Culture Vulture
German for the 21st Century
Australia has a less-than-stellar level of multilingual achievement. But we’re not alone: in the UK, perceptions about the commercial and cultural value of knowing German is leading people away from learning this complex language and ironically, improving the prospects of those who are still putting in the effort. And for Australians who want to work in Europe, knowing a continential language such as German remains a valuable career skill.
There is a common misconception that German is a ‘dying language’, fading in terms of global relevance and employability, in comparison with French or Spanish. Many seem unaware of German culture and its significance in the European market: German has never been a more useful and employable language for students and job-seekers alike.
The most obvious advantage of learning a language is the additional benefits one will gain from being able to converse and socialise with those of a different culture. Recently, due to an explosion in popularity of holidays to France or Spain, Germany has very much fallen by the wayside in terms of being a ‘leisure destination’. For this reason, numerous high ranking officials in the education sector are claiming that, from a global perspective, German is losing its value. Although the German economy has admittedly decreased since the reunification of the East and West, the claim that the language has no economic merit is simply not true.
The truth is that as of 2010, German is (and for the most part, always has been) the official trade language of the Eastern European market. This includes obviously large industries such as Poland, in addition to many countries neighbouring Russia, such as Lithuania. All of these Eastern-European countries are significant resources of capital waiting to be tapped. Many multinational companies will insist on employing those with an at least rudimentary knowledge of German; and of course, the demand for German-speaking interpreters and German-speaking advisors is as high as it has ever been. These are not hallmarks of a language in decline.
Certain sectors of education in the European Union, the UK in particular, have decided to make significant cuts in the languages budget, rendering Modern Foreign Language or MFL departments more ‘cost effective’ by taking German off the syllabus. This essentially means that the demand for German speakers in the job market has not waned but, ironically, increased significantly. In fact, even possessing a relatively low qualification such as a British GCSE (a two year course taken around the age of fifteen) in German will noticeably improve a candidate’s employability.
“...the demand for German-speaking interpreters and German-speaking advisors is as high as it has ever been.”
The cuts have also increased the demand for German students at the level of higher education. Due to such limitations of German teaching at a secondary or high school level, many universities are finding it difficult to fill places for courses which include German. It also means that those applying for highly competitive courses at prestigious establishments like Oxford or Cambridge will improve their chances of gaining a place should they apply for German. Meanwhile, courses for other popular subjects such as English or History are being overwhelmed by an enormous number of students, which sometimes forces admission tutors to reject talented and highly competent candidates.
The academic reputation of a degree in German is just as high, if not higher, than other languages because employers recognise that its complicated grammar and sentence structures are challenging to master. Those who choose to study for a degree in German are therefore more likely to gain a place at a prestigious University and will be far more employable when they enter the European job market.
From the perspective of entertainment and leisure, some of the most critically acclaimed films and actors of the past ten years have been either German natives, or of German origin. Till Schweiger, a much loved German heart throb, gained international fame for his portrayal of a soldier in Quentin Tarantino’s recent blockbuster ‘Inglorious Basterds (sic).’ By the same token, the German film ‘Das Leben Der Anderen,’ (The Lives of Others) exploring the dark side of German socialism, was equally successful. Anyone who chooses to study German will therefore experience no shortage in culture and will be familiar with a wide variety of international icons.
Finally, German writers such as Goethe and Schiller are some of the most well respected writers in the world. Friedrich Nietzsche too was a German whose philosophy has had an absolutely enormous influence on the literature and film of the twentieth century, as have the bizarre novels of German speaking author Franz Kafka. Moving further on into the twentieth century, the Berliner metal band ‘Rammstein,’ exploded onto the international media scene in the late nineties, provoking acclaim and controversy in equal measure. The influence of German upon the Arts is so significant that it spans across nearly all centuries and genres.
Therefore one cannot claim that German is a language in decline which has lost its commercial or cultural value. On the contrary, German speakers continue to lead the way in groundbreaking films and other artistic innovations, and a reasonable grasp of the language is absolutely vital for those seeking success in the Eastern European market. Anyone who is deliberating as to whether they should begin learning German, either at College or in a professional environment, should not hesitate. German will truly enrich your employability and diversity as an individual.
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For More Information
German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce
The German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK) is the official representation of the German economy in Australia. The AHK promotes bilateral trade, advises German and Australian companies on market developments and supports the expansion of their business networks. The AHK also organises events and provides a broad portfolio of market entry services.
SBS German Lanugage Homepage
SBS was founded on the belief that all Australians, regardless of geography, age, cultural background or language skills should have access to high quality, independent, culturally-relevant Australian media. It boadcasts in 68 languages on radio, 60 on television and 50 online.
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