What are the benefits of learning German?
German is the way to go if you want to impress your friends or family with a new language.
But, is it really a hard foreign language to learn?
If you’re still in a dilemma, here are ten reasons to learn German.
The beauty of learning a new language
The world is always expanding with new cultures to learn and people to meet.
So when you’re studying a new language, you’re experiencing not just the words and vocabulary, but the meaning behind them.
If you’ve been learning languages for some time, you will know how important it is to learn a language.
Learning languages help your memory and make contextual connections with words, grammar rules, and vocabulary that you have learned.
If you haven’t tried learning German yet, now is the time to do so. Discover the ten reasons to learn German.
German is Europe’s most widely spoken native language
Did you know? Germany has the most native speakers in the European Union (far more than English, Spanish, or French).
You can go to a German-speaking country like Austria where its official language is German. Along with Austria; Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.
Even in some parts of Italy like the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol and in Poland’s Opole Voivodeship and Silesian Voivodeship, German is a co-official language.
Learning German is less difficult than you think
Those who grew up in a bilingual household may have an advantage when reading, writing, or speaking another language.
But, don’t get discouraged. The German language is really easy to learn.
In fact, German is actually quite close to English and hence much easier to learn than you would assume.
According to the FSI (Foreign Service Insititute) of the US, a native English speaker only needs around 750 hours (or a total of 30 weeks) of practicing German to achieve professional working fluency.
That is because Germany and English come from the same language family, the Germanic language.
Work opportunities in Germany
Germany provides a considerable number of scholarships and other forms of financial assistance to students who wish to study in Germany.
Working holiday visas are provided for young immigrants from a variety of nations, while qualified workers and professionals are given special visas.
If you are a translator, you may potentially find well-paying jobs that will suit your interests and skills in Germany.
You can even be paid higher than most countries in the world for other blue or white-collared jobs just by knowing how to speak German.
Germany’s contributions to the business world
In professional life, individuals that deal with foreign nationals for business are just one of the career opportunities you’ll experience.
Aside from economic powerhouses like the US and the UK, Germany is also considered one of the biggest economic foundations throughout history.
You’ll surely not run out of a European trading partner with a professional relationship if you have honed your German skills.
German is not simply an appealing option for academics; individuals in business can also consider focusing on their Deutsch.
Germany has the largest economy in the European Union and the fourth largest in the world.
It is home to several worldwide firms and is at the forefront of innovative technology.
While the German education system is designed to ensure that every German citizen understands at least some English, speaking with someone in their original language is a gesture of good faith that is valued everywhere.
Knowing the language of your German business associates will increase your chances of efficient communication and successful professional connections.
Studying German culture
Germany has a very diverse culture. With 84 million people, you can almost see every religion, nationality, custom, tradition, clothing, book, and more!
Learning German allows you to appreciate what Germans have experienced throughout the ages.
It allows you to access aspects of the world’s cultural legacy in an unfiltered and direct manner.
To a large extent, Germans focus on logic and reasoning considering that most of the artists, philosophers, musicians, great thinkers, poets, and more, are Germans or born in Germany.
But, despite the stereotype Germans that are stern, they value family and communities a lot.
They are also thrifty, sensible, and respect a person’s privacy.
You will enjoy Germany from a deeper perspective
Aside from enjoying Germany at the surface level, there are lots more to learn about Germany.
Historically, Germany had a lot to contribute to the world. There are lots of stories that you will hear from German people.
If you are fluent in speaking German, chances are, you’ll relate better and even give your insights about many topics that you can think about.
Germany is a country known for its inventions and innovations
The German language is the second most often used language in science, and Germany is a major contributor to research and development.
As of 2018, a whopping sum of 108 billion Euros is invested by Germany in Research and Development (R&D) only.
The most important client in this sector is the automotive industry.
You may have heard of the names Adidas, gummy bears, Nivea, BMW, and there’s no doubt of having a long list of their inventions.
You can really trust the high quality and dedication that German minds have put into research and development.
Learning German will assist you in learning other languages more quickly
Problem-solving skills are also developed when learning other languages.
Since German came from the Indo European and Germanic language tree, you’ll find familiar words and grammar rules in languages like English, Dutch, and Danish.
If you’re familiar with the rules and grammatical structures of German, you’ll remember some of them once you switch to a new language.
But of course, this requires enough practice whether daily or weekly to make your German fluent.
Many German institutions provide quality and world-class education for free
Education is an important asset to keep your career soaring sky high. If you’re planning to study in Germany, being fluent can give you free access.
Many German institutions require aspiring students to know German or be fluent in it.
But on the good side, you don’t even need to be fluent in German just to study.
Some educational institutions allow students to learn German once they are enrolled and not before they go to Germany.
German institutions such as the Technical University of Munich, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat Heidelberg are included in the list of the top 100 world’s most prestigious universities.
Learning German is fun!
Whether you’re in it for business, for the cultural experience, or just to find friends in Germany, you’ll always have fun!
Traveling around the world will open your mind to exciting new places.
Who knows, you might even end up learning a new hobby or two?
You’ll also get to meet other people that are as interested in learning German as you do.
Are you still thinking about learning German?
Those top ten reasons to learn German listed above are just some of the compelling reasons that may or may not still convince you.
There are many free resources such as this website to help you start learning German today.
Moreover, immersion in materials such as audio lessons with a native speaker is essential for learning German.
You can learn German easier if you can communicate with someone you know who speaks German.
