I know that learning a language is not on everybody’s agenda though in today’s society it is certainly quite common that people speak more languages and it is usually expected in business. With countries becoming more multinational we are exposed to more languages in daily life and schools are offering a variety of languages throughout education.
So, what makes German one of the most favourite languages to be learnt? It doesn’t seem like one of the first choices and is conceived as not being one of the easiest languages to learn yet so many people are deciding to learn German. Why is that the case?
- German shares common roots with English
For the English-speaking population (and that makes up a large part of the world’s population), German is a great language to learn as both languages are based on Germanic and thus making learning German much easier – equally applicable for native English speakers or people having learnt English as a second language.
Apart from using almost the same alphabet which can’t be said for many languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Arabic etc., German also has a lot of similar words to English such as Garten-garden, Haus-house, Vater-father etc. – I have been teaching German for 26 years and I am always amazed at all of the similarities between these two languages. There are only 4 extra letters in the German alphabet which just adds a little bit of excitement to the language.
- German is logical and straight forward
One of the beauties in learning German must be the spelling and pronunciation. Once you know the letters and different combinations in German words, everything is pronounced the same which is certainly bliss when you compare it with English which actually is quite a hard language to spell and pronounce if you are a foreigner!
Furthermore, the grammar has fixed rules and once you are familiar with these you are certainly on your way to success. As in every language there are more difficult aspects to German as well but where would be the fun in it if everything would come easy to us?!
- German is the most spoken native language in Europe
Looking at Europe as a whole, most people will speak English either as a native language but mainly as a second language. Apart from German being spoken in Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as Lichtenstein, Luxembourg and part of Northern Italy, we would be able to add a few more countries to the list where German is spoken in parts of the country. This certainly makes German the language with the most native speakers in Europe which really is quite amazing!
I love this fact as it really opens business opportunities for German and of course holiday destinations within Europe.
- Germany is ahead of the game for market leaders
With the largest economy in Europe Germany certainly has a lot to offer to the language learner. Just look at the presence of global companies such as Siemens, Lufthansa, Volkswagen and many more. Working for a German company would certainly look good on your CV and help future opportunities.
Germany offers great international trade fairs in different industries and Berlin as the capital is an ever-growing hub for commerce, culture and new businesses. Being able to speak German will help you on a business level whether you work in Germany or you are dealing with German clients.
- Germany makes a fantastic holiday destination
Germany has so much to offer for the city-breaker with many cosmopolitan cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, München or Düsseldorf – all having such diversity on offer for everybody – you can never be bored!
Whether you want to take a river cruise through Germany, go skiing in the Alps, visit the German lake district, enjoy hiking in the Black Forrest or just enjoy a great time at the seaside or at one of the many festivals – there is no limit to the variety of holidays you can take.
Furthermore, the weather is quite excellent as well. People never realize how hot it gets in summer and although the winters are quite cold they are drier than in some countries. It is certainly worth having a try!
- German fine arts and sciences have had an immense impact on the world
Germany’s reputation for its great authors and poets – for its numerous scientists and inventors who made a difference in our world – makes us realize that Germany is very important on the academic market. Alone over 100 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Germans!
Also, did you know that Germany has the 3rd largest book market in the world? A lot of the books are not translated into other languages which makes a knowledge of the German language so much more important.
- Germany is just around the corner!
Being in the heart of Europe makes Germany so easily accessible to anyone in Europe who is looking to improve their language skills. It is so easily reachable by train, plane, car or boat – often it is only a few hours away. Millions of people are travelling to Germany each year – some for a weekend on business or pleasure – others for a longer trip.
This should give you some great reasons why German would be a brilliant choice of language to learn, you may be wondering what you need to do next. At CDlingua we are happy to answer any questions and get you on the right track for you. Whether you are totally new to learning German or you just want to refresh what you learnt previously we will be able to help. Have a look at our website or join our new 10-week-online-German course which will teach you all the basics you will need to get to and around Germany. Enjoy the journey!