Why are Germans among the worst speakers of English?

<<But that is wrong. University education in Germany should be conducted through the medium of German. Nobody should have to read a textbook in English, unless we are talking about English language courses. People in the UK/US wouldn't accept a visiting lecturer speaking only French or German.>>

Shoulda coulda woulda.....

The reality is however much different.

It's just a fact of life in Germany. Your opportunities are severely hampered If you want a decent job in and do not speak English.

I know alot of German engineers, scientists, doctors that can hardly speak or put an English sentence together. Not being able to speak good English didn't stop them from getting employment in Germany or becoming successful doctors, engineers, scientists etc.



Why does everyone think English is the ONE AND ONLY language for businesss?

And what good will it be for a German person to study to become ....lets say for example a Doctor and then to have all his classes in English?

When the doctor is finished studying, he will be working in Germany where 40% of people wouldn't understand English? I think he can severly damage his job opportunities if he didn't study in German.

Yes knowing English is good but it's not a neccessity. Especially if you are going to work with the German public, English is not going to help you at all.

English is very useful if you are going to be working with overseas clients but if you have a job in Germany dealing with Germans then English is irrelevant. With Germany being such a huge country and a major economy, you can build a very successful career without having to speak English.

<< Why does everyone think English is the ONE AND ONLY language for businesss? >>

-- It is not. An utterly simple language like English is essential for trading commodities like oil or soy beans, but with advanced investment goods you have to speak the language of your customers.

Germany is Nr One among exporters of machine-tools and hi-tech goods because crowds of German engineers are able to sustain in-depth talks with Russian, French, Chinese, Brazilian etc. buyers and provide customer support in their native tongues.

I think the German language should flex its muscles a bit more, in Europe at least. German is the most widely spoken native tongue in the EU and Germany has the biggest economy. Instead of scurrying away to learn English, Germany should put the onus on would-be customers to do deals in German. It's a tactic used to great success (in terms of language development) by the United States. Russia should adopt a similar stance for energy negotiations, where else are the European states going to buy their gas in the near future?

<<I think the German language should flex its muscles a bit more, in Europe at least. German is the most widely spoken native tongue in the EU and Germany has the biggest economy. Instead of scurrying away to learn English, Germany should put the onus on would-be customers to do deals in German. It's a tactic used to great success (in terms of language development) by the United States. Russia should adopt a similar stance for energy negotiations, where else are the European states going to buy their gas in the near future? >>


Why though? That will scare away customers. Why not facilitate business? Money is what they're interested in, not idealistic views of language learning. When a German speaks to a Russian in English or a Peruvian with a Japanese, it is as close as you come to a neutral language, just like the Esperanto idea.