Why Learn German?

There are many reasons to learn German at GSSB and to dive deep into German culture: Our fantastic teachers, a close community of fellow students, and fun activities in and out of class are just some of them.

Language

In Europe, about 100 Million people speak German as their native language: German is the only official language of both Germany and Austria. It is also one of the official languages of Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Speaking German opens numerous opportunities for international careers not only in German-speaking countries but all over the world!

Culture

Germany has a tremendously rich cultural heritage which continues to impact the US. With an estimated size of approximately 43 million in 2019, German Americans are the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups in the US. German speaking composers, philosophers, and authors have changed the way we think and live. An understanding of German culture helps us to explore the many facets of a long history, traditions, and current developments. All GSSB students are invited to take part in German cultural events such as Oktoberfest, Lanternwalk, Fasching etc.

Science

German is Europe’s science powerhouse and one of the most important languages in the scientific community. For high-quality research output, German ranks third in the world after the United States and China. From 2015 to 2019, Germany accounted for 24% of total share of research publications in Europe and 7.5% of the total global Share. It is not surprising that Germany hosts more than 400,000 international students as of 2022 statistics – Germany ranks in the top five countries in the world by the number of international students!