Why It’s So Important To Learn German in Berlin

Some may find this a bold statement, but I stand by this 100%. ➡️ You should learn German if you’re an English-speaking person living in Berlin.

As Berlin is such an international city, many people seem to think that you don’t need to have a command of the German language in order to live there. I’ve read and watched countless, and unfortunately very misleading, articles and videos informing aspiring Berliners that understanding German isn’t necessary. Even worse are the complaints I’ve heard from fellow foreigners that Germans don’t know enough English. Yes, to a certain extent, it’s true that you can get by speaking only English. I personally know people who’ve been in Germany for years and never bothered to learn the language at all. They seem happy, and perhaps it somehow works for them. Based on my own personal experience however, I feel your Berlin experience all the more richer if you can achieve at least a basic grasp of German.

My advice for aspiring and current Berliners is to learn German to the best of your ability. If you’re planning to stay in Berlin for anything more than a vacation, make an honest effort to learn the language. Even just learning a little German will go a long way. Learning German is also key for those looking to find a job in Berlin. It will not only increase your chances of finding employment but will also set you apart from other candidates who are lagging behind on the language front.

If you’re wondering whether or not there are English-speaking jobs in Germany, read our guides to get the low-down: Start with Are There English Speaking Jobs in Germany and then read Do You Need to Know German to Work in Germany?

When I first moved to Berlin in 2011, I didn’t put much effort into studying German. It was due in part to not knowing if I wanted to stay in Berlin long-term, balancing multiple freelance clients, and dealing with some personal issues. Moving home to Canada in 2012 made me realize how much I missed Berlin and how much I wanted to move back. When I thought about the struggles I had during my brief time in Germany, I realized it could all could be traced back to not knowing the language. As I knew I wanted to come back to Berlin again someday, I enrolled at the Goethe Institut in Toronto, eventually reaching the A1.2 level. My efforts were not in vain and it really helped me upon moving back to Berlin. I can now better understand basic conversations and can get by in fairly simple situations.

Alas, I’m still at the beginning of my journey. Being able to read a restaurant menu and order in German isn’t enough. Unfortunately, I still have an irrational and intense fear of speaking German in front of other people, especially those I know. I need to get over it and jump back into the language-learning game soon. 

I can also personally attest to the fact that there will be plenty of times when you absolutely need to know German in Berlin. Here are some scenarios that illustrate why learning German is essential as a foreigner living in Berlin.

1) At the Bank

When I moved back to Berlin in 2014, I went to my local Sparkasse to open a bank account. It turned out that none of the staff working that day could speak English and they didn’t feel comfortable helping me. They asked me to come back and scheduled an appointment for the following week, with one of their younger bank tellers who spoke English.

Another time, when I was in Sofia, Bulgaria for the weekend, my bank card got stuck in an ATM. As they had no English speaking customer service at the time, I had to enlist the help of a German-speaking friend to call Sparkasse to help me resolve the issue. 

Early on in the pandemic when we were in strict lockdown, my bank card stopped working and I needed to replace it. As I also needed some cash to get by while I waited on the new card, I went to one of the few bank branches that were open. I ended up going to a bank in Marzahn where there were no English speakers at all and just like in 2014, they gave me an appointment for another day. 

Even all these years later, there are still many Germans who cannot (or will not) speak English. Situations like these illustrate how critical German language skills are in day-to-day life.

2) Government Offices

Another really good reason to learn German in Berlin? The staff at government offices like the Ausländerbehörde, Bürgeramt, and Zollamt, usually only speak German (even though they deal with foreigners on a daily basis.) In fact, they tend to only speak German due to legal liability concerns should misunderstandings occur due to language issues

If you’re lucky, you might get a friendly person who will be happy to speak with you in English, Spanish, Turkish, or something else, but you can’t count on this to happen. When I went to pick up my Blue Card in the summer of 2017, I was lucky to get a young guy who was only too happy to speak English. He was kind, gave advice on applying for my permanent residency, and even joked around with me. But a year later when I went to get my permanent residency, I ended up with a grumpy man who only spoke German and made me wait for a long 30 minutes while he did “something.” I spent that whole time shaking with fear he was going to deny my permit. It was actually approved, but the experience left me with a very negative impression.

If you can’t speak German well, it’s a pretty good idea to bring a German speaker with you to your appointment. These appointment can be especially daunting for those who are new here and don’t know anyone. When I first arrived in Berlin, my landlord helped me by allowing me to hire her intern who accompanied me to Burgeramt. Other times, I brought friends who were only too happy to help out. My hot tip? I find it especially useful to bring along friends who are easy-going and friendly, and more importantly, are capable of quickly charming the government employee. I feel like this always lends to you getting a favourable decision. 😂

Depending on how many times you need to visit a government office, it’s either going to get very expensive or you’re going to annoy your friends. So learn German so you can deal with German bureaucracy like a pro. Alternatively, you can hire an immigration lawyer. See our complete list. 

3) Restaurants

Some restaurants only offer menus in German, and their wait staff may not be able to speak English. Unless you have the time to run every dish on the menu through Google Translate or DeepL, there’s a good chance you’re going to frustrate the servers and be on the receiving end of bad service.

Or like me, you might feel pressured to order something fast and end up selecting something random from the menu. When I first came to Berlin, I received many “surprise” dishes as a result of this happening. 🙃

4) Using Technology

Try troubleshooting a jammed printer that only has a menu in German. At work in Canada, I used to able to handle printers like a pro. Here, I stare blankly at the screen and attempt to solve the problem by pushing random buttons (which always works) or opening up the printer looking for the jammed paper, getting toner ink all over myself in the process. Of course, I usually end up making the problem worse and frustrating my co-workers who have stuff to print as well. In the end, I usually beg for assistance. At some point though, my colleagues forced me to write down the step-by-step instructions to solve any and all printer related problems on my own. Not embarrassing at all. 💀

There are also some companies who don’t offer laptops with American or International keyboards. So instead of QWERTY, you get QWERTZ. While there are some workarounds you can employ, using a keyboard you’re not comfortable with is awkward af. While learning German, it’s recommended that you also practice using a German keyboard so you can use it as effortlessly as you would another keyboard.

5) Interacting With Others

Another reason for learning German in Berlin? Not learning the language will actually make some locals dislike you (even though that’s totally not cool), and you may encounter some of that famous Berliner Schnauze.

When some Germans find out you’ve been here for years and haven’t bothered to learn the language, they may refuse to engage you in conversation and say unkind things like “typical American!” with a lot of disgust in their voice. A British girl I know from a neighborhood coffee shop, who actually speaks German fairly well, recently told me about how their delivery man spoke down to her and started lecturing her about her German not being good enough. Luckily, her German boss came to her defense by telling the old man to stop yelling at her, informing him that if he ever said anything like that again, his coffee shop would cancel their contract with the delivery company.

It’s an unfortunate reality that you may have to deal with here, and there won’t always be a superhero boss around to come to your defense. And to be very clear, this is not the norm. Most Germans are very kind and friendly people and appreciate your willingness to try to learn their language.

If you’re like me, you’re also going to want to make friends with both fellow foreigners and locals. I can’t tell you how much my world opened up in Berlin after I became good friends with a small group of Germans. I’ve heard that dating one helps too. 😉

Where To Learn German In Berlin

We recommend browsing our comprehensive list of German language schools in Berlin for more information. 

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about learning German in Berlin.

We hope we’ve convinced you about why you should learn German in Berlin. We promise, it will truly make your life in the Hauptstadt that much better. 💖