My German Dreams: Planning for the Future – And Getting it Wrong (A Lot!)

Okay, deep breath. Moving to Berlin felt like stepping off a cliff… a really cool, slightly chaotic cliff, but a cliff nonetheless. It’s been six months since I traded my life in London for a tiny apartment in Neukölln, and while the coffee is amazing and the street art is incredible, learning German has been… well, let’s just say it’s been a journey. Specifically, I’m struggling to actually talk about the future – my future – and even more so, to express my wishes. It’s not just about ordering a beer, you know?

The Problem with “Werde” – and My Embarrassing Attempts

The biggest hurdle has been the Futur I with “werden.” I understand the theory, of course. “Ich werde…” means “I will…” but actually using it in conversation feels incredibly awkward. I keep getting it wrong, and people, bless their patient hearts, keep gently correcting me.

Last week, I was trying to tell Frau Schmidt, my neighbor, that I was hoping to take a German course. I wanted to say, “Ich werde einen Deutschkurs machen.” Instead, I blurted out, “Ich werde machen einen Deutschkurs!” She stared at me, completely bewildered. Finally, she said, with a kind smile, “Nein, nein. Du sagst: ‘Ich werde einen Deutschkurs machen.’ The ‘einen’ is important!” It’s so ridiculously simple, but my brain just completely locked up. I felt like such an idiot.

Real-Life Scenarios & German Dialogues

Let’s look at some real-world situations where this comes up. I was at the local bakery, “Bäckerei Müller,” and I wanted to ask if they’d have a special offer for a cake for my friend’s birthday.

Me: “Entschuldigung, haben Sie vielleicht ein Angebot für Kuchen?” (Excuse me, do you perhaps have an offer for cake?)

Herr Müller: “Ja, natürlich! Wir haben ein Angebot für Geburtstagsbackwaren. Wenn Sie vorbestellen, bekommen Sie 10 Prozent Rabatt.” (Yes, of course! We have an offer for birthday treats. If you pre-order, you get 10 percent discount.)

Me (trying to sound confident): “Ich werde das Kuchen bestellen!” (I will order the cake!)

Herr Müller (confused): “Werde Sie das jetzt bestellen? Was möchten Sie?” (Are you ordering it now? What would you like?)

I completely forgot the “einen” and just said “Ich werde das bestellen!” He patiently explained, “Nein, nein, du sagst ‘Ich werde einen Kuchen bestellen.’” – “I will order a cake.” It’s like a tiny, frustrating slap in the face every time.

My Wish for a New Job – And the Confusing Questions

I’ve been looking for a job as a translator, which is a dream. I told my colleague, Steven, about it over coffee the other day.

Steven: “Echt? Du suchst eine Stelle als Übersetzer? Das ist toll! Was möchtest du denn machen?” (Really? You’re looking for a job as a translator? That’s great! What do you want to do?)

Me: “Ich werde übersetzen.” (I will translate.)

Steven: “Ja, aber was möchtest du übersetzen? Texte? Webseiten? Was für eine Sprache?” (Yes, but what do you want to translate? Texts? Websites? What language?)

I realized I hadn’t actually thought about the specifics. I just wanted to say I would translate, and he threw me a curveball with all the practical questions. It highlighted how important it is to actually plan what I want to say before I stumble through it.

Small Victories – And the Moments of Success

Despite the embarrassing mistakes, there have been moments of genuine progress. Last week, I was talking to a group of people in a bar about my plans to learn how to play the guitar. I managed to say, “Ich werde Gitarre spielen lernen!” (I will learn to play the guitar!) and everyone understood! It was such a small thing, but it felt massive.

And I’ve started using “werden” in simpler sentences. “Ich werde morgen früh frühstücken.” (I will eat breakfast early tomorrow morning.) “Ich werde ein neues Buch kaufen.” (I will buy a new book.) Little steps, right?

Resources & My Next Steps

I’ve started using Duolingo religiously (even though I still feel silly doing it) and trying to listen to German podcasts during my commute. I’m also making a conscious effort to listen for how native speakers use “werden” – how they naturally incorporate it into their conversations.

My goal now is to stop focusing so much on getting the grammar perfect and just start talking. Even if I mess up – and I will mess up – it’s a step forward. I think I need to focus on learning phrases like: “Ich hoffe, dass…” (I hope that…) and “Ich wünsche mir…” (I wish for…) and practice expressing my future aspirations.

It’s a slow process, but I’m determined to build a future in Berlin – a future where I can confidently communicate, share my hopes, and maybe, just maybe, order a perfect coffee without a major linguistic disaster. Ich glaube daran! (I believe in it!)