
Picture this… a sea of Lederhosen, a stein of beer in hand, confidently ordering your next round in pristine German. Ok, perhaps fairly pristine.
For context, the Oktoberfest First-Timers Guide sets the scene: “It dates back to the horse race as a part of the public celebration of the wedding between crown prince Ludwig and his Therese on October 17, 1810.
“Due to its tremendous success and the search of the young Kingdom of Bavaria for points of identification, the festival has been repeated ever since”, it continues. “It’s usually visited by more than six million every year and is said to be the largest fair in the world. It’s neither a holiday nor a season or a type of event.”
It’s a phenomenon.
And now you too can learn German and live the dream every time Munich’s Oktoberfest is in full swing during late September – early October.
Why the Autumn Rush to Learn German?
Interestingly, Brits who swore German was too hard suddenly want to learn it when summer fades into autumn. Adult learners pile into German courses in preparation for jetting off to Munich or heading to a Bavarian bash closer to home.
But the last thing you want is mind-numbing grammar drills. On the contrary, you want the good stuff, such as:
- Ein Maß, bitte – Your golden ticket to that world-famous German white nectar
- Wo ist die toilette? – Arguably the most important question after the above
- Prost! – The toast you’ll say at least 954 times
In addition, Oktoberfest puts method behind the madness, which makes learning German more pleasurable and less painstaking.
How Oktoberfest Makes German Fun
The German language has a bit of a reputation in terms of vocabulary, including really, really long words. The good news is festival fever changes the game for the following reasons:
- Social not stuffy – Learning feels like party prep.
- Musical element – The soundtrack of Oktoberfest makes practice addictive.
- No passport required – Germanic beer halls across the UK serve up Oktoberfest on your doorstep if you’re not Bavaria-bound this year.
Immerse Yourself in German Culture
At la Academia, we see time and time again adult students starting with a few festival phrases and catching the bug. And a polite “Danke schön” expands into proper conversations, deeper travel experiences and even fluency.
So, why stop at ordering pretzels? Get in touch to learn German.