The benefits of studying German are many. Instead of just saying, "why not," let us go through all the reasons why picking up German would be a great idea. Learning German has many tangible benefits for Europeans, but the benefits aren't as obvious to people who don't reside in Europe. We are here today to tell you why you should study German.
Many people, including frequent fliers, rising professionals, friends and relatives of German speakers, and others, may take advantage of these benefits. We hope this post will help you go beyond the question "should I study German?" and onto the next logical one: "how can I learn German?"
Why Learn German?
We recognize that most individuals interested in learning a second or third language are not doing so because German is their native language. Foreigners to Germany may be put off by the country's "rough" accents, unique culture, and the prospect of having to use German daily if they currently reside in the United States.
Because of its massive global speaker base—over 230 million people—it is a clear language. True, but that is just the beginning. Here are eleven compelling arguments for picking up some German.
German Is Widely Used In The Academic World
It's not surprising that German is highly regarded in the academic world, given a large number of Nobel Prize winners from the nation. It's the second most used language for scientific communication. This is partly because Germany has the world's third-largest book market, behind only China and England. Only those fluent in German can read these books since only a small fraction of them are translated into other languages.
Learning German Will Increase Your Appreciation Of The Arts
The works of Bach, Grass, Beethoven, and Polka. Only a small fraction of Germany's numerous famous musicians, painters, and authors come from this country. You may have a deeper knowledge of these and other artists by learning German. Germany is a major publishing hub; with annual outputs of over 80,000 new titles, but only a fraction of them make it into translation.
If you learn German, you will be able to enjoy these works anytime. Additionally, you will be able to read the works of German authors such as Goethe, Kafka, and others in their original form. No longer will you need to stress about meaning being lost in translation.
Get A Raise By Picking Up Some German
Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW are the top three. These are just a few examples of German companies that have become household names throughout the world. Germany's growing economic influence in Europe and beyond has increased available employment options. Even more importantly, American companies are eager to find and promote native German speakers to expand their presence in Germany and the rest of Europe. If you want to stand out in a competitive job market, learning German is a great way to make yourself stand out from the crowd since you will likely be the only one in your workplace who speaks the language.
The Economist conducted research comparing the financial benefits of learning various languages. Germany naturally topped the list with 125,000 Euros in terms of expected bonus earnings.
The German Economy Is One Of The World's Strongest
Both academics and professionals may benefit from learning German. Regarding GDP, Germany is first in the European Union and fourth globally. It is at the cutting edge of technological development and is home to various multinational enterprises. While German schools ensure that all students learn English, it is always a kind gesture to speak to someone in their home language. Learning their language is necessary if you want to communicate effectively and build lasting professional connections with your German business colleagues.
It Is Entertaining
Finally, studying German is entertaining. Despite the challenges and setbacks, you may encounter, the effort is well worth it because of the many positive outcomes. If you speak English, learning German is a wise decision. Different from Romance languages like Spanish, Italian, and French, German is part of the Indo-European family of languages. English has a lot in common with French and vice versa.
Increase Your Horizons Professionally
As we said before, fresh employment openings are appearing in Germany and all around the globe. Who wouldn't want to cater to customers in a nation with one of the world's highest GDPs? Many businesses are opening branches in other countries or creating departments to cater to European consumers. Since so many things are now available to buy or consume digitally, knowing this language will put you ahead of the curve.
Learning German Is A Cinch For Native English Speakers
Here is something not everyone knows: German and English are related. That is why native English speakers have an easy time learning German.
English and German are part of the Indo-European language family, while the Romance languages (French, Italian, and Spanish) constitute a subset of this larger family. Common examples of this are "angst," "kindergarten," and "kitsch," all of which have their origins in German. French, Greek, and Latin all had an impact on later English. Still, when reduced to its bare essentials, English resembles German. Consider the Germanic terms for brother, water, and friend: Bruder, Wasser, and Freund (friend).
If you decide to study German as a second language, you will quickly discover how many terms you already know. Someone who already speaks English and wants to learn German will have a leg up on the competition.
Explore Your Inner Depths And Learn Something New About Yourself
The personalities of many polyglots, it seems, are somewhat different in each language they've mastered. Language is infused with nuanced intonations, accents, and gestures. You'll need to modify your typical social behavior to make room for this.
One of the finest reasons to study German if you're from a vague English-speaking culture is that this implies being straightforward in German. This may seem scary, but don't panic! As you practice new modes of expression and allow more of your unique character to emerge, you'll begin to see a natural shift in how others see you.
Try To Use Your Intellect More Often
Philosophy, science, history, literature, and the arts all benefit from having German as a common language. Working knowledge of German reading comprehension is often required for graduate study in these subjects. Learning German benefits your brain even if you never use it for something as lofty as gaining a master's or doctoral degree. Some studies have shown that learning a second language may delay the development of dementia, boost cognitive abilities like memory and problem-solving and even increase empathy. There is no valid excuse for not expanding one's linguistic horizons.
Learning German Is Not As Difficult As You May Believe
You would be forgiven for thinking it was a made-up story. However, consider the myriad of other spoken tongues in the world. If you were not born in China, Russia, or the Middle East, you probably do not know how to read those languages' alphabets. However, if you learn to use the letters ä, ö, u, and ß, you will be ready to tackle any German word. As a non-native speaker of German, you may not be aware of how many terms are interchangeable between the two languages. Because many words in both languages have the same Germanic origins: Wasser for water, Hand for Hand, Sing for singing, and Vater for a parent. There are a lot of parallels.
The German Economy Is Europe's Largest
Germany's economy was worth $3.4 trillion in 2015, making it the fourth biggest in the world behind China, the United States, and Japan. It has regained its previous position as the fourth largest exporter in the world. Its economy is much larger than that of the United Kingdom ($2.9 trillion) and France ($2.5 trillion), both European countries. It's also the headquarters for several multinational firms, like Volkswagen, Allianz, Birkenstock, Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, and many other household names worldwide. There are several ways in which German language proficiency stands out on a resume.
Science Nerds Should Learn German Since It Is An Essential Language For Their Field
The success of prominent German philosophers like Max Planck and Sigmund Freud at the start of the 20th century led many to predict that German would replace English as the language of science. War broke out, and in its wake, scientists in Belgium, France, and Britain encouraged worldwide boycotts of their German and Austrian counterparts. The Second World War did not help matters much. As a result, scientists in Europe began to disagree with one another. The Germans established their dominance over the central and eastern regions of Europe. In western Europe, French and English became the dominant languages.
After that, English became the de facto scientific language. Forcing scientists to research and publish in a language other than their native one is a source of concern, according to several of them. If you share my interest in science and want to get an advantage in comprehending the works of great German minds like Albert Einstein, learning German would be a huge help. As a bonus, you will be helping a worthy cause: preserving a bilingual scientific community.
Competition From The Market's Major Players
Germany's economy is the fourth biggest in the world. Does the prospect of working with a global market leader pique your interest? Companies based in Germany that are household names throughout the globe include Siemens, Volkswagen, Lufthansa, BMW, and Adidas. More and more cutting-edge new businesses are establishing roots in Berlin. Your chances of being hired by reputable companies will improve greatly if you learn German.
There Are Many Terms In German That Don't Have Any English Equivalents
One of its greatest strengths is the German language's ability to coin new, highly particular terms that capture the nuances of daily life better than their English counterparts. For example, the term "Schadenfreude" refers to the pleasure one experiences due to another person's suffering.
Online, German Is Quite Popular
You may avoid coming into contact with those 100,000,000 individuals altogether. The comfort of your own house is all that stands between you and this endeavour. A significant amount of the Internet is devoted to web pages written in German. Concerning country-specific domain extensions,.de (Germany) is far and away the most popular. Who else is in second place on the whole Internet? Germany, you are doing just fine.
The Germans Have Invaded Everywhere
You do not have to travel to a location where German is spoken or even seek out German speakers online; they will find you anyway. If you have ever travelled internationally, you have probably seen this scenario unfold. The people of Germany are known for their insatiable desire to see the globe. You may find them worldwide, enjoying over six weeks of vacation time and plenty of spare cash.
The Germans set a new benchmark for foreign tourism spending. They spend more time and money travelling the world than anybody else for a long time. Chinese visitors have just recently overtaken them. Despite this, in 2012, they spent an astounding $84 billion on vacations.
Those working in tourism who speaks German have a great opportunity to expand your customer base. Meeting a native German speaker might greatly enhance your chance of making new acquaintances when travelling.
Conclusion
German is not a naturally occurring language option among the many accessible around the globe. There must be some appeal to taking the German train for so many people. You may be wondering whether it is worthwhile to put in the effort to learn the Teutonic tongue if you are on the fence about whether or not to study a new language altogether. However, considering the size of the world, the number of individuals who speak German is rather small. However, there are several advantages to learning this language. Besides the obvious linguistic benefits, there are economic, social, and cultural upsides to learning a new language. Learning German will serve you well.
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