Why learn German? 10 compelling reasons (2023)

“Anyone who has not learned German cannot imagine what a confusing language it is. [...] certainly there is no other language that is so sloppy and unsystematic, so slippery and difficult to understand.”

–Mark Twain, "The Terrible German Language"

If soslippery language, why on earth would anyone in their right mind want to learn German?

Weilwouldn't goOf!?

Today we look at 10 reasons why you should learn German.

Contents

• 1. German is easy to learn
• 2. German is the language of inventors and innovators
• 3. German is an important academic language
• 4. German is the gateway to world-class higher education
• 5. Germany is an economic power
• 6. German companies are world market leaders
• 7. German is the most spoken mother tongue in Europe
• 8. German has a large online presence
• 9. Germans are everywhere
• 10. German culture is part of the world heritage
• The case for learning German

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1. German is easy to learn

Let's start by debunking the myth that German is particularly difficult. Despite all the jokes about how it's an impossible language, if you speak English, you're actually already quite privileged.

This is because German and English share the same Germanic root. Consequently, there are many thousands of closely related words known as "kin". For example the EnglishoutIt isFor ain German.WaterbecomesWaterepaidgets inPai. After all, it's not that hard, is it?

Also, unlike Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian or Arabic, there is no new alphabet to learn, just a few letters to add. If you're already familiar with the Latin script (and if you're not, I'm incredibly surprised you've followed this article this far), the only new features will be the umlautsA,ÖeOflike thisßthat it's just fancy GermanS.

And that's not all. there is moreAbbreviations to learn German quickly. It's really not the time-waster that so many people make it out to be. You just have to learn to study smart instead of learning hard.

With the right resources, you can overcome the difficult parts of the language. For example thefluentUThe program uses authentic German videos with interactive subtitles to immerse you in the language and culture as you learn. or you can checkGermanpod101for insightful podcasts effective in teaching about culture and language.

The key is to find the program (or programs) that best suits your learning style, and you too will soon discover just how easy learning German can be.

2. German is the language of inventors and innovators

It is said that Germany is the land of poets and thinkers –The land of poets and thinkers. The second part is definitely undeniable. A large percentage of the world's most impressive achievements were first conceived in German.

More than a hundred Nobel prizes went to brilliant Germans for achievements in physics, medicine, chemistry, literature and other fields. And that's not counting the awards for people from the other two major German-speaking countries, Austria and Switzerland. In addition, many of the scholarship holders from other nations were educated at German universities.

So if you're looking to add a Nobel Prize to your resume, learning German might not be a bad place to start. Maybe you have lower goals and just want to soak up some of this genius by reading famous publications in your native language.

3. German is an important academic language

With so many excellent scientists in their home countries, it is not surprising that German is held in high esteem in the academic community. In fact, it ranks second as the most commonly used scientific language.

One of the reasons for this is that the German book market is the third largest in the world, right behind the Chinese and English publishing sectors. Since the percentage of these books that are translated into other languages ​​is quite limited, you can only access them with knowledge of German.

4. German is the gateway to world-class higher education

One of the reasons why German is so important in science is that German universities enjoy an excellent international reputation. In 2011, the country was the fourth most popular destination for students from abroad, with more than a quarter million foreign students enrolled in German schools.

In addition, the German higher education system has several universities with very low or no tuition fees. No wonder scholars and researchers flock there! Learning German to save on student debt sounds like a good return.

5. Germany is an economic power

German is an interesting choice not only for academics, but also for those in the business world who want to expand their knowledge.Deutsch. Germany is the largest economy in the European Union and the fourth largest in the world. It is the seat of numerous international corporations and is at the forefront of new technologies.

Although the education system in Germany is set up so that every citizen speaks at least some English, communicating with someone in your native language is a mark of good faith that is valued everywhere. Knowing the language of your German business partners can significantly improve your chances of effective communication and successful business relationships.

6. German companies are world market leaders

Speaking of German companies: Would you like to work for a company that is one of the international market leaders in its sector? If you have German skills under your belt, you can come in the door.

Germany is home to a large number of global economic players. Siemens, Volkswagen, Adidas and Lufthansa are globally recognized brands and corporations. The country also hosts some of the largest international trade fairs, including CeBIT, the world's largest information technology trade fair, and the IFA trade fair for consumer electronics.

Meanwhile, the German capital Berlin is transforming itself into a hub for innovative startups. Some even call it “the Silicon Valley of Europe”. Knowledge of German therefore has the potential to significantly improve your career prospects.

7. German is the most spoken mother tongue in Europe

English, French and German are the three official working languages ​​of the European Union. In absolute numbers, German is the second most spoken language on the European continent. However, when it comes to native speakers, German is number one.

For centuries, the language has served as alingua franca(a common language that unites different peoples) in much of the European continent. It continues to serve this purpose as an important second language in Central and Eastern Europe. German is also the third most commonly taught foreign language in English-speaking countries. Also, it ranks tenth as one of the top languages ​​in the world. That's not bad for a relatively small country.

It might not have the numbers that Chinese does, but if you know German you have about 100 million extra people to talk to. After all, it's not such a small pool!

8. German has a large online presence

You don't even have to meet those 100 million people in the real world. You can do this from the comfort of your own home! German websites make up a large part of the Internet. Regarding domain extensions that are uniquely assigned to a specific country, namely Germany.vonis the most popular top-level domain out there. I know I'm just as surprised as you are.

If you can speak German, you can access over 15 million websites, not counting German websites ending in.fluid,.orge.die Info. In absolute numbers, of course.vonsecond place.comwho is way ahead of everything. Second place in the entire World Wide Web? Not bad, Germany, not bad.

9. Germans are everywhere

Even if you don't plan to go to a German-speaking country or hate bothering German-speakers on the internet, don't worry: you'll find what you're looking forOf. If you've traveled abroad, you've probably witnessed this phenomenon firsthand. Germans are some of the world's most voracious travelers. With almost six weeks annual vacation and plenty of disposable income, you can find them all over the world.

In fact, Germans are record holders when it comes to spending on trips abroad. For years they have invested more in world travel than anyone else. Only recently they had to give up their pole position to tourists from China. However, that didn't stop them from spending a whopping $84 billion on travel in 2012!

Anyone who works in the tourism industry can enter this market with German-speaking guides and employees. If you just want to make friends along the way, a little German can go a long way when you meet a native German speaker.

10. German culture is part of the world heritage

Although Germans have a reputation for being left-brained, analytical, and passionate about logic, German-speaking countries have also produced some of the greatest literary works,Musical, artistic and philosophical minds in human history. It is the language offamous written worksby Goethe, Kafka, Brecht and Mann. It was the mother tongue of the composers Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Beethoven and Wagner. Revolutionary philosophy spilled onto the German pages as Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, and Heidegger first took up pen.

Learning German gives you the opportunity to appreciate the masterpieces of these artists in their original form. It allows you to explore parts of the World Heritage in an easy and unfiltered way. Goethe's Faust alone, written entirely in rhyme, is worth the effort. Wouldn't it be nice to pick up some of your favorite German works and discover the true meaning of the original text for yourself?

The case for learning German

Let's be honest: Among the languages ​​available in the world, German is not an obvious choice. There must be a reason why so many people choose Deutsche Bahn.

If you're thinking about learning a new language, you might be wondering if the Germanic language is really worth the time and effort. After all, German is spoken by relatively few people worldwide.

However,There are good reasons why this language is a good investment. Not only from a linguistic point of view, but also in terms of economic opportunities, networking potential and cultural gain. GermanIt isa worthwhile choice.

So if you're still hesitating about trying the language, or if you're already learning German and looking for reassurance that you're not wasting your time, I hope this post has shown you why learning German is worthwhile. !

Download:This blog post is available as a convenient, portable PDF that you can take anywhere.Click here for a copy. (Download)