Find a German teacher
in Port Elizabeth

German Classes in Port Elizabeth

If you are living in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth and looking for a basic German course, this should not prove too difficult. In fact, learning additional foreign languages is becoming very popular for a whole host of reasons which we will look at in this article.

Firstly, it should be noted that the South African-German connection in all parts of the country has been a strong one for centuries. This is particularly true in the Western Cape, however there is a very active German community thriving in Port Elizabeth. In fact, well-run  the German Club in Lorraine is so renowned for its restaurant, function venues and beer garden that it is often booked by non-members for events.

As a foreign language option, German is a very popular for South Africans from all corners of the country who want to connect with their ancestral heritage. And with so many German people living and working in the country, it makes sense that their South African loved ones and colleagues would want to connect with them through their native tongue.

But these are not the only reasons why taking German classes is beneficial and in this article we look at some of the others as well as offer some suggestions on where to get started. 

Why Are There So Many Germans in South Africa?

Did you know that there are 100 million Germans living in countries all over the world?

Of course most of them are in Germany and other parts of Europe and the UK, but there is also a strong contingent living in South Africa. The German connection with South Africa mentioned already, actually dates back to 17^th, 18^th and even 19^thcenturies when an influx of German settlers immigrated to the Cape which was under Dutch rule. Most of these early immigrants were absorbed into the Dutch and French communities, many were missionaries and also fortune seekers who travelled to the north of the country during the 19^th century gold rush. 

Since then this German interest with South Africa has continued more or less unabated. One of the main reasons is probably a great compliment to South Africa and is due to the fact that Germans are known as the nation who most love to travel. Evidently, they even spend more on their globetrotting than they do on their motorcars. It stands to reason that after visiting South Africa and falling in love with the climate, lifestyle and unique cultural diversity, many have returned to live permanently.

Astonishingly, there are around 600 German companies based in South Africa, one of the most famous being Volkswagen which has an enormous factory in Uitenhage which is just outside of Port Elizabeth. Keep reading to find out how taking a basic German course can really boost your career.

Take a Basic German Course and Boost Your Career

So with so many German companies in the country, there are thousands of employees who could be exposed to the German language every day and potentially benefit from a basic German course to advance in those companies. In fact, the German Chamber of Commerce in South Africa reports that many industry sectors, particularly education, tourism and culture, view the ability to speak German as a highly regarded skill.  

Looking further afield, many ambitious professionals are seeing the benefits of boosting their careers with overseas secondments, it has therefore become highly advantageous to learn foreign languages and thus increase employability. A popular work destination for South Africans is the UK, which has strong ties economically with Germany, which happens to be the economic powerhouse of Europe. Before applying for jobs overseas, it would be so helpful to have a basic German course behind you to add to the skillset section of your CV.

There’s no doubt that the most efficient way to progress in any foreign language learning is through a private tutor from Superprof. This is a method you could certainly consider for your German Classes and here are a few reasons why this is such a preferred way of learning for many students.       

The Benefits of Private Tutoring

When it comes to learning languages, especially for adults, the benefits of finding the right private tutor are numerous. Besides the obvious reasons that allow you to learn at your own pace and at a time and location that suits you, a tutor could actually help you to focus on your personal goals for learning German.

As an example, if you are a German language student at one of the 9 South African universities that offer German, perhaps UNISA for instance, you may be struggling with certain aspects of your syllabus. So while you won’t need a basic German course, your tutor could help you to work through German literature past exam papers or other more complex issues.

Another example could be that you would like, or need, German for business reasons. You could ask your tutor for business-type phrases and vocabulary that are even specific to your chosen industry.

There are Superprof tutors located in just about every corner of South Africa, and you could sign up with a native German tutor in Port Elizabeth for online lessons and exam preparation at all levels for R300 per hour. You could also receive your first lesson for free which is an excellent opportunity to discuss your goals and find out more about your tutor’s teaching style before you invest in lessons.

Of course there are merits to taking a basic German course in a classroom, but there’s no doubt that by signing up with a private tutor you will advance more quickly.

Remember that you will never regret the time and money investment that goes into learning a new language. And by taking German classes you will be joining 55 million other people all over the world who see the value in learning one of the top 10 most widely spoken languages in the world. Viel Glük!