Minh Hoa, 25, has been a vocational student in Taxation in the state of Baden-Württemberg for five months. Before coming, she studied German for one year and achieved a B2 level.
However, when interacting with locals for administrative procedures, shopping, or during her internship, Hoa often doubts her understanding. Self-conscious, she frequently switches to English for clear communication.
Hoa feels most overwhelmed during lectures. Despite starting school in September, the Vietnamese student struggles to keep up as teachers speak quickly and use local dialects. Her classmates are either German natives or more proficient, making integration difficult, and she often feels shy.
She frequently relies on ChatGPT to translate materials and assignments. "When I feel disheartened, I just want to buy a ticket home to Vietnam," Hoa says.
Trong Hoang, 21, who began vocational training as a Chef over one year ago, also felt adrift in his early days. Unlike the grammatically complete sentences he learned in Vietnam, Hoang realized Germans speak quickly, concisely, with less formal language than textbooks.
Anh Phuong, a student in Hospitality and Restaurant Management, finds the length of German vocabulary most discouraging.
"For example, 'speed limit' in German is 'Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung'. Just one word, but it's as long as the road from my house to work," Phuong laments.
Germany is a popular destination for international students, particularly for vocational training, driven by a labor shortage from an aging population. Trainees receive stipends during internships, have opportunities to stay and work after graduation, and earn starting salaries comparable to the national average (2,300-3,500 EUR, equivalent to 71-108 million VND per month). About 4,000 Vietnamese students are in Germany under this program, accounting for 80% of all Vietnamese international students there.
This "language shock" is widespread among Vietnamese vocational students in Germany. On forums, many students regularly complain about not understanding what Germans say.
While no specific survey exists, experts identify this as the primary weakness for Vietnamese students.
Students at a vocational school in Germany. Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters |
The German language barrier challenges both students and vocational schools, according to Gerrit Buchhorn, managing director of the Berlin Hotel and Restaurant Association, speaking with Rbb24, a German news channel for Berlin and Brandenburg.
"Many Vietnamese students can barely follow lectures. They feel isolated and insecure. This overloads teachers, creating difficulties in managing classes," Buchhorn explained.
During the "German Career Journey" event in late April, Oliver Brandt, Director of Goethe Hanoi, also highlighted this issue. He noted that German vocational schools and companies value Vietnamese individuals for their diligence and work ethic. However, language remains the primary obstacle. Some vocational schools require an A2 German certificate (level 3/6), but this level is often insufficient for students to integrate effectively.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, former senior lecturer at the University of Languages, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, German is challenging due to its grammar: four cases and many irregular verbs. Furthermore, everyday language differs from textbook German, even for simple phrases. Germans also speak quickly and frequently use local dialects.
However, from the students' perspective, Associate Professor Hoa believes that impatience is a primary reason many struggle upon arriving in Germany. Students often learn German primarily to pass certificate exams, aiming for the B1 level, a common requirement for visas and emigration.
As a result, some students pass exams but cannot introduce themselves clearly or understand basic questions. Many lack speaking skills and practical vocabulary, hesitating to communicate or seek practice environments due to fear of mistakes.
Associate Professor Hoa advises prospective students to prepare thoroughly in German, focusing on pronunciation and grammatical articles. They should also seek teachers who foster positive learning motivation and effective self-study methods.
Oliver Brandt advises students to prepare for and take language certificate exams 10-12 months before entering Germany.
For his part, after an initial period of confusion, Hoang used YouTube videos for daily listening practice. Overcoming shyness, Hoang befriended and conversed with Germans to improve his listening and speaking.
"Giving myself time and practicing persistently, I gradually found it less difficult," Hoang says.
