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> , but as far as getting your point across it is unmatched (based on my limited 3 language experience). Don't know if it is common for germans to know three o

by Dewie 13y ago

> , but as far as getting your point across it is unmatched (based on my limited 3 language experience). Don't know if it is common for germans to know three or more languages, or if this is a humble-brag...

mlinksva 13y ago
According to http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.p... 28% of Germans know German and at least two other languages well enough to have a conversation. Edit: I think actually 28% of Germans claim to know their native language and at least two other languages well enough to have a conversation (for some German is one of the other languages). In any case knowing 3 languages is pretty common in Germany.
- Havoc 13y ago
  Yep - English is really strong over there among the younger generation. Don't expect any Shakespeare - but any young person will make an effort to help (in English) if approached. Thats for the native looking Germans - I can't say regarding those with a Turkish background. I'd assume its the same though. French is pretty strong too, but its seen as slightly more exotic whereas English is seen as a necessity/requirement for being "cool".
Havoc 13y ago
Well German schools push English pretty hard (American variety) so pretty much any <30 year old will speak passable English (plus its seen as cool). Pro travel tip that - always approach the young people. >if this is a humble-brag... Nah - unique circumstances. German background historically, but grew up in South Africa - where English and to a lesser extent Afrikaans is pretty much compulsory. Especially being white - people address me in either English or Afrikaans and expect that I reply in kind. The school I went to alternated between English and German as the teaching medium - funded mainly by German though. Edit: You should see some of the locals. They speak like 6+ languages. Sure they are closely related languages mostly but still...damn. Also...we've got more official languages than any other country.
NonEUCitizen 13y ago
The workers at the German tourist offices (e.g. those near a Hauptbahnhof) speak 5 languages fluently: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German.
- Dewie 13y ago
  Well that's a biased sample if I ever saw one.
- mtts 13y ago
  In theory, maybe. In practice I've been to a number of them where they only spoke German. :-)
qw 13y ago
As a Norwegian it is mandatory to attend English classes from an early age, and it is common to learn a 3rd language as well. Most Norwegians go to our equivalent of high school (age 16 to 19). Those who wants to be accepted by a university choose a path that targets higher learning, where a 3rd language is one of the mandatory subjects. Many in my class had chosen optional classes for that language when they were 14, so that they could learn something else in their final year. I can only speak for Norway, but I think this is common in other Scandinavian countries and probably many other European countries as well.
- Dewie 13y ago
  I'm from Norway myself and I think only a small minority of people who took a third language in videregående actually got to a level where you could say that they spoke/knew it. I was among those who chose an German as an optional class when I was 14 so that I wouldn't have to take it in my third year of high school. Now I can say where I'm from and that I'm hungry, but hardly much more than that.

by Dewie 13y ago

mlinksva 13y ago

According to http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.p... 28% of Germans know German and at least two other languages well enough to have a conversation. Edit: I think actually 28% of Germans claim to know their native language and at least two other languages well enough to have a conversation (for some German is one of the other languages). In any case knowing 3 languages is pretty common in Germany.

Havoc 13y ago
Yep - English is really strong over there among the younger generation. Don't expect any Shakespeare - but any young person will make an effort to help (in English) if approached. Thats for the native looking Germans - I can't say regarding those with a Turkish background. I'd assume its the same though. French is pretty strong too, but its seen as slightly more exotic whereas English is seen as a necessity/requirement for being "cool".

Havoc 13y ago

Well German schools push English pretty hard (American variety) so pretty much any <30 year old will speak passable English (plus its seen as cool). Pro travel tip that - always approach the young people. >if this is a humble-brag... Nah - unique circumstances. German background historically, but grew up in South Africa - where English and to a lesser extent Afrikaans is pretty much compulsory. Especially being white - people address me in either English or Afrikaans and expect that I reply in kind. The school I went to alternated between English and German as the teaching medium - funded mainly by German though. Edit: You should see some of the locals. They speak like 6+ languages. Sure they are closely related languages mostly but still...damn. Also...we've got more official languages than any other country.

NonEUCitizen 13y ago

The workers at the German tourist offices (e.g. those near a Hauptbahnhof) speak 5 languages fluently: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German.

Dewie 13y ago
Well that's a biased sample if I ever saw one.
mtts 13y ago
In theory, maybe. In practice I've been to a number of them where they only spoke German. :-)

qw 13y ago

As a Norwegian it is mandatory to attend English classes from an early age, and it is common to learn a 3rd language as well. Most Norwegians go to our equivalent of high school (age 16 to 19). Those who wants to be accepted by a university choose a path that targets higher learning, where a 3rd language is one of the mandatory subjects. Many in my class had chosen optional classes for that language when they were 14, so that they could learn something else in their final year. I can only speak for Norway, but I think this is common in other Scandinavian countries and probably many other European countries as well.

Dewie 13y ago
I'm from Norway myself and I think only a small minority of people who took a third language in videregående actually got to a level where you could say that they spoke/knew it. I was among those who chose an German as an optional class when I was 14 so that I wouldn't have to take it in my third year of high school. Now I can say where I'm from and that I'm hungry, but hardly much more than that.