Those seeking to learn German language in the Kingdom can rejoice as the German government has planned to establish a German language learning center in Riyadh.
“The idea is to encourage the learning of German among Saudis with a view to helping them understand our country in a much better way,” said German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dieter W. Haller.
He said the German government was working in close consultation with the Saudi government to set up the full-fledged language center. “By doing so, we hope to be more attractive to Saudi students,” he said. “The German language learning center will be supervised by the embassy and it will be open to all, including journalists.”
According to Haller, Germany has nearly 1,000 Saudi students in Germany. “However, a lot needs to be done on this front,” he said. “We are a highly advanced and wonderful country, but language can sometimes be a barrier, ours is not an easy language (to learn), that is why we are setting up this center.”
The new center is expected to be inaugurated by the middle of this year.
The ambassador said there was increased interest among the peoples of the two countries. “This is evident from the visa number,” he said. “Our embassy in Riyadh processed more than 43,000 visas in 2012 which is significantly higher than the one in 2011 when we had 24,000 visa applicants.”
On a lighter note, Haller said: “We don’t want to compete with the French as far as food is concerned, but we have a lot to offer; we are a country of diversity from the north to the south to the Bavarian mountains.”
Riyadh center will offer chance to learn German
Riyadh center will offer chance to learn German
