The Advantage Of Learning German

Although German may not always be the first choice for people looking to learn a foreign language. But maybe it should be because there are more than 100 million people in 38 countries worldwide speaking the language at this moment. That’s a huge number of German speakers. Most of these speakers are in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but there are also a significant number in the United States and South America. Here are the five main reasons why you should consider attending a German language school:

Learn German For Business and Work
Learning German can and will help entrepreneurs and business people looking to improve their prospects of doing business in German-speaking countries. This is because Germany is the third largest industrial nation in the world and a major exporter of goods, services and technology. Even though many Germans speak good English, some even better than many native English speakers, if you were to learn German, you will have the advantage of understanding what is said in its original context. Many German language schools offer specially tailored classes for the needs of business people. These include classes dealing with speaking on the telephone, negotiations, business culture and presentations.

And if you are planning to work, whether in Germany or maybe in the tourist industry in your country, it is also advisable to learn German as you will definitely encounter the millions of German-speaking tourists travelling the globe each year.

Learn German For Travel
Other than Germany, Austria and Switzerland, German is a second language for most Eastern Europe countries like Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia and Kazakhstan. So, if you are planning to travel to these countries, it is definitely useful to learn German for communication. You may have seen many websites that offer free German language lessons to help travellers learn the basic phrases. However, for a more complete and in-depth understanding of the language, it is advisable to enrol in a German language school near you.

Learn About German Culture
Germany has a wonderfully rich cultural heritage. Many geniuses and great thinkers, such as Freud and Einstein, were German. Many of the most famous and respected classical composers were German. Germany has so much to offer, from towns with a centuries-old history to the wonders of advance modern technology. If you plan to study in Germany, it will serve you to get an inside view of many aspects of German culture.

Where Should You Learn German?
The best option to learn the language, other than travelling to Germany, is to study at a German language school near you. This way, you will learn the language by immersion, hearing good German spoken throughout your lessons. This is the best way to learn German quickly and efficiently.

Thinking Of Taking A European Road Trip

It could be easier and cheaper than you think to enjoy a tour throughout Europe if you take to the road! A road trip also provides a lot more freedom than travelling by plane or train because it enables you to get to many locales that are not easily accessible by any other means or that you may not consider seeing normally.

There are a few practicalities that should be taken care of before the trip however:

Make sure passports are in hand, as they will be needed at every border.
All European rental companies require a valid drivers license (and some countries require an international driving permit if you hold a US licence. Permits are available through the American Auto Association.)
Also, check that the your health insurance will continue to provide coverage overseas (as well as completing your EHIC European Health Insurance Card )
Contact your credit card companies, and establish a budget.

Following through with each of these preparatory steps will make the entire experience much more enjoyable.

Now, it is time to plan the trip. In this brief example, the road trip will take a tour through the United Kingdom, to France, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Austria, Germany, and Holland, the lesson here being be sure to have a loose itinerary and book a few hostels before leaving.

The trip begins in the United Kingdom, which makes it necessary to take a ferry to the mainland. There are many ports along the coast of England and France, (plus a boat ride across the English Channel is an added adventure in and of itself).

Once in France, you might like to take the time to drive to a few sites. One such destination is Mont Saint Michel, an impressive fortress just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. There are many other attractions that might be of interest, such as wine tasting and castle tours in the Loire Valley (for some incredible WW2 history) or exploring the quaint medieval town of Strasbourg.

While exiting France youll find yourself cruising through Switzerland, and there are many breathtaking natural sights to take in; luxurious chocolates to sample, historical sites to explore and fine beers to drink!. The gorgeous Lake Lucerne offers stunning views of limestone peaks and the reflective beauty of the pristine lake.

Next, you can wind down through Northern Italy, with its rustic food and rolling golden hills. While Venice may not be the most automobile friendly city in Europe, there is still plenty of scenery and history that can be enjoyed during the trip through Northern Italy.

After traversing Italy, you can come up through Europe once more by arriving in Austria. This small German-speaking country is steeped in history and its countryside is truly magnificent, but modern culture is also flourishing in the cities. From Austria, the road takes you up to Germany where a trek down the Rhine will offer fairy-tale castles and internationally renowned wine tasting.

Finally, the adventure ends in Holland. There are ferries along the coast that will take the weary road traveller back to UK, officially ending the tour of Western Europe.

There are many reasons to take to the road when travelling through Europe and many adventures to be had, whether going by yourself or taking escorted holidays. It can be accomplished much more cheaply than taking a plane or train, but this form of travel also enables you to experience much more.