I took several German classes in high school and to make life easier, took two semesters of beginning German in college to fulfill a foreign language requirement. I've very comfortable saying I'm going to the library or asking what are you doing after school. While in Zermatt, I overheard a couple speaking German at full speed and maybe got every third word. Still, I imagine if I were immersed in it, I'd catch up. My best friend did much of his military service in Germany and had a great time.