How severe will language problem be in Germany?
I have to visit Munich, Germany for a couple of weeks this month for business purpose. I am absolutely ignorant about German language. Although I won't be interacting with the locals much, I'll have to use the public transport. How problematic can it get? In India, most of the sign boards are written in English as well. How is it in Germany? Is there any way I can learn few German sentences and words to get around the city?
Best Answer
You'll be fine. Especially young people or people in tourism-related jobs speak good English. Public transport is well-organized and easy to navigate.
It might help you to plan your trips and tickets ahead of time (i.e. where you are changing subway lines and what ticket you need - they have a rather complicated zones system so you might just want to get a weekly/monthly ticket for the central area once you're in town). Announcements on some subway lines are bilingual in German/English but in general you can just read the station names off the wall in stations and compare to a line map to see when you have to get off the subway. Also when arriving at the airport there is English-speaking staff where you buy the tickets that is able to assist you and so will be your hotel/employer/friendly strangers.
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Does Germany have a language barrier?
Yes, Germans do speak English! However, most expats experience a high language barrier that is created around them as a result of limited German language skills. For expats, Germany acts as a platform to boost their careers.How difficult is German language?
With plenty of straightforward rules, German is not actually as hard to learn as most people think. And since English and German stem from the same language family, you might actually be surprised at the things you pick up without even trying! And on top of it all, it's definitely a useful one, too.What percentage of Germany is fluent in English?
Recent figures estimate the proportion of English speakers in Germany at around 56% of the population, which is a decent percentage and much higher than other European countries like France, Italy and Spain which hover around 35-40 percent coverage of English, much of it not fluent.How difficult is German for English speakers?
For many English speakers, German is a difficult language to pick up. Its long words, four noun case endings, and rough pronunciation gives your tongue quite the workout each time you speak. German is recognized as a very descriptive language.How Difficult is German Taught Master? 🇩🇪
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Answer 2
You asked for German sentences. In case you are not confident in your German pronunciation I would rather go for few but well practised phrases than many sentences:
Your most important sentence next to "Hallo" and "danke" should be "Sprechen Sie Englisch?"
As others already have said, a lot of people speak good English in Germany - especially in large cities like Munich. As a native I really prefer someone speaking understandable English over someone trying to speak German, because of courtesy, but me not understanding a thing.
If you still need more (i.e. asking directions), prepare a notebook where you write down the sentences and show them to the people. You would be surprised how far you come with just making signs with hands and feet.
Answer 3
My experience in Munich included many conversations like this:
Me: "Ja, ein großes weißwurst und ein schwarzes Bier, bitte."
Wurstmeister: "Would you like mustard and relish on your sausage?"
My German friends (all of whom speak better English than some of my Canadian friends) are of the opinion that if the person has tried to learn even a little bit of the local language and custom they are happy to switch to English. If the tourist has the attitude of "everyone MUST speak English" then they kann diesen Touristen nicht heute verstehen.
So, get a german phrasebook at the airport bookstore, or a basic german lesson from iTunes. Couple of dozen phrases and numbers under 100 should be more than enough, and it's something to do on the plane.
Gute Reise!
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