Can you go to Berlin without speaking German?
You don't need to speak German to move to Berlin, but it's very useful. You always need to write emails, read letters and make phone calls in German. If you don't speak German, you always depend on someone else to help you. If you speak German, it's easier to find an apartment, find a job and make friends.
You will be fine, we have been to Germany a few times in the last couple of years and having leanrt a bit of German in school, we decided we would try and speak as much German as we could - we failed miserably as everytime we had to interact with the Germans (tourist office, restaurants etc) they spoke only english us!
Germany is big on bureaucracy, and legally, most of it has to be done through German. If, for example, you need to attend the Bürgeramt to register your new apartment, or collect a driving license, etc, the Beamte or civil servants aren't supposed to speak to you in any language other than German.
There isn't really need to speak German in Berlin as most people speak English to some extent. You might come across some people who might only speak basic English or none at all but then you just ask the next person. best if you make an effort to learn some german. after all that's the language there.
Many Germans speak English. You should not have any problems.
Germans tend to be quite friendly to foreigners. Even so, it's a good idea to go out of your way to learn the language and respect the local customs.
Can you live in Germany without knowing German? It is just about possible to live in Germany without knowing much German. But in order to find employment and to fully integrate into society, you will need to be able to speak and read German to a good standard, especially if you live outside the major cities.
Depends where you go. In small villages, they don't really speak English, so you'll need to know German. In larger cities like Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Köln, Hamburg, Frankfurt, the larger tourist cities like those, they can speak English.
- Tech jobs. Tech companies and startups often have English-speaking offices. ...
- Tourism. The tourism industry needs English-speaking tour guides, hostel staff, counsellors etc. ...
- Food delivery. ...
- Gastronomy. ...
- Customer service. ...
- Social media and writing.
According to official statistics there are approximately 25,000 native English-speakers in Berlin. By that we mean people currently resident in Berlin but who originate from a country where the official language is English. For more details about these statistics see the page about Expats in Berlin.
Do most people in Berlin know English?
Berlin, Germany's most multicultural city, is already considered by its dwellers to be more or less bilingual. It's possible to get by speaking English and knowing very little German.
In public spaces, German is very common, and there is not much English to be found. In private owned spaces, like stores or restaurants, there's more German than English, but most people speak English and you'll hear it more often.
- German 94.17%
- English 31.93%
- French 8.81%
- Russian 7.64%
- Turkish 2.67%
- Polish 2.6%
- Spanish 2.5%
- Italian 2.19%
Germany is a top English speaking country in Europe with more than 62.35% English speakers. Due to this stronghold of English among Germans, they are able to dominate their businesses in the European market. English is a business language in Germany and many English-speaking jobs are available in Germany.
It's only courteous to be able to say a few words in German, such as hello, please, thank you, excuse me, and goodbye. That's not very many. Your family should do well.
The cost of living in Berlin is just above the European average and yet the vibrant city is the cheapest capital city in Western Europe!
Crime Rate in Berlin
Berlin is generally considered a safe city for tourists. While crime does exist, the overall crime rate in Berlin is relatively low compared to other major cities in Europe. The city has made significant progress in reducing crime over the past decades, making it a safe place to visit.
So why is Berlin cheap? Short answer: history. Berlin had a population of over four million in the 1930s – and yet it still hasn't recovered that level of population, nearly one hundred years on. There was the devastation of WWII, division during the Cold War, and the chaos of immediate reunification in the 1990s.
| Topics | Rate of Speech |
|---|---|
| Understand all or nearly all of the same topics as a native German speaker Summarise information from various written and oral sources and present reasons and explanations in a coherent presentation | 160 WPM or less |
The short answer is no: German is not as hard to learn as you might think. In fact, German is one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers. But the ease and how long it takes to learn depend on your commitment and a few other factors—which we're about to find out!
What's it like for an American living in Germany?
Life is pretty busy in Germany as in any other place. But in general, there is peace and quiet anywhere you go. Except for the clubs, which will rave with techno music. Other than that, you will find that Germans love their silence, that there is low corruption, and that it won't be that difficult to find a job.
German as the official U.S. language myth
An urban legend, sometimes called the Muhlenberg legend after Frederick Muhlenberg, states that English only narrowly defeated German as the U.S. official language. In reality, the proposal involved a requirement that government documents be translated into German.
Munich is a thoroughly international city, and you'll often be able to find somebody who speaks English, but some German phrases will help you get by in places that are less frequented by tourists. In some spots, you may be greeted with a strong local accent.
Frankfurt: The Financial Epicenter
The city hosts the European Central Bank and other major financial institutions, and English is widely used in the finance and business sectors, making it easy for English-speaking professionals to work, communicate, and find jobs.
This is how long it will take you to learn German
According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the US, it takes 36 weeks or 900 class hours to learn German. This estimation is based on native English speakers and the institute's courses and methods.
