German

A country of great history, Germany conserves astonishing literary, cultural, and philosophic values for the world. German writers still capture our imagination: from the lyrical and spiritual poems of Rainer Maria Rilke to the acerbic social criticism of Bertolt Brecht. Likewise, German-language musicians form a virtual who’s who of the greatest composers in history, from Bach and Brahms and Haydn to Mahler and Strauss and Wagner. And of course, the great Mozart and his student, Beethoven.

Germany also has an extraordinary history of innovation, from Gutenberg to Hertz to Bauhaus. With 4 of the world’s 10 most innovative companies being located here, speaking German opens up a world of possibilities.

Plus, more people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe, and it’s the 3rd most popular foreign language taught worldwide.