"Why am I learning German," you ask?
Welcome to eighth grade, where you have the opportunity to learn a little about the German, French and Spanish language and culture. The main questions we ask are: "what makes German stand out?" and "why is German important to learn?" The answers: There are many things that make German both fun and important to learn!
So you already have some perfectly good reasons for learning German ... Maybe you want to be able to communicate with relatives , or to travel to Germany during your summer break, or prepare yourself for 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 beginning your study of the language, here are some reasons why German may be for you!
- More people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe . It's no wonder, since Germany's 83 million inhabitants make it the most populous European nation. But not only the residents of Germany speak German. It is also an official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. (This makes up a large portion of Europe!!)
- While learning German can connect you to 120 million native speakers around the globe , 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.
- Germany has the third largest economy in the world and is the economic powerhouse of the European Union. They are a leader in technology and pharmaceuticals , and their auto industry is among the worlds best. (think Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen...)You may have heard of some of these multinational corporations: BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Infineon, BASF, and many others.
- If you're American or are interested in American culture, learning German can expand your appreciation and knowledge of U.S. history and culture. In the year 2000 census, 42.8 million or 15.2% of Americans reported having German ancestry, making German Americans the largest single heritage group in the U.S.
- If English is your native language, or if you already know English, then you already have an advantage when it comes to learning German. Because modern German and modern English both evolved from the common ancestor language Germanic, the two languages share many similarities in both vocabulary and grammar
- German is required or recommended by many undergraduate and graduate programs
- AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND AND GERMANY ARE EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN AND FRIENDLY COUNTRIES, AND WOULD MAKE A GREAT VACATION! (See all the pictures as proof!) :-)