Is German worth studying?

Deutschland, the land of rich heritage and culture, holds the German language very dear to it, while also embracing the internationality of big cities gracefully. Although you often hear that German is a very difficult language, we can assure you – if you are an international fluent in English, learning German will not be very hard for you, as both languages stem from the same roots.

On top of that, learning German, the language of one of the most powerful economies in the world, does add a considerable weightage to your resume not only in Germany but also worldwide. So, knowing German not only increases your job chances within the country but also beyond its borders. Research shows that higher German language skills go along with better integration into the German labour market as well as higher salaries. There are multiple reasons for learning the language. One of them is to feel at home in Germany. Germans whole-heartedly appreciate when they see an ex-pat attempting to speak German and welcome you into their world, which helps you break barriers and make new friends and professional contacts easily.

1. Essential tasks and getting help: Being able to speak the language means you can take initiative with the absolutely essential parts of life in Germany. With basic German (and some specific vocabulary), you won’t need a translator when fulfilling necessary tasks, like registering your address (Anmelden) at the city hall (Bürgeramt) or applying for visa extension.
2. Ease of daily life: Non-German natives living in Germany (even for a short while) will need the language skills to do basic tasks, like talking to a bank teller, taxi driver, doctor, or receptionist. Being able to speak German makes daily life much easier in the country, despite the high level of English most people have in the cities.
3. Professional opportunities: Germany is the largest European trading partner of the US, exporting vehicles, metals, and chemical products, and many German companies have global reach. Being able to speak the language, initiate and maintain business dealings with German business-people may prove to be lucrative if you wish to excel professionally in the country and beyond.
4. Communication: Developments in media, information and communication technology require multilingual communicators. A wide range of important websites are in German and worldwide, Germany is ranked number 5 in terms of annual publication of new books. Knowledge of German therefore offers you extended access to information.
5. Germans are innovators: If you’re scientifically inclined, fluency in German will give you the upper-hand in understanding the works of some great German minds, such as Albert Einstein. Plus, you’ll be supporting a great cause – that of keeping the scientific community multilingual.
6. Be a brainiac: Studying a second language has been shown to improve memory, problem-solving skills, abstract reasoning, empathy and even postpones the onset of dementia! There’s really no good reason not to learn another language! German is an important language in the fields of philosophy, science, history, literature and art. People looking to pursue graduate degrees in these fields often find that being able to read German is a prerequisite.

German has a reputation for being a difficult language to learn. But this is arguably unearned! Its reputation precedes it, and with the long compound words and the (let’s face it) harsh sounds, learning German be quite overwhelming.