German Lessons in Oshawa

Because of Oshawa’s industrial past, many European communities decided to settle in this area at the beginning of the 20th century to take up jobs in the many factories, foundries and businesses that existed at the time. As a result, a large German community was established in the city which made a big impact on Oshawa’s cultural life. Nowadays, there are still many German-Canadians who still celebrate the traditions of their ancestors, as well as new immigrant groups that come from German-speaking countries, so it comes as no surprise that, according to the national census, German is one of the most commonly used foreign languages in the area, with almost 2,425 native speakers and many others who speak it as a second language. As you can imagine, if you choose to learn such a widespread language, you’ll be able to connect with a large sector of the local community and understand their culture more in-depth, so if your goal is to expand your horizons and become more knowledgable of the German heritage that helped made the city so diverse, start learning German today!

Learn German for Work and Travel

The City of Oshawa is showing constant economic growth, and as a result, there are thousands of new employment opportunities, especially in the tech and automotive industries. However, as you probably know, landing a position in any of these sectors is not an easy feat, as the area is filled with competitive candidates trying to get the same jobs as you. That’s why, if you truly want to stand out and become more employable, having a language skill like German on your resume can really make a difference. By doing so, you could enjoy amazing job openings exclusive to bilinguals that only few people can access, such as Technical Account Manager for Medline Canada, Controls Engineer for General Motors and Account Executive for NFP Corp.

Learn German for Social

Are you looking for the perfect chance to immerse yourself in German culture? If so, you should attend some of the performances of one of the best choirs in the Durham Region, Resound. This wonderful group regularly performs in Oshawa and specializes in beautiful and moving classical choral works by German composers. This year, you can’t miss their performance of Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem the seminal masterwork by Johannes Brahms that has remained an audience favourite for more than 150 years. This combined concert features over a hundred singers performing alongside a full-sized orchestra and will take place at different venues throughout the year, so if you love classic music and the German language, don’t miss out on this spectacular event. On the other hand, if you’re not the type of person who enjoys classical music, there are other ways to experience German culture around Oshawa, like attending the annual Oktoberfest celebration. It’s hosted by the local All or Nothing Brewhouse at 439 Ritson Road and is the perfect place to enjoy delicious and authentic German craft beer, play all sorts of fun games, dance to Polka music, try delicious German-inspired foods and meet people from all over the world.

Learn German for Culture

A great way to meet other like-minded people who love the German language and culture as much as you do is to attend one of the events organized by Club Loreley, the only German heritage society in the Durham Region. This club was created to promote, preserve and protect the German language, traditions and cultural interests in the area and looks to serve the local community of German-Canadians and those with German heritage. They meet every week to have conversations in German and learn about its culture, and the best thing is that everyone is welcome to join any of its many active groups, such as Frauengruppe, which is a group for women, Schutzengruppe, a rifle association, free German language meetups, traditional folk dance lessons and a choir that sings in German. All these meetings take place at their club, located at 389 Dean Avenue, where in addition to meeting people you can enjoy a wonderful atmosphere, and even have dinner some days of the week with the rest of the members. This friendly club is always looking for new members, so if you’re interested in joining this community, check out their website which has all the information you need to do so.

Where to learn German in and around Oshawa?

If you’ve set your mind to becoming a fluent German speaker, you might be interested in the various materials at the Oshawa Public Library, located at 65 Bagot Street. Here you’ll find great German films you can watch to work on your listening skills such as Im Labyrinth des Schweigens, or Labyrinth of Lies, which follows the story of a principled young prosecutor in post-WWII Germany who uncovers inconvenient truths about his country's recent past, and The White Ribbon, a period drama which takes place in a village in Protestant northern Germany where a series of bizarre incidents start to happen. You’ll also find useful course books you can use on your own or with a teacher, like Ultimate German by Ingeborg Lasting which is ideal for beginner and intermediate learners and German Demystified, by Edward Swick, which has a great grammar section you should check out. However, if you want to get past beginner and intermediate levels and become an advanced speaker who sounds like a native, your best choice is to start a language course at Listen & Learn. We have qualified native tutors who will take your skills to the next level and create flexible lessons that fit your every requirement. All you need to do to start learning with us is send us a quick inquiry now and one of our team members will contact you in no time to help you find the perfect German course!