Study German in London

One of the world's major languages, German is spoken by around 130 million speakers around the world, and while the main part of German speakers are found in Europe, there are German-speaking communities in countries as far afield as Argentina, Chile, Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and the USA. While there are relatively few German-speaking areas in the UK, that doesn't mean that you can't learn German in London.

Several years ago I was asked to give a presentation at the Goethe Institut in London to a selection of upper management and board members of the organisation I work for: a joint English-German construction and development company. As I work with the English side of the team, I had very few opportunities to speak in German until this point, which I was secretly rather happy about. While my technical vocabulary is passable (mainly due to the fact that I am in contact with these words on a daily basis), my grammar and fundamentals have gone straight of the window since I left school. While I had known for a while that I had to find one of the many German language school London had to offer in order to tighten up my fading skills, this presentation was just the catalyst to get me moving.

Finding German courses in London was a cinch - the problem became one of choice. While I was a little apprehensive, I knew that taking the course would benefit my work. I signed up to one of the many London German courses available at my nearest community centre and set about trying to improve my spoken and written skills. It was slow work, but the class revived a lot of my dormant knowledge and I found words and constructions coming to mind almost naturally within only a few weeks.

Two months later it was time for the presentation, and thanks to my perfect attendance and conscientious work in my own time, my German class in London helped me immeasurably. Not only was I more sure of myself in translating and enunciating difficult English phrases to baffled-looking German audience members, but I was able to engage many of them in conversation afterwards, many of whom were greatly impressed by my prowess.