1. Deutsch macht Spaß! (German is fun!)

2. German is useful right here in our area
German is useful right here in our area!!!!  Companies like Veeder-Route (Duncansville, PA), NPC (Claysburg, PA), PGW-Pittsburgh Glass Works (Tyrone, PA), and New Pig (Tipton, PA) have affiliations with Germany and value employees with background in the German language.  Just to name a few!  More than 750 American Companies manufacture, market, and research in Germany.

3. German can help you achieve high-paying jobs in the fields of science and research, technology, engineering, and industry!  It also enhances careers in: -music -fine and performing arts -tourism & hospitality (Germans travel more per capita than any other nation), -communication, -business, -literature studies, -history, -political science, -philosophy, -international relations and more!!

4. Hollidaysburg has an active German Exchange Program
Hollidaysburg has an active German Exchange Program!  (Next year will we participate in this exchange!!!) Learn culture and language first hand!  Spend a summer month living with a German family, attending a German school, making friends, and traveling through Germany.  And/or host a student from Germany in your own home for four weeks in Spring!    This is quite a learning experience in itself! 

5. Germany awards more scholarships, internships, and other support to study/work in Germany to international students than any other country. Study in English or German both at the bachelors and masters levels.  

6. Distinguish yourself from others on college, scholarship, or job applications.  Learn a language that only 500,000 people in the US have mastered – but one that is in high demand and will connect you to millions of native speakers and billions of dollars of economic trade. 
American German speakers stand out!!!

7. German ancestry is strong in the USA
German ancestry is strong in the USA! One quarter of the population claims German heritage.  The English and German languages share many similarities.  Learning one facilitates better understanding of the other.

8. German provides opportunities to get to know German speaking teenagers through our e-pal class projects, and visitors from Germany.  Learn German and its culture from people – not just books!  Gain a brand new perspective of your own culture and your multi-cultural identity.

9. FUN FACTS!
German is the second-most commonly used language on the Internet behind English. Germany is the 3rd largest industrial nation in the world. Speaking German improves business relationships with partners in Germany. German is the second-most commonly used scientific language. German is important for scientists and students. German is second place in the field of scholarly publications. In addition, 18% of the world’s books are published in German.
German is the language of Goethe, Nietzsche, and Kafka. Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Freud, and Einstein also spoke German. A knowledge of German is required for many music majors. In many regions, Germans account for the largest percentage of tourists. Germans spend the most on tourism worldwide, and the U.S. is their first travel destination overseas. There are many career opportunities in the travel, resort, and tour industry for German speakers. Many Japanese, Chinese, and other Asian cultures value learning German. A knowledge of German can help you make connections with these important economies.

10. German is NOT difficult to learn
German is NOT difficult to learn!!! German is a sister language to English and many words are similar. For example: Haus = house, Konzert = concert, Schwimmen = swimming, Elefant = elephant, Schuh = shoe, Musik = music, Ball = ball, Nase = nose, Haar = hair, Bus = bus, Pinguin = penguin etc. We also use many German words in English: Kindergarten, Sauerkraut, Poltergeist, Fahrenheit, Strudel, Schnauzer, Blitz, etc. PLUS German is phonetic and there are never any silent letters. You always spell it just like it sounds according to the German alphabet. This makes writing and reading it a little easier! There are also multiple opportunities for extra credit. If you try, you will do well!!!

11. Follow your favorite German soccer team and understand the announcers!
German is FUN!!!
Dance and sing to the
‘Song of the Month’!
Go on field trips to a German
Christmas Market, a German
and explore areas like DC and
Restaurant,
Penn’s Cave with German visitors.
Follow your favorite German soccer team
and understand the announcers!
Celebrate Oktoberfest, Saint Nikolaus Day, Fasching, and other holidays! 
Attend a Curve game with German kids
who are watching baseball for the first time!
Learn culture through
activities, games, and crafts!
Make a gingerbread house!
Read fairy tales in
their original language.

12. JUST ADD GERMAN!!!!