Contents
- Access to top-notch education
- Advancing your career
- Importance in academia
- A good basis for learning other languages
- French or German: The big debate
If you clicked on this article, you’re probably interested in learning German as a second language. We think that’s a great idea!
Learning a second language can help you improve your memory and develop an ability to multitask (which you will most definitely need in college!).
Simultaneously processing two or more languages (and their syntaxes) is an incredibly stimulating exercise that can also improve your logical and cognitive thinking skills. In short, learning a new language is a great way for you to exercise your brain muscles and get smarter.
You are probably wondering, out of the many exciting languages, why learn German?
To start with, German is the most widely spoken mother language in the EU. This means that if you are in Europe, you are very likely to encounter a German speaker. It is also a great subject to score high marks on your GCSEs. The number of students who score a grade 9 or more on their German GCSEs has been steadily increasing every year.
The decision to start learning a language should be taken based on the personal and academic benefits it offers you. German is a language that fares well on both these parameters. Not convinced yet?
In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about why you should learn German.
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1. Access to top-notch education
German universities are consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. These universities are home to some of the best, most prestigious academic and research institutes known for their world-class work.
But there’s one benefit that truly stands out here - public universities in Germany don’t charge any tuition fees for undergraduate or postgraduate education (except if you study a Master’s in a different field to your undergraduate education), even for international students!
Most courses in these programs, however, are either taught in German or a combination of German and English. So if you fancy saving yourself from tons of debt, you know what to do. 😉
2. Advancing your career
Germany is home to the headquarters of some of the world’s biggest companies like Bosch, Adidas, and BMW. Employers in the region consider being fluent in German an important business skill. Knowing the language well can increase your chances of getting a job at a reputed German company after university. And with the salaries in Germany way higher than those in the UK, it doesn’t really warrant any question, does it? 💸
Other than Germany, German is the official language for five countries in the European Union viz, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Being fluent in the language opens you up to a sea of educational and work opportunities in all of these countries located in the EU.
3. Importance in academia
Home to over 108 Nobel Laureates, Germany has held a strong academic reputation for centuries. This is one of the reasons why the German book market is the third-largest in the world (after English and Chinese). With only a limited portion of these books being translated into English, knowing German is essential to tap into this academic treasure trove. The books that are translated often lack the important cultural and social nuance of the original German work.
4. A good basis for learning other languages
If you’re thinking of learning a foreign language for the first time, opting for German can prove a great choice. The syntactic and lexical nuances of the language make it ideal for students who are trying to get the hang of foreign languages.
Think of it this way, learning German is like learning how to play the piano. The notes and arrangements in piano-based music form the base for other instruments like guitar, bass, etc. This is why people who know how to play the piano find it extremely easy to learn how to play other instruments.
5. French or German: The big debate
Students often struggle to choose between French and German while opting to learn a foreign language at GCSE or A-Level. They are both important languages in the EU which are also spoken widely across the world. The primary reason for learning German is that it has a large overlap with English because both are part of the same language family: Germanic.
Germany also has a larger economy than France with a 31% higher GDP and as such, that directly translates into better job opportunities.
If this article has motivated you to try out German, we’d love for you to check out our best-in-class German tuition from the best tutors around the globe (including native speakers from Germany!).
Our holistic learning approach ensures that you gain a deeper, more well-rounded sense of German culture while learning the language. If you are interested in learning German and would like to learn more about our teaching process, we urge you to book a free trial session now.
