Is life too short to learn German?

German generally gives its non-native speakers an initial impression of a complex language that takes an eternity to master. You may have heard of a poem by Mark Twain that scares many people learning German:

"If he had known what it cost me to acquire my art, he would also have known that it would break any collector to buy it. [...] A person who has not studied German can have no idea of what a bewildering language it is". He also cited several examples like "Adjektiv-Deklination", "Kasus", "Geschlecht" to explain how horrible this language is. "If it is to remain as it is, it must be gently and respectfully laid aside among the dead languages, for only the dead have time to learn it."

While this may be true, at least for grammar, we just want to tell you that there is nothing you cannot do if you work hard! Look at the people around you, your German teacher, and the former students who come from your home country — they also went through these difficulties and managed to master this language! Don't you want to become like them in the future?

Besides the grammar examples cited by Mark Twain and mentioned in this article, there must be many other reasons why German is still considered a complicated language. One of them, for example, is pronunciation. Most learners are used to the "soft" pronunciation of English. So it is difficult for them to change their way of speaking another foreign language. But you might find that after 2 years of practice, you will reach a certain level and find the method that works for you to speak German. Another reason should be the "false friends" between German and English, which will confuse you, especially at the beginning of learning German. You will know exactly what we mean if you see the following examples:

• das Gymnasium = secondary school ; le gymnase = die Turnhalle
• brav = well-behaved ; brave = tapfer
• das Baiser = meringue ; le baiser = der Kuss
• das Büro = office (the room, the place) ; le bureau = der Schreibtisch
• hier = here ; hier = yesterday

What level should your German be for everyday life and university life?

For everyday life, you don't need to speak advanced German, but you will need basic German knowledge for communication. If you have excellent language skills, you can settle in faster, make more friends, and participate in programs or workshops that can only be conducted in German. You will be able to communicate more effectively and, above all, you will have the chance to discover the country from a different angle than when you only speak English. If you speak the language, you engage more deeply with the culture, thus establishing a personal connection with the country. In general, having some knowledge of the German language, preferably at B1 level, will be useful.

For academic activities, it depends on whether you have chosen a course in English or in German. While the former only requires you to be excellent in English, the latter is much more demanding in terms of German language skills. You will need an advanced language level and, in most cases, an academic language. As a student who has completed secondary education, you must take the testAS and have at least B1 level. However, it is difficult to study in a foreign language, so the more you master the language, the better you will be able to do your studies. Additional preparation is necessary to reach B2 level. And to be more practical, C2 level is strongly recommended. At C2 level, you can easily convey your ideas in any situation and engage in your new learning environment where you are surrounded by native speakers and complex terminologies.

German dialects

Dialects are part of all spoken languages in the world. Dialects can differ in pronunciation, rhythm, or word usage. For example, in Bavaria, Hamburg, the Rhineland, and Berlin, locals speak slightly different German dialects. You will get to know the regional variations when you talk to the locals. Instead of being afraid of not understanding German dialects, be excited because you can learn more about the interesting aspects of the German language through these different dialects.

Don't worry either if dialects become a huge communication barrier at the beginning. Although they sometimes forget to speak Hochdeutsch (standard German), most Germans will make the effort because they know you are a foreigner. Everything takes time and practice, so relax and try to get used to the German language of your region quickly. Don't be afraid of making mistakes or anything like that because they are part of every learning process.

German learning options: what can I do to learn German or improve my German skills?

If you can already speak German, then we recommend that you engage in a German-speaking environment.

• Make lots of German friends. With your German friends, you can exchange ideas in culinary and cultural fields, where you can bring them delicious traditional dishes from your country and vice versa. Your friends can also show you around cities and introduce you to many cool things.
• Participate in extracurricular activities at the university, such as intercultural programs or summer festivals. There, to have fun and experience the atmosphere, you will have no choice but to speak German.
• Join study groups. By doing so, you will have more friends not only from Germany but also from other countries.
• Watch television and read the news in German. This will help you improve your vocabulary and grammar and understand German in a more practical context.

If you don't speak German yet, think about taking a course at a language center near you or you can learn the language online. If you opt for the second option, you can check out this article about online German learning platforms. We have some interesting suggestions that we think you will enjoy.