Reasons to learn German
It is never too late to start a language. A little steady effort pays off quickly: one day you follow the gist of a conversation, the next you read an article without reaching for a translation tool. Even where English is widely spoken, speaking the other person’s language puts you on equal terms.
German opens doors in Europe
German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union. Count Germany’s 83 million inhabitants, add Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, and the German-speaking communities in South Tyrol, eastern Belgium and southern Denmark. German is an official language in six countries, and Germany is one of the UK’s largest trading partners.
Most German speakers in business also speak English. Willy Brandt, the former West German chancellor, summed up why that is not the whole story: “If I’m selling to you, I speak your language. If I’m buying, dann müssen Sie Deutsch sprechen.”
A second language gives you an edge
Young people in Britain lag well behind their European peers in speaking a second language, which makes German a real differentiator on a CV. You needn’t be fluent: a few basics can open doors and make business in Germany easier.
The benefits go beyond work. Research links bilingualism to sharper memory and a later onset of dementia, and one study found that learning a language makes parts of the brain grow.
Studying in Germany
Most public universities in Germany charge no tuition fees, only a modest semester contribution, and living costs outside Munich and Hamburg are often lower than in the UK. A degree there can leave you with far less debt.
German and English are close relatives
German and English grew from the same West Germanic roots. Centuries ago, a trader from Hamburg and one from Winchester might have understood each other with little more than a shrug at the accent. A great vowel shift and a few French and Scandinavian influences later, the family likeness still shows: house and Haus, beer and Bier, wine and Wein, make and machen, say and sagen, round and rund.
Plenty of people are already learning German for these reasons. If you are weighing up how to learn German, compare the options first.
Does it sound like a good idea? Start with private German lessons in London or an online German course.