Why learn the German language?

German is the third or fourth most popular foreign language world-wide. German is more important than ever as the first language of business, diplomacy and tourism in Eastern Europe. German is also central to Western Europe as the language of Germany, Austria, and the largest portion of Switzerland, as well as Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, areas of Northern Italy, Eastern Belgium and Eastern France. More Europeans (~93 million) are native speakers of German than of English, French, Italian (~60 million each) or Spanish (36 million). But there are other reasons to learn German:

German’s is a major force in a consolidating Europe and economically the most important member of the European Union. Germany has the third-highest GNP in the world, is the second highest creditor nation, and every year occupies one of the top three spots among exporting countries. From a cultural and scientific point, the German-speaking world has made enormous contributions to world culture, whether in the areas of music, art, literature, philosophy, education, or science. To cite just a few examples, our understanding of education and the liberal arts is indebted to Wilhelm von Humboldt; of relativity to Einstein; of social theory to Max Weber; of the human mind to Freud. It should be noted that German philosophy (particularly Nietzsche, who heavily influenced recent French philosophy) has been essential to contemporary understandings of diversity and multiculturalism. A knowledge of German significantly enriches one’s understanding of this tradition; indeed, foundational texts are read in translation only at a considerable loss.

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Learn German in Berlin
 
Why this German course?
  
German Courses in Berlin
   
Language School
  
Accommodation
   
Berlin
   
Success Factors   
       (for learning German)

Why learn German