3 min read

Do you really need to learn German to live in Germany?

This question may particularly come up for Expats who will only live in Germany for a limited period of time - particularly if their children attend an International School.

The answer it "yes!" if you want the ability to communicate in your everyday life: with neighbours, local friends, your hair-dresser, shop assistants, government officials and others around you - no matter whether you live in a city or in the countryside.

Learning the language will make all the difference

Learning the language will make the difference between just residing in your new community and truly living in it. It will help you to understand the new culture and integrate into it.

And, most important of all, it will make your life so much easier.

Language is the way to the people’s heart!

Using the local language will send a message of respect.

Making friends with locals will also be easier when you can take part in their conversations and understand their jokes!

And even in the areas where most people speak English well: if you want take part in social life, you will need to learn the local language.

Common misconceptions about learning the local language

What holds people back can also be a wrong idea about learning the local language when you are living in the country.

While some people underestimate the learning process, others may be intimidated: is it still possible to learn a new language at my age?

Living in a new country and being surrounded by the language does not mean, that you will simply acquire it the way your child might do in the nursery.

But on the other hand, it is definitely possible for adults, to learn a new language and to even reach a very good level in a reasonable amount of time – even if it happens to be their first new language.

Of course, you will need a method that is designed for adults and that uses real communication to really practice what you have learned.

This is very difficult to do without some sort of a classroom context or a native speaker. You cannot learn how to speak in new language from apps and books alone: you need to communicate with another speaker.

Without that bit of practice, the transition to the native speaking environment will remain very difficult – just like having a driving licence won’t make you a good driver if you never practice driving yourself.

Language Course or individual classes

An approach used frequently by newcomers to Germany is enrolling in a group course or individual classes offered by a local language school or tutors.

It is also important to choose a course that really fits your needs.

There is a huge variety in the possible content. After all, university students who are used to studying, will have a different vocabulary and a different pace than business-people who need to fit the course into a busy schedule or sleep-deprived mums with toddlers.

Not only the content, but also the intensity varies between intense full time courses and weekly lessons.

At CharLingua, it is my goal to provide tailormade courses that will fit your personal circumstances or needs – and that can be adapted easily if those circumstances should be changing.

Language is an important part of the culture –

and you won’t be able to get or understand one without the other!