Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

If you dont know thatsDo you speak German?,West Virginia University German studies wants you.

The Department of Foreign Languages program is on a mission to enhance its visibilityboth at the University and in the greater Morgantown community, said Deborah Janson, associate professor of German.

WVU German faculty members are spearheadingFriends of German,a group aimed at bringing together Germanophiles, Janson said. The groups firstOktoberfest Meets Morgantowndrew about 200 community members to Krepps Park last month to enjoy German food, music and games.

The initiative began last year to bolster interest in studying German at WVU , she said, noting that more West Virginia residents are of German descent than any other nationality.

Because of the German languages prominence in Europe and its major relevance to academic disciplines at American universities, taking German is a good choice for WVU students to make,Janson said.

A few reasons Janson gives for studying German:

• German is the most widely spoken language in Europe

• Students who study German score better on both the SAT and ACT , improving their chance for college admission

• German is a major heritage language in West Virginia and the region

• More college majors require or recommend German then any other language

• Studying German increases studentschances of getting into graduate schools

Knowing German opens the door to career opportunities because Germany is Americas largest European trading partner, with more than 750 U.S. companies located in Germany and 1,100 German businesses operating here, Janson said.

Furthermore, Germans spend the most on tourism worldwide, with the United States their first travel destination overseas, she added.

There are many study abroad opportunities administered by WVU s Office of International Programs for students studying German, with two new trips planned for next year, Janson said.

One new trip will send students to Luneburg, a town in northern Lower Saxony and an hour south of Hamburg, from July 17 through Aug. 11. Students participating will receive six hoursworth of WVU credit upon completion.

The second new study abroad program is a nine-week visit to Fulda, where students will participate in an intensive language program and intern with a business. This is a new interdisciplinary initiative designed to foster students’dual interests in international business relations and German language study.

In addition, students can study in Bamberg for one or two semesters or intern for the West Virginia Development Office in Munich in the summer or for one or two semesters.

For more information about the study abroad programs and internships, contact Janson at djanson@wvu.edu or 293-5121 ext. 5507.