Ido Zifroni

Last summer I spent two months in Berlin studying German, as part of the “Dr. Gustav Winkler Scholarship”, generously awarded to me by the DAAD-Stiftung and Dr. Winkler. The scholarship allowed me to take an 8-week Intensive German Course at did deutsch-institut Berlin, while getting to experience living in a fast-paced, multicultural German city. Both of these aspects of the Winkler Scholarship have made this experience so unforgettable and invaluable for me.

As a history student at Tel Aviv University, learning foreign languages has been absolutely critical for my studies and research. I had been studying German for two years before winning the scholarship, but my knowledge was mostly “theoretical” and limited to reading and grammar. With the Dr. Winkler Scholarship, I was given the chance to finally put this knowledge into practice. Thanks to the intensive course I was able to rapidly advance in the CEFR language proficiency levels (B1 to C1), but more importantly – I had the opportunity to interact and communicate with German people, make friends and acquaintances, and gain a better understanding of German life and culture. The time I spent in Germany also helped me to define and develop new ideas for research, which I hope to explore in my graduate studies.

Privat

During his stay, Ido Zifroni could also explore the city

The city of Berlin was a perfect setting for immersing myself in German language and culture, while learning about life in contemporary Germany. I encountered an inclusive city that defies certain stereotypes and lives up to others, and bears resemblance to my hometown of Tel-Aviv. One stereotype that was immediately proven wrong was that German people are distant and aloof - Almost everyone I met was helpful, involved and sympathetic, although in a manner clearly distinct from Israelis.

The cultural landscape of the city played an important role in my experience as well, and by attending rock and classical music concerts, art exhibitions and museums, I gained new insights that broadened my perspective on Germany. My German language lessons and living in Berlin raised thought-provoking questions, that highlighted for me the similarities and differences between Israeli and German mentalities. I can recall one lively discussion about the German conception of “Heimat”, and how it resembles and contrasts the Israeli perception of a Jewish homeland.

I am very grateful to have been awarded the Dr. Gustav Winkler Scholarship by Dr. Winkler and the DAAD-Stiftung. I believe that this scholarship has greatly advanced my knowledge of the German language, culture and history, and has impacted my research and career interests. Also, I would like to thank the DAAD-Stiftung for the meticulous planning and handling of administrative issues, that contributed to a pleasant and fruitful stay in Germany.