LEARN GERMAN WITH ASO TERRA LINGUA

SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH? - Part 2


In the first part of this article (see below) we gave you a brief insight into the German Language and talked about the the first 6 reasons why a knowledge of the German Language comes in handy while traveling and working abroad.


now in this 2nd part we give you even more reasons to learn German. Enjoy!


7. Germans form the largest single heritage group in the U.S.

Germans in the US

If you're American or are interested in American culture, learning German can expand your appreciation and knowledge of U.S. history and culture. In the year 2000 census, 42.8 million or 15.2% of Americans reported having German ancestry, making German Americans the largest single heritage group in the U.S.

In waves of immigration that span nearly 4 centuries, Germans brought with them many customs and traditions that have become so ingrained in American ways that their origin is often forgotten. 


Family names and names of thousands of towns and cities indicate the German heritage of their ancestors or founders. Such cultural mainstays as kindergarten, the Christmas tree, and hot dogs and hamburgers were introduced by German immigrants to America. They founded multiple breweries, created Levi's jeans, invented ketchup, and created Hershey's chocolate. Germans had such a fundamental presence at the time of the founding of the United States that a German language version of the Declaration of Independence was printed only a few days after it was adopted.

8. 1 in 10 books in the world is published in German

10% of all books are in German

German is not only a language of the past. As prolific researchers and scholars, German speakers produce nearly 80,000 new book titles each year. The only language markets that produce more books annually are the Chinese and English publishing industries. In number of books published, Munich is second in the world only to New York. Since only a small percentage of German books are translated into other languages (for instance, approximately 10% into Korean and Chinese, just over 5% into English), only a knowledge of German will give you access to a vast majority of these titles.

9. German-speaking countries have a rich cultural heritage.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

Apart from their many contributions to American culture, the German speakers have a rich cultural heritage in their own right. Germany is often referred to as the land of "Dichter und Denker" -- of poets and thinkers. And rightly so, because German contributions to the arts and human thought have been nothing short of profound.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, and Hermann Hesse are just a few authors whose names and works are well-known internationally. 10 Nobel prizes for literature have been awarded to German, Austrian, and Swiss German authors. The world of classical music is inseparable from the names of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Strauss, and Wagner to name only a few reknowned German-speaking composers. Vienna remains an international center of music today. From the magnificent architecture of medieval buildings to the avant garde Bauhaus movement, from Dürer's woodcuts to the expressionist masterpieces of Nolde, Kirchner, and Kokoschka, Germans have made substantial contributions to world art and architecture.

Warhol's Goethe

Philosophy and the sciences would also be unthinkable without the contributions of German speakers. The philosophies of Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and numerous others have had lasting influences on modern society. The psychologists Freud and Jung forever changed the way we think about human behavior. Scientists from the three major German-speaking countries have won dozens of Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry, and medicine.

Knowing German allows you to access the works of these people in their original language and to fully understand the culture whence they derived. Anyone interested in these fields automatically expands her knowledge and skill by knowing German.

10. German is not as hard as you think.

Its not that hard......

If English is your native language or if you already know English, then you already have an advantage when it comes to learning German. Because modern German and modern English both evolved from the common ancestor language Germanic, the two languages share many similarities in both vocabulary and grammar. If you understand any of this

Meine Schwester hat braunes Haar. Sie ist intelligent. Sie studiert Medizin in Berlin. Sie kann gut singen. 

... then you already know some German!

There are also many similarities (Mouse - Maus, House - Haus etc.)

In addition, German is spelled phonetically. Once you learn the system of sounds, it is easy to predict how the spoken word is written and how the written word is pronounced.

11. German is required or recommended by many undergraduate and graduate programs.

German speakers' strong contributions in such a broad array of fields make the language an important asset in many disciplines. At the University of California, for instance, more majors recommend knowledge of German as an important supplement than any other language (German: 56 majors, French: 43 majors, Spanish: 21 majors, Japanese: 7 majors). These majors include a wide range of subjects -- from biology, physics, and chemistry to linguistics, religious studies, and art history.

Considering the importance of the German language in the fields of publishing and research, it's not surprising that many graduate schools want their graduates to have at least a reading knowledge of German. Knowing German gives graduates access to important research published in German books and professional journals.

12. Germany financially sponsors over 60,000 international exchanges each year.

While promoting innovation and supporting research within Germany, the Germans also recognize that international cooperation and experience is essential to its continued success as a world leader. In the year 2001 alone, the German Academic Exchange Service supported 67,000 scholars, scientists, educators, and students in periods of international research and study. 43% of these were foreigners who were awarded financial assistance to participate in an exchange in Germany. In addition, like German students, foreign students directly enrolled in German universities pay no tuition fees. 

Convinced? An ASO TERRA LINGUA German training course will provide you with the ability to:

• Interact more confidently when visiting Germany or dealing with German nationals
• Develop rapport and strengthen relationships with German colleagues and clients through a show of interest in the French language and culture
• Demonstrate goodwill and facilitate international communication at both a personal and organisational level

Contact ASO TERRA LINGUA today!

ASO TERRA LINGUA - CROSS CULTURAL TRAINING

WHY CROSS CULTURAL TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL IN TODAY’S WORLD

In today’s world, conduction business internationally and sending your employees to different countries, may it be to station them there or just to negotiate a deal, without a proper Cross-Cultural Training, might turn out to be a recipe for disaster.

It is absolutely essential to know how to approach a business counterpart in lets say Italy or China, to achieve the desired results. Without knowing their different approach to business, how they conduct meetings or simply how they have dinner, you might suddenly be in the situation where you have offended someone and don’t even know why.

So let me explain some facts about Cross Cultural Training (CCT) and Cross Cultural Communication:

CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION – THE ORIGINS

The Cold War, the individual Eastern and Western Economies were largely self-contained because the world was polarized into two separate and competing powers. However, changes and advancements in economic relationships, political systems, and technological options began to break down old cultural barriers.

Business transformed from individual-country capitalism to global capitalism. Thus, the study of cross-cultural communication was originally found within businesses and governments both seeking to expand globally. 

Businesses began to offer language training to their employees. Businesses found that their employees were ill equipped for overseas work in the globalizing market and programs were developed to train employees to understand how to act when abroad.

 In 1974, the International Progress Organization, with the support of UNESCO and under the auspices of Senegalese President, held an international conference on "The Cultural Self-comprehension of Nations" which called upon United Nations member states "to organize systematic and global comparative research on the different cultures of the world" and "to make all possible efforts for a more intensive training of diplomats in the field of international cultural co-operation ... and to develop the cultural aspects of their foreign policy."

In the past decade, there has become an increasing pressure for universities and Companies across the world to incorporate intercultural and international understanding and knowledge into their education and training. International literacy and cross-cultural understanding have become critical to a country’s cultural, technological, economic, and political health. It has become essential for universities to educate, or more importantly, “transform”, to function effectively and comfortably in a world characterized by close; multi-faceted relationships and permeable borders.

DIFFERENT ASPECTS AND ASO TERRA LINGUAS BASIC MODULES

Misinterpretations and misconceptions are common when the same situation is viewed differently by people from different cultures. The basis of inter-cultural relations is not about changing other people, but adapting oneself to another culture. Today it is an integral part of BPO culture for those personnel who have to interact with overseas clients.

1. Country Briefing
This gives you a general insight in the respective country. Here Geographical location, Ethnic groups, Language(s), Religion(s) etc are explained.

2. Social Structure
Here you will be informed about the structure of the society, cultural differences and the community.

3. Lifestyle
This part covers typical foods, dressing, dining, social life etc.

4. Cultural Sensitivity
In this very important part you will learn about etiquette, protocol and communication styles.

5. Business Etiquette
Etiquette, manners, and cross cultural, or intercultural communication have become critical elements required for all International and Global Business executives, managers, and employees. As international, multinational, transnational, multi domestic, and global business continues to expand and bring people closer, the most important element of successful business outcomes may be the appreciation and respect for regional, country, and cultural differences - known as cultural diversity.

6. Local Usages
In this part of our training you will be given a brief introduction into the local language and its concept.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us directly for more details: info@asoterralingua.com