. “Most Indians learn German for jobs in Germany, not for the language.” ?

 

“Most Indians learn German for jobs in Germany, not for the language.”

Reality check:

• The primary motivation for most Indian German learners is migration—jobs, Ausbildung, PR pathways, or studies in Germany 🇩🇪.

• Very few start German out of cultural curiosity, literature, or long-term linguistic interest.

• German is seen as a tool, not an art—unlike French or Spanish, which are often marketed as “global” or “elite” languages.

Why this happens

1. Germany equals opportunity

   • Free/low-cost education

   • Shortage of skilled workers (healthcare, engineering, IT, hospitality, technicians)

   • Clear visa + language-linked pathways

2. Language = eligibility

   • A2/B1 is often treated as a visa checkbox, not communicative competence.

   • Many stop learning once they reach the minimum required level.

3. Certificate obsession

   • Goethe A2/B1 is promoted as a job guarantee, which it isn’t.

   • Fluency is confused with passing an exam.

The hidden problem

• Learners arrive in Germany with:

  • Weak speaking & listening

  • Zero workplace German

  • Shock when B1 doesn’t equal employability

• Result: underemployment, frustration, and “German is too hard” narratives.

The uncomfortable truth

Germany doesn’t need German learners.
It needs skilled professionals who can function in German.

A better way to say it (if you want it sharper):

• “In India, German is learned for migration—communication comes later.”

• “Most German learners aim for visas, not fluency.”

• “A2/B1 gets you to Germany. German keeps you there.”