The University of Toledo

10 Reasons to Study German

The University of Toledo - German Program

Did you know:

1. HERITAGE
In a recent census more than one quarter of Americans claimed German ancestry.  In Ohio there are more than 4,000,000 such individuals.
Knowing German may help you discover your family roots.

2. GERMAN LANGUAGE
German is a lot like English:
house = Haus
fish = Fisch
swim = schwimmen
Learning German is easier than you think

3. MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Many diverse racial and ethnic groups such as Afro-Germans, Gypsies, Sorbs, Turks, and Wends constitute German society today.
Learning about German society fosters cross-cultural understanding.

4. GLOBAL ECONOMY
German is a key business language in the European Union and also in parts of Asia.
Knowing German will allow you to compete in the world marketplace.

5. U.S. - GERMAN BUSINESS
In 2004 Germany was the sixth leading export market for U.S. companies worldwide.  Germany is the largest European investor in Ohio with almost 150 facilities and over 35,000 employees statewide.
Speaking German will increase your career opportunities.

6. SCIENCE
Germans such as Albert Einstein and Max Planck made important contributions to twentieth-century science and technology.
Understanding German provides you access to the scientific world.

7. FINE ARTS
Artists from Albrecht Dürer to Käthe Kollwitz and musicians from Johann Sebastian Bach to Fettes Brot represent the German cultural tradition.
Exploring German culture can be a lot of fun.

8. LITERATURE & PHILOSOPHY
German-speaking writers like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Bertolt Brecht, and Christa Wolf have shaped world literature. Philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Nietzsche have furthered modern thought and intellectual history.
Reading German opens up a new world of ideas.

9. SPORTS
German athletes have shown their strength and skill as amateurs and professionals in sports such as ice-skating, tennis, and soccer.
Germany was host to the 2006 Soccer World Cup Championship.

10. TRAVEL
Since 1945 more Americans have lived and worked in Germany than in any other foreign country.
Visit Germany and see for yourself!

GET MORE INFORMATION!

For more information about the German Program at The University of Toledo, please contact:
Friederike Emonds
Undergraduate and Graduate Adviser in German
friederike.emonds@utoledo.edu
419.530.7903