Why learn German...
when the Germans can speak English?
Not all Germans can speak English!
When studying in Germany and Austria, I found that "not everyone could speak
English." In fact, many had poor English abilities, if any at all. It's a myth that the whole world speaks English.
- Contributed by Bob Jenkins
When somebody tells me 'everybody in Germany speaks English', I usually say, 'yes, of course, everybody you talked with spoke English (because those were the only ones you could talk to)'.
- Contributed by Joseph Wilson
In 1992, when we did our first exchange, a friend of mine planned to join us halfway through. Since we were in Ulm at the time, it meant he had to fly to Frankfurt by himself, get through the airport to the downstairs train station, and take the train to Stuttgart, where we would pick him up. My friend could say "Kartoffeln,", "Aschenbecher", "Bier," and "Ich liebe dich" at the time, none of which seemed very helpful; but I assured him that at the Frankfurt airport there would be lots of people who spoke English and would help him get to his destination. For safety sake, I wrote him out a sheet of phrases in German and English, but felt sure it was unnecessary. Low and behold, NO ONE answered his questions in English, no one understood what he was asking. But he had to rely on his emergency phrases to get to his Bahnsteig. So, unless you plan on sticking to tour groups and never strike out on your own (blah!), you really can't count on "everyone" speaking English.
Then my cousin from Ost-Berlin and her family visited us in 1993. Because they had grown up in the DDR [former East Germany], neither she nor her husband spoke any English--their foreign languages were Russian and French! There's about 20% of the German population--former DDR-ers of pre-Wende education.
The principal at our exchange school, a delightful and highly intelligent man, is a former Latin teacher--he does NOT speak English!
- Contributed by Nella Spurlin
1. Older people don't necessarily speak English. If you want to talk to Opa, you'd better know his language.
2. While many do speak it, they might not be good at it - meet them in the middle.
3. Signs, books, TV, etc. are still in German, and not every restaurant will have a translated menu.
- Contributed by Lisa Kerwin
Those who do speak English may not be any good at it!
Knowing English and being comfortable speaking it are two different things as well. I know many Germans who are very good in English, but they don't like to speak it. Especially when they are middle-aged the Gymnasium English class is a long way away and their confidence wanes.
- Contributed by Gretchen LaTurner
I found in my travels that in some areas it was easier speaking German than trying to make myself understood in, e.g., Italian or Greek when the shop owner didn't understand much English.
- Contributed by Kevin Fulton
You can't really understand them
unless you know their language!
I recently heard someone tell of an incident where two young people met, and the German was able to speak English with the American. The observer said: (something like) "Now that person has learned a lot about you, and he's gotten inside your culture. But you cannot say the same. You learned some bits of information, but you did not enter his world." Think of the advantages those Germans have learning OUR language! Should we leave them with that advantage?
You can GET BY in another country with English, but you EXPERIENCE that country when you know it's language!
- Contributed by Kim Lauzon
Several years ago the English teachers from our exchange school, myself and one non-German speaking American were sitting in a lovely Italian Bistro having supper in Germany. Since everyone was able to speak English, our non-German-speaking colleague had no problem...for the first 45 minutes or so. But as the evening wore on and became more enjoyable with food, drink and conversation and laughter, the conversation shifted to German between the German English teachers, since they were talking about "mundane" things like their children, extended families, where they going on vacation, politics, community events...all things which they assumed our non-German speaking colleague probably had no interest in, BUT what I feel, are topics which allow you to really get to know another culture, another people, what makes them tick. I ALWAYS learn SO much, and KNOW SO much is missed when you don't understand/speak the native language.
My husband does just great with his high school German and whatever he's been able to glean from tapes and being married to someone who comes from German parents. He just jumps right into any conversation. He understands almost everything on television and what he reads from German newspapers.... so I don't worry about leaving him with my relatives while I shop. We have two children. Both attend [a] German Immersion School. NOT ONCE did I have to translate for them during our 3-week trip to Germany this past June. I can imagine how tiring it would have been if I would have had to translate everything for all three. My children NOW understand what a special education they have. The extra time spent doing German homework in elementary school is certainly worth it!!!!!
My point is: IF you want to REALLY get to know a people, you need to know their language; the one in which they best express themselves!
- contributed by Erika H. Guth-Degner