Why should you learn German?

Most people choose one or more languages in pursuit of practical objectives. From achieving a sense of personal fulfilment to getting a job promotion, accessing foreign training or simply travelling to a particular country to learn about its culture. English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are some of the most popular languages. But what do you know about German?

Within the European continent, German is one of the most representative languages. Its relevance in the translation market is indisputable and its international popularity has great potential. There are many reasons why studying German can be useful for you. We will tell you all about it. Take note!

1. 16% of the European population speaks German

Along with English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, German is one of the most widely spoken languages on the European continent. In total, it comprises more than 100 million native speakers. In addition to these, there are more than 70 million people who speak it as a second language. Its presence throughout Europe covers a wide range of countries and is therefore a standard feature of every translation company. Besides Germany, also Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have it as an official language.

On the other hand, it is easy to find it quite widely in other countries such as Hungary, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Beyond the continent, it is also possible to find countries where their proliferation is relatively widespread. Namibia and South Africa are some of them. There are also some offshoots of speakers abroad as a result of the migratory processes that took place at the beginning of the 20th century. Some of them are located in regions of Australia, Brazil, Chile or Mexico.

2. Germany is one of the main employment engines on the European continent

Proficiency in German increases your chances of finding a job. In fact, the working conditions that can be found in foreign job offers are usually substantially better. In addition, emigrating abroad for a certain period of time can be a fantastic opportunity to accumulate merits and enrich your CV in order to opt for new employment opportunities, for example, in a translation company.

One of the professional sectors with the highest demand for professionals is the health sector, although education, translation and IT also stand out.

3. You will also have opportunities abroad

Having an advanced level of German can translate into great job opportunities all over the world. Germany has a large number of multinational companies spread across different countries. The presence of powerful brands such as Volkswagen, Siemens or Nivea opens the doors to a very interesting market not only in Europe, but also in other countries and continents.

The other countries with German as an official language also have a very powerful labour market. Switzerland is one of the continent's economic mainsprings as well as one of the destinations offering the highest quality working conditions.

4. You will be able to access good quality education

German can also open doors to particularly good education systems. Most German-speaking countries have high-level training programmes with scholarships for foreign students who want to enrich their curricula within their universities.
To be eligible for such opportunities, it is necessary to have an advanced level of German, but the reputation of these institutions is certainly a good reason to start this process.

5. Why should you study German?

The decision to learn a new language may be subject to different goals. Some people are driven by curiosity, a passion for translation or a need for self-realisation. However, the fact remains that there are some languages which, because of their implications, have major indirect benefits. This is the case for particularly globalised languages such as Chinese or English.

German has a very interesting link with the professional and academic sphere and learning it, as well as being an open door to an interesting cultural or tourist scene, represents great employment opportunities. It is not only the most widely spoken language on the European continent. It is also the language of one of the most important economic powers in the world and therefore constitutes interesting opportunities of long-term integration.