Global interest surges for learning German to secure employment opportunities
The International German Teachers' Conference held in Lübeck on Monday brought together education and foreign policy experts to discuss the growing global demand for German as a foreign language and the challenges posed by the shortage of qualified German teachers.
Ralf Beste from the Foreign Office and Johannes Ebert from the Goethe-Institut presented a trend analysis, highlighting the significant bottleneck that the shortage of qualified German teachers represents in meeting the growing demand for German language courses. The demand for German lessons is so high that more teachers are needed, according to Ralf Beste.
The surge in learners worldwide (over 15 million) is largely driven by Germany's position as a leading economic and career destination in Europe, creating strong incentives for immigrants and international students to learn German. Countries like Egypt, India, Kenya, Colombia, Cameroon, Morocco, Nepal, and Uzbekistan have seen a growing desire to learn German due to Germany being seen as an attractive destination for work, training, or study.
The widespread presence of German within Europe and growing interest beyond Europe, including countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, has also contributed to the rising demand. German being the most widely spoken native language in Europe increases its practical value for regional mobility and employment.
To address this teacher shortage and support the increasing number of learners, Germany is taking steps such as promoting targeted and integrated language programs at universities to help international students acquire German alongside their studies. Expanding staffing and institutional support for language teaching and learner integration at universities and other education centers is also a priority.
The international teacher strategy, being developed by the Foreign Office and intermediary organizations such as the German Academic Exchange Service and the Goethe-Institut, will likely involve efforts to train and recruit more qualified German teachers to meet the growing demand for German language courses. This strategy will be crucial in promoting German language courses worldwide.
Every five years, the Foreign Office and intermediary organizations such as the German Academic Exchange Service and the Goethe-Institut collect data on the situation of German as a foreign language to analyze the framework conditions and strategies for promoting German worldwide. The current analysis presented at the conference underscores the need for sustained investment in teacher training and program availability to meet workforce and student needs effectively.
In countries with high demographic growth and corresponding pressure on the local labor market, learning German is increasingly associated with professional mobility and future prospects in Germany. The increase in demand is particularly noticeable in countries where Germany is seen as an attractive destination for work, training, or study.
The demand for German courses in adult education has significantly increased since the introduction of the skilled workers immigration law in 2023. Despite these efforts, the supply of qualified German language teachers has not kept pace, prompting calls for continued investment in teacher training and program availability to meet workforce and student needs effectively.
In conclusion, the global demand for German is growing due to Germany’s strong economy and educational opportunities requiring language proficiency. Efforts to mitigate the qualified teacher shortage focus on integrated university language programs and increased staffing to facilitate learners' successful integration into German society and the job market.
To cater to the growing global demand for German as a foreign language, Germany is focusing on expanding integrated university language programs for international students. This initiative aims to equip students with German language skills alongside their academic pursuits.
Recognizing the need for more qualified German teachers to address the rising demand, the international teacher strategy is being developed by the Foreign Office and intermediary organizations, with an emphasis on recruiting and training new teachers.
