The bilingual advantage : Why should your child learn german

There’s no denying the advantages of bilingual education, whether it’s improved academic performance or greater executive function. However, every language has its own unique advantages that give their speakers a special edge in one field or another. In this article, we’ll look at the German language and why it’s a great choice for bilingual learners.

Large Speakership

There are 95 million native German speakers, making it the second-most prevalent language in Europe after English. Around the world, there are also 10-15 million more speakers who have German as a second language, and many tens of millions of other speakers who speak it as a foreign language. With a total of well over 100 million speakers, many of whom are not based in Germany, the German language is often found in the top 10 languages spoken around the world, and is incredibly widespread. Learning German ensures that you can communicate with this diverse set of speakers!

University Access

In 2011, Germany was ranked third in the World University Rankings of education firm Quacquarelli Symonds’ (QS). In its 2011 publication, the Academic Ranking of World Universities listed six out of its 100 institutions as being based in Germany. German universities aren’t just good – they’re also fairly inexpensive! Thanks to subsidized education, many universities are essentially free of charge to attend. Learning German is an essential component of getting admitted to, and thriving in some of these high-end universities!

Economic Power

Germany has the largest economy in Europe, the fourth largest GDP in the world, and counts itself as among the top ten trade partners for both the US and the UK, who are also world powers. Additionally, with 29 German companies on the Fortune 500, the country is tied at fourth place with France for countries with the largest number of companies on the list. By studying in Germany, students gain connections and life skills that may eventually allow them to become part of the workforce of one of the most powerful economies in the world.

Easy Transition For English Speakers

English and German both have similar linguistic origins, found in Proto-Germanic languages. Today, many words in English are similar to words in German, and many of the grammatical rules of German can be found in English as well. This makes it an easier second language to learn for native English speakers than French or other Romance languages, and it’s definitely easier to learn than a non-European language.

World-Class Bilingual Education At SISD

At Swiss International School in Dubai, we offer a German-English bilingual stream for students, in which they are given instruction in both languages. Our students are taught by native speakers of both languages, allowing for unparalleled immersion alongside the top-tier International Baccalaureate curriculum.