Learn German

So you already have some perfectly good reasons for learning German. Maybe you want to communicate with relatives or travel to Germany during your summer break or prepare yourself to study in a German-speaking country. Maybe a German exchange student sparked your interest, or you have a friend who recommended it or you just like the way the language sounds. Just in case you need some reassurance in your decision or the final push toward taking the plunge, here are some solid reasons why learning German may be the right choice for you.

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1. German is the most widely spoken language in Europe.

 

While learning German can connect you to 120 million native speakers worldwide, remember that many people also learn German as a second language. It is the 3rd most popular foreign language taught worldwide and the second most popular in Europe and Japan, after English.

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2. Germany has the 3rd most robust economy and is the #1 export nation in the world.

 

 Germany has the third-largest economy in the world and is the economic powerhouse of the European Union. In 2007 -- for the 5th year in a row and despite the euro currency's strength -- the Germans were world champions in exports. The country exported 940 billion US dollars worth of goods, just ahead of the US exports. From cars to machinery and industrial equipment, from pharmaceuticals to household goods, German businesses earn 1 in 3 euros through export, and 1 in 4 jobs depends on exports. The competitiveness and desirability of German products on the market are indicated by the country's substantial trade surplus, which reached 162 billion euros (209 billion dollars) in 2006 and continues to grow every year.

Moreover, do not forget that Switzerland, another German-speaking country, has one of the highest standards of living in the world.​

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3. Knowing German creates business opportunities.

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 Germany's economic strength equals business opportunities. If you are looking for employment in the United States, knowing German can give you significant advantages. German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the United States, and US companies have created approximately the same number of jobs in Germany. All other things being equal, the job candidate with German skills will trump the one without such skills every time. Most surveyed companies in the United States would choose someone with German literacy over an equally qualified candidate.

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4. Germans are innovators.

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 From Gutenberg's printing press to Hertz's discovery of electromagnetic waves, from Ehrlich's development of chemotherapy to Einstein's theory of relativity, Brandenburg's creation of the MP3 digital music format, throughout history, Germans have proven themselves time and again to be great innovators. That trend continues today. 4 of the world's 10 most innovative companies are located in Germany. At 12.7% of the world's patent applications, the country ranks 3rd in the world. Consequently, 200,000 businesses introduce new products on the market each year.Given the Germans' commitment to innovation, it is perhaps not surprising that two-thirds of the world's leading international trade fairs occur in Germany. These include CeBIT, the world's largest trade fair for information and communications technology, and the IFA consumer electronics trade fair.