Why Study German?

"I chose to minor in German not only to compliment my Art/Art History major, but also because I feel it is important as an American to become familiar with other cultures."
Joana Olson, K '05

"When you study German you aren't only studying German; you study the language, the literature, the films, the culture, and the history."
Chelsea Phillips, K '05


Warum soll ich Deutsch lernen? This is an excellent question, to which there are perhaps as many diverse and compelling answers as there are students who devote themselves to learning the fascinating intricacies of this language and culture. But for starters, here are some of the most compelling reasons why college students choose to study German:

  Great Minds. It’s true—many of the world’s greatest minds conceived their reality-shaking thoughts in the German tongue. One of the biggest attractions of becoming proficient in German is the special opportunity this knowledge affords you to engage some of the world’s most profound thinkers on their own ground! Part of the excitement of being a college student is the chance to have an intimate meeting of the minds with greats like philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and Immanuel Kant; legendary musical geniuses like J.S. Bach, Mozart, and Richard Wagner; eminent scientists like Albert Einstein and Max Planck; and creative literary artists like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Thomas Mann, and many others. Only German gives you the invigorating chance to engage these landmark thinkers one-on-one, in the living language that helped to shape and nurture their particular views of the world.

  International Savvy. First off, let’s dispel a common myth: Everyone in our world does not speak English! And among those educated people who do, certainly not everyone speaks English well. A crucial part of Kalamazoo College’s mission is to prepare its students for life in an increasingly internationalized world, and an indispensable part of this life is the ability to speak and understand a foreign language. There are very few places left on earth in which it is still considered acceptable for an educated person to speak only one language. This means that when you meet someone from another culture, that person is likely to know your language—will you know hers? Proficiency in a foreign language bestows a type of knowledge and wisdom that is unknown to those trapped in their monolingual, monocultural worlds. It helps us to see and understand from multiple perspectives and across our narrow cultural boundaries. Studying the German language and culture fosters not only your intellectual growth, but your growth as a person of the world as well.

  Kick-Start a Career. Don’t be fooled by the hype—not only computer geniuses are in line to be hired for great-paying jobs these days. Whether you decide to work someday for a commercial, not-for-profit, or government enterprise, the chances are greater every day that your work will bring you into contact with native speakers of German. Think about this: among Europeans, the nearly 100 million native speakers of German far outnumber those of French, Italian, or English (about 59 million each), as well as Spanish (36 million)! In many ways, Germany may be said to be the economic powerhouse of Europe: in 2000, this country (about the size of the state of Montana) claimed 9.9% of the world’s export market—only the United States exported more (12.8%). Proficiency in German will boost your career opportunities in international business, foreign service, scholarship and teaching, publishing and journalism, and many other interesting and challenging careers.