The English language has 500.000+ words, whereas German has less than 300.000 words...

...yet when it comes to the word field of "education", English fails us.

3 expressions that would add nuance in the field of education 🧵👇

1) "Bildung":

In English, this is often translated with "liberal arts education" - but this does not nail the meaning at all.

"Bildung" is a concept that encompasses all elements that a person should internalize in order to become a well-rounded human-being

BTW: "Human being" is another crutch in English! --> "Mensch" is way better suited (so well that it it entered the dictionary (via yiddish, afaik).

A "gebildeter Mensch" is a person that is (ideally) able to navigate with ease through the complex world it lives in.

2) "Herzensbildung":

At least somehow translatable as "emotional intelligence" - as popularized by Goleman's bestseller.

But "Herzensbildung" ("heart building") is much more than the aforementioned buzzword we so often encounter in company presentations and management lingo....

...Its roots lie in the social teachings of the (catholic) church and its 3 pillars of subsidiarity, solidarity and common welfare.

"Herzensbildung" is a key component of German kindergarten-curricula - making the case that "EQ" can and should be taught from early on.

3) "Lebenstüchtigkeit": 

Literal translation: "Life proficiency"

Another concept that some (not all!) educational institutions in Germany explicitly strive to instill into their students.

If somebody is "lebenstüchtig", it means that he or she has acquired the necessary skill to truly stand on one's own feet.

What to do next?

Steal these expressions, copy them, adapt them...

...because I would love to see those expressions in English language.

We educate kids not to shit on the floor - and we educate students to become rocket scientists.

Let's add some nuance to education!