Self-studying for Start Deutsch A1: The Technicalities (Part 1)

I just want to say upfront that I don't advocate self-studying versus attending a formal class. Each of us has a different learning style, what works for me may not work for you; there is nothing wrong with that. Another thing is that passing the Start Deutsch 1 (SD1 or A1) exam may be easy, but knowing A1 confidently is a different story. Passing A1 does not necessarily reflect your knowledge of A1.

If I had the choice, I probably would have enrolled in a formal class. However, I am from southern Mindanao and the nearest language school is 3-hour bus ride away from where I live (one way!); which means if I enrol in a language course there, I would need to rent an apartment. For me, that is too impractical.

I also considered to visit a course in Germany during one of my 90-day visits before getting engaged but the cost for a one-on-one intensive A1 course at the time of enquiry was 82€ per hour!

In short, the main reason I chose to self-study is that I was am too kuripot to pay for a language course. These days, aside from saving money, self-studying will have the added advantage of flexibility. It will allow you to be less dependent on whether language schools will be open or not due to the unpredictable lockdowns.

Passing A1 by self-studying is absolutely doable. I took the exam given by Goethe-Institut Manila and I also based all my preparations on this. Other language schools or testing centers may not have the same framework as Goethe-Institut.

Prior to finally deciding that I should just self-study for my A1 Exam, I also read the mechanics of the exam. I looked up YouTube videos for exam samples. I searched for online materials related to the topic. I did not go into it blindly.

I. Frequently asked questions

What is Start Deutsch 1 Exam?

Start Deutsch 1, SD1 or simply A1, as we commonly say, is the basic level of the German language based on the Common European Framework or Reference for Languages (CEFR). Once you pass the exam, you will be given a Start Deutsch 1 Certificate. This certificate is listed by the German Embassy in Manila as one of the requirements for certain visa applications (e.g. marriage visa, family reunion visa, Au-pair).

Where can I take the exam?

The exam takes place at Goethe-Institut Manila. Please refer directly to their website for updated information on the exam schedules and its cost.

Can I take the exam without enrolling in a course?

It is recommended that you have at least 60 classroom hours of A1 level course before you take the exam but that is a recommendation, not a requirement. So the short and important answer is, yes. 

How long is the A1 Certificate valid?

The language certificate has no expiry. However, for the purpose of visa applications, the German embassy in Manila may require that your A1 certificate is not older than 1 year from the issuance date. 

II. Exam description and mechanics

A1 is the elementary level of the German language. You should always keep this in mind from the very beginning and thru out your studying period for the exam. Do not start with the mindset that studying German is hard. Well, of course it is hard, but at A1 level you are not expected to know the complexity of the language.

The A1 level is restricted to the basic functional use of the language, for example you are be able to:

• Understand familiar, everyday expressions and very simple sentences.
• Introduce yourself and others; answer questions about yourself, e.g. where do you live or where you came from, what are your hobbies, what do you do (job)?
• You can communicate and understand when spoken to in a slow and clear manner, especially when asking for help and directions.

The full description of the exam can be downloaded here. It is auf Deutsch, you can use Google translate if you need, or much better, ask your German partner to help you. 

I will give a summary of the most important aspects of the exam that you need to know but I highly recommend that you read the full description.

The A1 exam has four parts:

• Hören - to test your listening skills
• Lesen -  to test your reading comprehension
• Schreiben -  to test your written communication skills
• Sprechen - to test your oral (speaking) communication skills

click on image to enlarge

•  The points achieved in the individual parts of the examination are multiplied by a factor of 1.66 and then added; the overall result is rounded to the nearest whole point.
• A maximum of 100 points can be achieved, 75 points in the written part and 25 points in the oral part.
• The examination is passed if at least 60 points (60% of the maximum number of points) are achieved and all parts of the examination were taken.

click on image to enlarge

Below I will give a summary of the exam parts description and conduct. When I was self-studying for the exam, this is where I put FOCUS on. For each part, there is a specific objective. On the tabular form mechanics, you can also see what the corresponding task structure or situation is for each parts of the exam. 

Hören

Objective: to test your listening skills and ability to understand instructions and extract important information. This part of the exam is accompanied with an audio system (played over a loudspeaker) in the exam room.

Time: around 20 minutes

Number of tasks (questions): 15

click on image to enlarge

Lesen

Objective: to show that you are able to understand and utilize simple and short texts or understand their relevant details, e.g. time and location information or simple information (selective details only) about everyday text situations.

Time: around 25 minutes

Number of tasks (questions): 15

click on image to enlarge

Schreiben

Objective: to show that you are familiar with everyday types of text such as forms and short messages that are linguistically appropriate and understandable.

Time: around 20 minutes

Number of tasks: 9

click on image to enlarge

Sprechen

Objective: to test your communication skills and ability to deal with various everyday situations in the simplest possible way. The objective is achieved if your statements are understandable and appropriate to a given situation.

Time: around 15 minutes (5 minutes for each parts)

Number of tasks: 3

click on image to enlarge

III. Self-assessment guide

 

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.'' - The Art of War (Sun Tzu)

The following self-assessment guide, based on CEFR self-assessment grid, can help give you a better perspective of what you are expected to know at A1 level.

Listening comprehension

I can understand familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, my family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly. 

Reading comprehension

I can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.

Spoken interaction

I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help me formulate what I'm trying to say. I can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.  

Spoken production

I can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and people I know.

Writing

I can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings. I can fill in forms with personal details, for example entering my name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form. 

For the Part II of this article, I will give tips that I have learned and used to pass the A1 exam with ''sehr gut'' after deligently self-studying for a little over a month only.

How to Get Married in Germany: A Guide for the Filipina Bride and German Groom (with Flowcharts)

Our wedding ceremony in Germany was a simple, matter-of-fact affair. All we needed was to appear at the Standesamt for a civil ceremony which lasted less than an hour. We invited only immediate family members and intimate friends.The ceremony was conducted in German and my then-fiancé had to hire an interpreter so that me and other non-German speaking guests can understand the formalities.

It was an anticlimactic (for lack of a better word) end to the many months of preparations and stressful bureaucratic hurdles that we needed to go through for me to be present on my wedding day.

This article will not discuss all the requirements one-by-one. It will focus on the basic requirements and the hows and whys of the important aspects of the process. The specific list of requirements given to us may not be applicable to other couples. Documentation requirements may vary from region to region and will also depend on the particular circumstances of the couple. 

Agencies Involved

• Standesamt (Local Civil Registry) - StA 
• German Embassy Manila - GE
• Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court) - OLG
• Ausländerbehörde (Aliens Authority) - ABH
• Bundesverwaltungsamt (Central Service Provider of the Federal Government) - BVA, they are responsible for forwarding the documents between GE and ABH during actual visa application

Basic Requirements

A. Registration for the Marriage at Standesamt

• Proofs of identity, birth dates and names of the couple
• Proof of marital status of the couple, i.e. both are legally allowed to marry

B. Marriage Visa for the Bride

• Proof of Registration for the Marriage (Form 11/121)
• German A1 Level Certificate
• Formal Obligation

Registration for the Marriage at Standesamt

The very first step of the process is the application to register for the marriage. This is done at the Standesamt where the groom resides. 

TIP: In order to avoid time-consuming requests for additional information or documentation, the couple, particularly the groom should make initial enquiries at his local Standesamt about the documentary requirements and procedure for the registration for marriage. Information about the visa procedure is also available at the German embassy website. ALWAYS rely on official sources for information.

Vollmacht zur Anmeldung der Eheschließung (Authorization to Register for the Marriage)

The bride does not need to be present in Germany to register for the marriage. She, however, needs to authorise her groom to register without her presence. Her signature on the Vollmacht (authorisation) may need the certification of the German embassy, i.e. the bride needs to sign the document in the presence of a consul at the German embassy.

TIP: Authentications and certifications can also be done by the Honorary Consul in Cebu or Honorary Consul in Davao. More on authentications and certification of signatures here.

Proofs of Identity, Birth Dates & Names and Examination of Philippine Documents

Identity, birth dates and names can be proven thru submission of the passports, certified copies of Birth Certificates of the couple and their parents' Marriage Certificates. The big issue is, Germany does not recognise Philippine-Apostille (authenticated) documents for legal use. It may therefore be necessary that all Philippine documents submitted by the bride have to undergo a document check. This check will be done with the assistance of the German Embassy. The process can take between 4 – 6 months to finish. It may take longer depending on the legal findings of the embassy. More information about examination of Philippine documents can be found here.

Flowchart A. Examination of Philippine Documents aka CI

Translation and Validity of Documents

Documents such as Birth Certificate and Certificate of No Marriage should not be older than six months and may also need translation from English to German. Translations should be done by an OLG-certified translator.

TIP: Always attach the original receipts issued by PSA on your Birth Certificate and other PSA documents to prove the date of issuance.

Ehefähigkeitszeugnis (Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage)

The couple also needs to prove their marital status as legally allowed to marry. In the case of the bride, a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage is currently not issued by the Philippine government. There is instead the Certificate of No Marriage or CENOMAR, which will not suffice. She therefore needs to apply for an exemption from presenting a CNI and this exemption, Befreiung von der Beibringung des Ehefähigkeitszeugnisses, can only be granted by an Oberlandesgericht. This is the reason why after the process of examination of Philippine documents, the Standesamt has yet to forward the documents to OLG.

It is only after the identity, birth dates and names and legal marital status of the couple are established that the application will proceed.

Flowchart B. Application for Exemption from Presenting Ehefähigkeitszeugnis

Application for a Visa to Marry in Germany

Form 11/121

Once the registration for the marriage has been successful, the Standesamt will issue Form 11/121 as proof of the registration. This document will also indicate the date of the intended marriage. Without this document, the visa application will automatically be denied by the embassy.

TIP: Some Standesamt are not familiar with the term 11/121. It is actually just a tiny print on the lower right corner of the document. If it happens, use the German term, Bescheinigung über die Anmeldung der Eheschließung for clarity.

There are three other issues that need special attention for this part of the process.

Booking a Termin (Appointment)

The German Embassy has an online appointment system and your appointment date will depend on when you registered in this system and on your declared date of completion of documents. As a general guide, book your Termin only once you have a clear idea of when you will be able to complete all the requirements. A waiting period of 4 - 5 months can be expected.

Proof of German A1 Language Skills

This proof can be obtained by passing the German A1 Exam given by Goethe-Institut or ÖSD Examination Centers. For the purpose of visa application, the German A1 Certificate should not be older than one year upon submission. The bride, depending on her learning style, should decide when to take the exam. Too early might mean that the A1 Certificate will lapse before her Termin, and too late may also mean she won't have it in time for submission.

TIP: You can self-study to pass the exam.

Verpflichtungserklärung or Formal Obligation

Last, and by far not the least, is the Formal Obligation. This document is given by the Ausländerbehörde responsible for the visa application. The groom needs to show proof that he can take the full financial responsibility of accommodating his soon-to-be wife thru submission of work contracts, salary slips, and other documents as required. It is best that the groom also make initial talks with the Ausländerbehörde parallel to the process of registration for marriage.

Flowchart C. Marriage Visa Application

In an ideal situation with complete documents and if ABH is fast, a visa application can be approved 2 weeks from your Termin, but this is more an exception than the rule. The embassy usually gives a time frame of 1 - 3 months for the processing of the visa.

TIP: Make sure that you submit complete requirements during your Termin, the embassy will give a maximum of one month for you to comply with the lacking documents, counting from your interview date. Once this grace period has lapsed, the embassy has the discretion to decide on your visa and you may get a denial on your application.

How to Make Follow-ups

Follow-up emails or phone calls are usually discouraged. Try to have the Standesamt give you a time frame for every step of the process. This way, you have a reference you can use every time you send a follow-up email if nothing is happening. Explain why you are emailing and ask for specific information. Resist the daily blasts of follow ups, it will not hasten the process.

The period of registration for marriage is usually the most frustrating part of the whole process. Updates will be intermittent, if there is update at all. Your sole point of contact should be the Standesamt, but, if after six months of processing there is no update, you can also write a friendly enquiry directly to the German Embassy. Also, keep in mind that not all Standesamt are familiar with the Filipina-German marriage procedure. Keep communication polite and simple, after all you will need their cooperation and approval.

Upon submission of complete documents during the period of visa application, GE will usually give a time frame of 1 - 3 months. Wait 2 weeks after your Termin and ask them to kindly inform you when they will send the documents to ABH. This you can then track thru BVA. Once you can confirm that ABH received the visa application, you need to be patient again and wait 2 weeks before you follow up.

Here is the flow of follow-ups we made for my visa application. 

Termin: 28.03.2019. 

Wedding Date: 07.06.2019

Intended date of entry to Germany: 30.05.2019

Visa approved: 03.05.2019

TIP: Use your application ''reference number'' as SUBJECT when making follow-ups. It should be RK 516 SV/Last Name, First Name (of applicant). This is written on the sheet of paper you will get during your Termin. The same sheet of paper will also indicate if you submitted complete documents or if there are missing documents you need to provide. It goes without saying that you should submit missing documents, if any, before you make any enquiry.

First follow-up, 2 weeks after Termin

Agency: German Embassy - Manila

E-Mail Address: visa@mani.diplo.de 

We asked them when the application will be forwarded to the responsible ABH.

A standard copy-paste reply to our first follow up,
2 weeks after I attended my Termin.

Be persistent and polite.

We fnally got the information we wanted.

2nd follow-up, 4 weeks after Termin

Agency: Bundesverwaltungsamt

Contact Form: Please use this link.

The next step should have been to ask the responsible ABH about the status of my application. Before that, we made sure my application already arrived in their office, so we tracked the application first via BVA.

We got the following information:

1. The electronic application was entered into their system

2. The responsible ABH was ...

3. The original documents have been forwarded to the responsible ABH.

We wanted to wait another week to check with ABH, but 3 days after BVA confirmed that the application has been forwarded, my husband received an E-Mail confirming the approval of my visa application.

Follow-ups may or may not help hasten the process. For us, the purpose is more to track the application and to know that it is on process. Knowing this has at the very least helped with our peace of mind and nerves(!), especially when everything has been readied: the party guests, the party food, the bride's flight tickets and she has yet to get her visa.

Who Should Make the Follow-ups?

During the first stage, registration for the marriage at Standesamt, the German groom should make the follow-up. It also makes sense since the bride has already given him authorization in the form of the Vollmacht zur Anmeldung der Eheschließung.

Once the marriage visa application has been formally lodged, i.e. the bride attended her Termin with complete documents, only the visa applicant (bride) will be allowed to make follow-ups with the agencies involved: the German Embassy and the responsible ABH. Due to data protection laws, the embassy is not allowed to disclose any information regarding the visa application to anyone but the applicant herself. 

Please note that when making follow-ups with the responsible ABH, communication will be auf Deutsch.

TIP: For convenience and also to streamline our communication with the agencies involved, I authorized my fiancé to do all the necessary enquiries in relation to my visa application by writing a simple Letter of Authorization addressed to the German embassy. I attached a scanned copy of my passport data page, and sent it to them via E-mail. I also included a scanned copy my fiancé's ID (Ausweis) and passport data page.

.

Costs

Costs may vary but the expenses listed below are the major ones to be expected. You also need to allocate a budget for transportation, hotel accomodation and other incidentals if the bride needs to travel (e.g. to the German Embassy) in relation to the application for visa. Please be aware that this costing was for a marriage visa application in 2019 (May 2018 - May 2019).

• Registration for the Marriage, Marriage Ceremony Cost: €160 - €200
• Examination of Philippine Documents: initial outlay of €300
• Translation of Documents: €120 - €200
• Vollmacht and Passport Copy Certification: ₱1,800 - ₱2,000
• German A1 Language Course: ₱6,800 - ₱19,500 (exclusive of books)
• A1 Exam Fee at Goethe-Institut: ₱5,000 - ₱6,500
• PSA Documents (Birth Certificate, CeNoMar, etc.): ₱155 - ₱210 per document
• Visa Application Fee: €75