Learn German with a Podcast– New Year’s in Germany & My First Year on YouTube | Listening Practice

The sound is running, the camera is running, Eleo is running, Nase is running. Wow! Hello and welcome to the second podcast episode. I hope you all had a good start into the new year and I wish you all a happy new year. I took a little break over the holidays, so over Christmas and New Year's Eve, and now I'm back and I'm very happy. This podcast is an opportunity for you to just listen in German. So you can put your phone away or close your laptop and maybe just listen and see how much you understand. If you only understand a little German, then of course you can also read the subtitles and watch me. Use the video, use this podcast as it suits you best. And don't worry if you don't understand everything. Just relax. Okay, today it's New Year's Eve. It's about the change of year and it's about my first year on YouTube. So my anniversary, my one-year anniversary on YouTube. So there's a lot to tell. And let's start with New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve is celebrated on December 31st, so on the last day of the year. And in Germany there are many traditions that people have and do to celebrate New Year's Eve. I think the most important or the most well-known tradition, not only in Germany, but all over the world, is the fireworks. So the rockets and the firecrackers. In Germany, all people are allowed to make a firework at New Year's Eve. So I can just go out at night and light a rocket. And a lot of people do that too. There are rockets and firecrackers everywhere in every street. And I don't like that very much. I'm a little scared to walk through the city at New Year's Eve. I've already experienced or seen some situations that were a little dangerous. And that's why I prefer to look at the fireworks from the window or from a balcony. But I'm in a house and maybe have a little magic candle. But yes, the fireworks are part of it. It's a tradition. And I'm curious how long it will be allowed that all people are allowed to do the fireworks in the street. I have noticed, especially this year, that there is more and more discussion about how good it is. Because of the safety. So because of all the people who get hurt at New Year's Eve. You can also hear all night long. Ambulances driving through the city. Exactly, so because of the safety, this is being discussed. And also because of the environment and the animals who suffer at New Year's Eve due to all the noise, all the noise. Exactly, that's why I'm curious how long it will be allowed. And I also know from other countries, for example from France, that it is not allowed to just go out into the street and make a firework. But professional people do it, who then make a big firework. And all other people can just look at the firework. And I think that's a good solution. But yes, let's see what else will happen in the next few years. The next tradition that takes place at New Year's Eve for many people, that many people do, is the raclette meal. I think it's the typical New Year's Eve meal in Germany. Maybe I'm wrong, but for me and for many friends and people I know, there is a raclette on New Year's Eve on December 31st. If you don't know raclette, raclette is a cheese, the raclette cheese. And it is a very interesting and funny meal, because in the middle of the table is a raclette machine. And in the raclette machine there are several pans. And every person at the table has a pan, can put the raclette cheese in the pan and then heat it up in the middle of the table. And the warm cheese can then be eaten with potatoes or other vegetables or meat, with all kinds of food. And it's very tasty. So you have to like cheese, but if you like cheese, then it's very tasty. And it's also a very sociable meal, an interactive meal, because you have this device on the table. And I like such meals very much, which are interactive, communicative, sociable. And then there is another tradition. And that is pouring lead. I loved pouring lead as a child. Now I haven't done it for a long time. But it's very simple. You have a small piece of lead that you warm up with a candle. And then you pour it into a bowl with cold water. And a small shape is created. And then you look at the shape and think, what does this shape look like? Maybe it looks like a tree. And then the tree can mean that I spend a lot of time with my family next year. Or the piece of lead looks like a coin. And then it can mean, a money coin, a piece of money. And then it can mean that I will get a lot of money next year. So it's a game, of course. You can also call it superstition, if you really believe in it. But it's more of a game to deal with the change of year. It's a prediction for the next year. And that's what I always liked to do as a child. What other traditions are there? At midnight, everyone wishes each other a happy new year. And you toast. Maybe with a glass of champagne or a glass of wine. Of course, there are many other traditions. But these are the ones that I find most important. The ones that make the most sense for me on New Year's Eve in Germany. Many people also have predictions for next year. So they think about what they want to do next year. For example, many people want to do more sports next year. Or eat healthier. Or start a new hobby. I also like to make predictions for next year. Actually, I always like to make new predictions. I always have a lot of predictions. But especially on New Year's Eve, with the new year, it's a good time to think about predictions. And this year, I don't have any concrete predictions. I want to learn a lot this year. But I don't have anything specific, nothing concrete. Last year, I had a very concrete prediction. And that was to start with YouTube. And not just to start with YouTube. But to just throw myself into YouTube. And to make as many videos as I can. And to learn as much as I can about making videos. And I uploaded my first video on December 31, 2023. So exactly one year ago. And a lot has happened since then. And I want to talk a little bit about it. First of all, it's an anniversary. It's my one-year anniversary on YouTube. And I recently watched my first video. It's also about New Year's Eve. I uploaded it to New Year's Eve last year. And it's really strange to watch the first videos. Because I would do so much differently now. Because when I started last year, I really had no idea about making videos, about editing, about social media, about YouTube. I never spoke in front of a camera before. So I really started this project completely at zero, completely blind. What I had last year was the idea of ​​these immersive German learning videos. And that was my experience with learning and learning immersive languages. And I had this idea, this concept in my head. And I just wanted to start and start with all my energy. And I did that. And I really uploaded at least one video every week until December. So I learned a lot this year. And I learned it all very immersively. That's just the way I learn best. Languages, but also all other possible processes. And especially when they are creative. Then it's the best way for me to do something, to learn something. It's just to immerse myself in the process. And then to learn while doing it. And it's interesting that I also use this method in my videos for you. So that you learn immersively. While I learn immersive on my side to create the videos. I only realized later that immersion is in the foreground on both sides. What is of course super surprising and also the most beautiful thing about the whole project so far is the community. That sounds a bit cheesy, as we like to say in German. But it was really totally surprising. When I uploaded the first video a year ago and got comments from German learners who said that it was helpful for them. That they would like to see more videos. And over time I have learned more and more stories from you. And there were more and more exchanges. For this I would like to say thank you. Thank you to all people who share so much private or personal, so much of themselves in the comments. Thank you of course also to all people who give me a coffee again and again to support my work. And also for the whole feedback for everything that takes place in the comments. Yes, that's really nice. And that also makes me want and motivated to keep going. Because of course there were also moments in this first year that were a bit difficult. And they had above all to do with the fact that there are not enough rules on YouTube and on social media, in my opinion. To protect creators like me or also viewers. But even with that I somehow learned to deal with it. And now I focus mainly on the positive sides. Yes, I think that's what I can roughly say about my first year on YouTube. When I think about it, I remember many beautiful moments that I filmed on the camera. So all kinds of things that I did with friends and filmed. And yes, a lot of things really made a lot of fun. And a lot of things are fun. Of course there is also a lot of work behind it. Much more work than I thought before. And I think that's work that you don't see from the outside, as a viewer or a spectator. But that's okay, that's part of it. And I'm looking forward to continuing with YouTube next year. I may not be able to upload a video every week like last year. Because I still work and have other projects in my life that I want to devote time to. But I definitely want to continue making videos and make videos continuously. And be in contact with you and continue to be part of your German learning process. And yes, I'm also currently planning which videos I want to film next time. So if there are videos that you are particularly interested in or that are particularly helpful to you, then you are welcome to write me in the comments. Exactly, that's my plan for next year. Yes, continue to make videos, continue to have other projects and continue to learn. What are your plans? Feel free to write that in the comments. I'm very excited. After the break, I'm especially looking forward to the exchange in the comments. And thank you to everyone who inquired about me and asked if everything is okay, if I'm healthy again, if videos are coming. It was very nice to read the messages. Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm here. I'll stay here. See you soon. Bye.