It is now two years ago, since German (and Latin) was cut from our middle school curriculum. Students in grades 5-8 in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District now (only) have the choice between Spanish and French.
AP classes in German and Latin at Conestoga High School will therefore soon cease to exist as well, as incoming freshmen will not have had the chance to learn these languages earlier. However, we do have an excellent German and Latin program!And yes, every student in the US should learn at least some basic Spanish, and French is a beautiful language...
Please take a few minutes and read why German is a very smart choice for anyone to learn:
1. German is the one of the most Spoken Languages in Europe
German is a popular language around Europe as a native language and has a second language. Germany is one of the most populated areas of the European Union. It is also an official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. And it is the native language of a significant portion of the population in northern Italy, eastern Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, eastern France, parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Romania, as well as in other parts of Europe.
2. German Immigrants influence on American Culture
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A good amount of the original immigrants to America were German and with them brought many customs and traditions with them to America. Cultural mainstays such as kindergarten, the Christmas tree, hotdogs/hamburgers/ketchup, and founded many breweries as well as Levi jeans and Hershey’s chocolate were introduced by German immigrants to America. It is estimated that One out of every four Americans nationwide has German heritage.
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3. Foreign Business Opportunities with German Businesses
Knowledge in a second language increases your potential business opportunities cause businesses planning to break into international markets should understanding that communicating in your target demographic native languages increases confidence and builds trust among both parties.
4. Some of the Greatest Discoveries Were Done by German Scientists
From Gutenberg’s printing press to Hertz’ discovery of electromagnetic waves, from Ehrlich’s development of chemotherapy to Einstein’s theory of relativity, to Brandenburg’s creation of the MP3 digital music format, throughout history Germans have proven themselves time and again to be great innovators.
5. German’s Importance to the World’s Economy
Germany has the third largest economy in the world and is one of the biggest exporters
6. Tons of Great Literature And Music in German
German speakers produce nearly 80,000 new book titles each year. Munich, Germany is second only to New York in number of new books produced each year and roughly as little as 5% of those are translated into English and other world languages. Most of the world’s famous composers were German.
7. Rich Cultural History of German on the World
Apart from their impact on American culture, Germany has a wealth of history and art of it’s own. Germany is referred to as “the land of Dichter und Denker” or “the land of poets and thinkers”
8. Academic Reasons to Learn German
Considering the importance of the German language in the fields of publishing and research, it’s not surprising that many graduate schools want their graduates to have at least a reading knowledge of German. Knowing German gives graduates access to important research published in German books and professional journals. Many of the world’s governments and agencies have been offering scholarships and other opportunities for individuals who are interested in German studies and learning German.
9. Learn German as a Hobby/Love of Learning Languages
Maybe you are just one of those people that just enjoy learning languages for the fun of it! Once you’ve mastered the urge to learn more becomes pretty strong. Contrary to popular opinion, not much confusion happens between languages.
10. German is a Easy Second Language to Learn for English Speakers
English and German both come from the Germanic language and are pretty similar in vocabulary and grammar. There is a good chance you already understand a little German already.
"Meine Schwester hat braunes Haar. Sie ist intelligent. Sie studiert Medizin in Berlin. Sie kann gut singen."
If you understand that with little to no problem then learning German should be no problem for you.
German is truly an amazing language to learn. I hope you find this article helpful in narrowing and strengthening your reasons to learn German.
