Why study German? - Reasons of our course participants

Learners of German at the worldwide network of Goethe-Institutes have been asked the question "What does German mean to you? What impact did learning German have on your life and your
personal / professional development?"

Here are some of the students’ answers to why they learned German, which range from political enlightenment, joy of immersion in the arts to enhanced chances for research and study, desired career opportunities and broadening of personal horizons.
Which would be your motivation to learn German?

I started learning German because I needed a new challenge. For a long time I had been bored at work, always performing the same tasks. One option would have been to study a profession, but this would have still be too limiting as I wanted to learn more about the world outside my country. As it would be too difficult for me to suddenly move to another country, I decided to learn another language.

Above all, I want to learn German because I want to understand the culture; and the language is the key to any culture and its idiosyncrasies.

I like the language structure; it is like a Lego game kit, where new words can be created by putting two or three other words together. My favourite so far: Sonnenuntergang.

I work in marketing and often need to call Germany. Although many people speak English, it is helpful in my profession to learn German.

I began studying German about two years ago because my partner’s family comes from Germany. My inability to speak any German and their inability to speak any English made it very hard for us to get to know one another. I value family very much and not being able to share their stories, laugh at a joke together, or even ask how his mom prepared that delicious meal we just ate was very difficult for me. Although it is a long and slow journey, studying German at the Goethe-Institut has allowed me to read the thoughtful cards, I am sent for my birthday, provide updates on my life, exchange those recipes and most importantly become a part of the family.

When asking what learning German
Has come to mean to me
I have to state it’s more
Than “setting my tongue free”

It includes appreciation
For a culture rich and bold
It’s expanding my horizons
Developing friendships new and old.

I am a first generation German Canadian who is very proud of his heritage. By studying I feel closer to the proud heritage household in which I grew up. Studying German enriches me as an individual who can contribute to the Canadian mosaic.

The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce had offered me a job at their Bangalore office although I did not know a word of German. But it was made clear to me that learning German was an essential part of the job. This was what made me enroll for my first course in German. (…)

The famous German Wilhelm von Humboldt once clearly stated that the character and structure of a language express the inner life and knowledge of its people and that languages differ from one another in the same way and to the same extent as those who use them. When we learn a foreign language, we can not only communicate better but also understand the culture.

I am a doctoral student at the Institute for Political Science of the Polish Academy of Science, and postgraduate student at the Collegium Civitas - Social Science University, currently preparing my doctoral dissertation in history. My main field of interest are Polish-German relations in the second half of the 20th century. (…)

My main motivation to learn German is my dissertation. At least half of the sources for my doctoral thesis are in German. I am also planning to spend some time doing research in Germany (literature, archives etc.) and to study at one of the universities. This would be very complicated without a good knowledge of German.

When you learn a foreign language you get the same weird feeling you do when you take off your sunglasses on a bright, sunny day. Suddenly, your eyes see light and the images around you become more vivid than ever before. (…)

I am glad that both my German language skills and the knowledge of their culture give me a big advantage at work. I can predict how Germans will think differently from the Japanese and react accordingly. I am well prepared and communication is usually a success. Furthermore, I am pleased that I can help my Japanese colleagues, who do not speak German, to understand the German way of thinking, or to describe how the Germans perceive the Japanese, especially when there appears to be a misunderstanding. Learning about another culture also gave me a deeper understanding of my own country, Japan.
Quelle: Bridging the world, Goethe-Institut Australien