Is German language necessary to survive in Germany (2023)

FAQs

Can you survive in Germany without speaking German? ›

Can you live in Germany without knowing German? It is just about possible to live in Germany without knowing much German. But in order to find employment and to fully integrate into society, you will need to be able to speak and read German to a good standard, especially if you live outside the major cities.

Long story short: You can survive in Germany without knowing the German language; most Germans speak English, the train usually runs announcements in English and in restaurants or bars, waiters and waitresses often speak English, especially in the city center.

Overall: you can live in Germany without speaking German, but whether you'll enjoy it is another matter.

Do I need to speak German? The language of instruction at most universities in Germany is German. All students undertaking a German-taught program will need to be able to demonstrate a firm knowledge of the language, either by means of a language test result or by taking a preparatory course.

In short, finding a job in Germany without speaking German will require you to think strategically about what types of companies to apply to and diversify the ways you learn about and apply to jobs. This path will take a bit more time and effort, but good jobs are out there and they are indeed attainable.

Although you can work in Germany as an EU citizen with English language skills, we recommend that you learn some German. You will have an easier time communicating with your colleagues and with the authorities. Above all, if you know German well, you can get better paid jobs.

But what makes German so hard to learn? The only reason that German seems so difficult to people is that it has grammar rules that other languages don't. German is a language with relatively high “inflection,” meaning that the words in a sentence change based on their grammatical roles.

Simply put, no! To study at a German university, you don't need to speak German as long as you meet the minimum language requirements for your desired degree program. However, you will have more options if you consider programs that are taught in English AND German.

Learn German for jobs in Germany: If you want to work and live in Germany as a non-EU citizen, you need to have a good knowledge of the German language. For most jobs in Germany, good German language skills are not only a prerequisite by the employing companies but also a condition in get a visa for Germany.

Is German still a useful language? ›

German is an important language in academia

In fact, it ranks second as the most commonly used scientific language. One of the reasons for this is that the German book market is the third largest in the world, right after the Chinese and English publishing industries.

German is an excellent language to learn in preparation for professional careers in international business or law, engineering, government and international affairs, economics and finance, and education, as well as for academic careers in such fields as history, religion, philosophy, art history, political science, ...

The global career: Knowledge of German increases your job opportunities with German and foreign companies in your own country and abroad. Proficiency in German helps you to function productively for an employer with global business connections.

Learning to speak German is a challenge, but it's the tenth most-spoken language in the world. It's, therefore, one which is very much worth learning, so that you're able to communicate with over 200 million people. One of the best ways to absorb a language is to force yourself to speak it every day.

According to a survey, skilled workers in construction and skilled trades, with a total of 349,275 jobs available and technical specialists (282,941 jobs), are in demand in the German labour market.

A residence visa is required if you intend to stay in Germany for more than 90 days for work or study or if you intend to move to Germany permanently.

Applying for a work permit with a job offer

If you have received a job offer from a company in Germany, don't need to speak German to move to obtain a Visa. German companies and international companies are increasingly using English as a working language or working bilingually.

And yet, many people have lived in Germany for many years without learning much of the language, and they seem to do just fine. Places like Berlin are particularly accommodating to non-German speakers, being home to vast communities of expats who share a common language.

German is rated as a category 2 language and considered to be similar to English. The FSI estimates that German takes approximately 30 weeks, or 750 classroom hours to learn. This study was conducted on a group of language students who spent 25 hours per week in class, and three hours daily on individual practice.

Although it's possible to find a job in Germany with only speaking English, knowing German will skyrocket your chances. Of course, there are plenty of international job positions that only require the English language, but these tend to be more competitive, so speaking at least some German is a huge asset.

What is the best country to move to from USA? ›

The Winner: The Best Place To Live

The best destination to live as an expat in 2022? Mexico is the winner, with 91% of expats saying they are happy with their life South of the Border. Drilling down, Mexico ranks first for the ease of settling in and second for personal finances.

With plenty of straightforward rules, German is not actually as hard to learn as most people think. And since English and German stem from the same language family, you might actually be surprised at the things you pick up without even trying! And on top of it all, it's definitely a useful one, too.

1. Eichhörnchen (Squirrel) Also a difficult one in English, this is a classic when it comes to difficult German words to pronounce.

Because there are few pronunciation rules

Unlike English, for instance, where every word is pronounced in its own way or French, where to rules are so severe and dictations are done even in the most progressed course levels.

If you take care to consciously listen to your German audio, you'll quickly start to pick up new German skills through osmosis, also known as “passive listening.” This is when you absorb new vocabulary and grammar concepts just by being exposed to the language.

German is the fourth most used language online and is the world's third most significant contributor to research and development. As a result, knowing German can be essential to succeeding in these fields globally.

If “useful” is about the sheer number of people you'll be able to converse with, French beats German easily. There are 267 million French speakers in the world, compared to 155 million German speakers. In terms of career opportunities, French and German are both very in-demand as business languages.

Applying for a work permit with a job offer

If you have received a job offer from a company in Germany, don't need to speak German to move to obtain a Visa. German companies and international companies are increasingly using English as a working language or working bilingually.

Is freedom of speech legal in Germany? ›

Censorship in Germany has taken many forms throughout the history of the country. Various regimes have restricted the press, cinema, literature, and other entertainment venues. In contemporary Germany, the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) generally guarantees freedom of press, speech, and opinion.

Temporary residence permits allow foreign nationals to stay in Germany for a specified period and then return to their home countries. Permanent residence permits mean that the foreign national can stay in Germany as long as they want to, can leave and return to the country whenever they want to.

It is not difficult to move to Germany from the US if you have a valid reason, such as a job offer, a letter of acceptance from a German university, or wishing to join your partner. However, generally speaking, everyone outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland needs a solid reason to receive a German residence permit.

A residence visa is required if you intend to stay in Germany for more than 90 days for work or study or if you intend to move to Germany permanently.

Why Is It Hard To Make Friends In Germany? Some reasons why expats might have trouble socializing in Germany are that Germans tend to be more distant with others, stick to their childhood friends, and prefer to have a small group of real friends instead of a large group of acquaintances.

Basic Etiquette

It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.

The commonly agreed upon quiet hours in Germany (Ruhezeit time period) are from 10pm and 6 or 7am on weekdays and the entire day on Sundays, although there can be some exceptions in different cities or if your landlord imposes other rules as well. Ruhezeit also applies to all public holidays for the entire day.

Residence and Work Permit

US citizens in possession of a valid US passport do not need a visa for airport transit, tourist or business trips for stays up to 90 days.

A child born to an American parent and a German parent acquires both American and German citizenship at birth, regardless of place of birth, if the parents satisfy the jus soli or jus sanguinis requirements of their respective countries.