Greetings from the Ambassadors

Peter Ammon
Ambassador, Germany

For over 30 years, the schools united under the German Language School Conference (GLSC) have been performing the important task of teaching and maintaining the German language in the United States. As the umbrella organization, the GLSC advises schools and offers the opportunity for teachers to participate in continuing education. In times of tight public education budgets, the importance of the German language courses offered by the GLSC cannot be overestimated. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those involved in the GLSC for the valuable contribution they are making.

In these times of global challenges, the dialogue across borders and beyond has become a necessity. We all know that language is key to understanding a foreign culture. That is why multilingualism is such an enormous gain. It facilitates exchange and communication among people of different nations and cultures. And establishing a close emotional tie to the country offen goes hand in hand with learning a language.

To live up to the importanee of the German language in the world, we must aim to spur interest in the language and modern-day Germany as early on as possible. There are many good reasons to learn German. Some 101 million people in Europe speak German as their native language. German language skills open up new personal and professional horizons. Germany is an innovative and world-wide eonneeted business loeation, one of the leading global eeonomies and the USA's top trading partner in Europe. Fourteen million leamers of German have already reeognized these benefits. Through their work, the sehools united within the GSLC are helping to ensure that ever more young people here in the U.S. also realize these benefits.

I wish the GLSC and its partner sehools eontinued success with their work and hope that many people enthusiastieally accept their offer to learn the German language.

Peter Ammon, Ambassador
Germany