Australia

What does German mean to me? When I think of Germany I think of Lufthansa jets gliding through the fog before descending upon Frankfurt Airport in mid-winter. Of course, I know that there is so much more to the country than this simple, ingenuous view, but I enjoy picturing the landscape and the weather, both of which are polarities to Australia. My first, albeit very brief, visit to Germany was in Leipzig with my family in December 2004. I was only there for 2 nights, but that was more than enough time to explore the Altstadt and surrounding areas. I left the Bahnhof and entered the forest of antique buildings and at once I was gripped by the beauty of the architecture: the cobble-stoned roads, the picturesque churches, the delicate town hall and the vibrant market places. The shot of cold air swirled around me as I walked down many narrow alleyways that I can so vividly remember. I must admit that before going, I was disappointed that we were not going to Berlin, but the radiance of Leipzig captured me, and I long to return for a much longer period of time, not only to enjoy the splendours of the city, but also to perfect my German. I have learned German for 3 years and I can say without a hint of hesitation that I have thoroughly enjoyed these 3 years. I am learning German in school not only because I want to go to the country and visit many of its cities, but also because I have a British passport, which from an economic point of view, allows me to work and live in Europe. But to do either of these things requires a firm knowledge of the language, and I take great pleasure in learning German. I enjoy reading, writing, and even the toughest part in my opinion, German grammar! I am learning French along with German, and I intend to continue both of these subjects to the end of high school. German means much more to me than reading Rotkäppchen in the classroom on a Friday afternoon. Learning German has expanded my life; I have discovered another path to follow for my future. Learning German has given me many opportunities: I can meet many new people, and learn a new, exciting culture, I can find a profession in another country, and I can broaden my knowledge of Germany. All of these aspects of learning German have influenced my person and my life. And thanks to learning German, my future is not so closed-off; in today’s age of technology and communication it is indispensable to learn another modern language. Learning more than one is even more beneficial, and the stronger you become in the language, the more numerous the possibilities for you become.

Learning German has opened up my life and it has also changed myself. I can now learn and appreciate other cultures and I realise that there is a whole other world out there waiting to be explored, which is far more exciting and enjoyable than day-to-day life, had I not taken up German.