Learning a language is both challenging and rewarding. German, in particular, is a great language to learn, both for personal and professional reasons. Whether you choose to study with a school like UIC or take a distance-learning course, here are a few reasons why you should opt for German.
Business opportunities
Due to Germany’s economic wealth, learning German can really boost your career opportunities in the UK and abroad. Many employers will favour you if you can speak German over somebody who cannot, as you’re likely to be dealing with the country whatever sector you work in.
If you work for a company that deals directly with German clients, knowing the language will improve business relations and allow better communication.
Study opportunities
If you study in Germany, it goes without saying that knowing the language is beneficial. Germany is a good choice of place to study as there are many scholarships and a great deal of support available. Many students choose to study in Berlin, a city well-known for its exciting nightlife, vibrant art scene and, of course, it’s top educational institutions.
A fascinating culture
When learning a language you’re also learning about a whole new culture, and Germany has an incredibly rich cultural heritage. There have been a huge number of German contributions to the arts, philosophy and music. For this reason, Germany is sometimes referred to as the land of ‘dichter und denker’ – poets and thinkers.
Just imagine, learning German would allow you to interact with profound artists and thinkers, such as Kafka, Goethe or Nietzsche, in their own language.
Not as hard as you think
German and English both have their roots in the old Germanic language, so learning German may not be as hard as you think. For example, the German word for ‘mother’ is ‘mutter’, and the word for ‘book’ is ‘buch’. It’s also a phonetic language, meaning there aren’t as many silent letters as there are in languages like French. Normally with German, what you see is what you say.
Most widely spoken language in Europe
German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. As well as Germany itself, it’s the official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. This means that you have the opportunity to travel to many different countries, whether for business or pleasure, and interact with people of various nationalities in their native tongue.
Add to your CV
Learning any language is a great addition to your CV. Employers see it as a definite asset as it shows you are motivated, interested in other cultures and ways of thinking, and a good communicator. German looks especially good on your CV due to the fact that it’s so widely spoken, especially in business.
Germans love to travel
Germans love to work but they also love to travel. If you’re a globetrotter, you’re likely to meet many Germans along the way – they are the biggest spenders of tourist money in the world. If you are a world traveller, whether for business or just as a lifestyle, knowing German can be of huge benefit. It will allow you to interact in the native language of many of the people you meet along the way.
Personal achievement
As well as furthering your career, and opening up opportunities for travel and communication, learning a language can simply make you feel good about yourself. Whether you want to learn German for business or personal reasons, you will gain new knowledge and can take satisfaction in having achieved a goal.
Whether you choose to learn German at a school in London or Bristol, or get private tuition at home, taking a German course can dramatically change your life – all for the better.
