German As A Foreign Language
German was once the lingua franca of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe and remains one of the most popular foreign languages in Europe, second only to English. It is one of the official languages of the European Union, and one of the three working languages of the European Commission, along with English and French. Thirty-two percent of citizens of the EU-15 countries say they can converse in German (either as a mother tongue or as a second/foreign language). This is assisted by the widespread availability of German TV via cable and satellite. German competence in countries where it is not an official language is highest in the Netherlands, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina (historical connections) and Slovenia (historical connections). Relatively high German competence is also found in Sweden, Belgium (German community), the Czech Republic (historical connections), Slovakia (historical connections), Hungary (historical connections), Poland (much of northern, southern, and western Poland had previously been German territory) and Croatia (historical connections).
The learning of German as a foreign language is promoted by the Goethe Institute, which works to promote German language and culture worldwide. In association with the Goethe Institute, the German foreign broadcasting service, Deutsche Welle offers a range of online German courses and radio broadcasts produced with non-native German speakers in mind.
Read more about this topic: German-speaking Countries
Famous quotes containing the words german, foreign and/or language:
“Better extirpate the whole breed, root and branch. And this, unless the German people come to their senses, is what we propose to do.”
—Gertrude Atherton (1857–1948)
“Oh, has the foul atmosphere of foreign lands extinguished all your self-respect? Do you come back sordid and sycophantic, and the slave of opinions you would once have utterly detested?”
—Augusta Evans (1835–1909)
“This is an approach to that universal language which men have sought in vain.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)