From 19th July to 8th August 2026, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Deutsch Plus Beruf scholarship programme in Heilbronn, Germany, organised by Goethe Institute.
It was a three-week language course including career orientation; we had classes every weekday morning, after which we got to visit some of the biggest companies and universities in the country, giving us a glimpse into the education, research and professional life in Germany. My German improved tremendously, especially when it came to actually using it outside the classroom.
And, of course, we had plenty of fun outside of studies– we had free-time every evening and excursions every weekend, during which we explored and took part in a variety of activities such as boatriding, drawing on the sidewalks with chalk, participating in scavenger hunts around new cities with only a physical map as a guide, karaoke nights, museum tours, making gummy bears from scratch– and so much more, making everlasting memories together!
With 41 students representing around 35 countries, being the only participant from India was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. However, meeting people from so many different countries was the very best part! I made some amazing friends, learned so much about their cultures and perspectives, and found that I could relate to so many of them despite having such different backgrounds. Being the representative of my country, I got to share about my experiences and culture with them as well.
I came back with improved proficiency in German, greater independence, wonderful new friendships, a deeper understanding of cultures around the world, and countless memories. These three weeks constituted an experience of a lifetime that will always stick with me hereafter.
