German 110 Final Blog

German 110 Deutsche Kultur: Overview and Reflections

            I have enjoyed learning more about the cultures of Germany this semester. Beginning with some basic history and overview of the states was helpful in gaining a broader understanding of the changes and struggles that Germany has faced, which helped to understand where the country is now. The presentations over the states were greatly useful in learning more about each state and significant aspects of each. I learned that Germany as it is today is relatively young since reunification happened only in 1990. I learned that there are 16 states that are unique and also share similarities to the others. We have also explored the divide in East and West Germany from 1948-1990. Learning about food and music and politics in Germany was also interesting and useful. I also gathered a much clearer understanding of World War I through reading All Quiet on the Western Front and the activities that accompanied it. It is particularly important that after the atrocities of the World Wars, Germany is striving to prevent threats to humanity in the future with a strong constitution and high value on humans as individuals.

            Some things that have surprised me are the conservative nature of the country. One thing that stands out is that Germany will not use nuclear energy. In learning about how dangerously the USA is using nuclear energy and cutting back funding for safety and precautions, this is extremely important. If Germany prefers to use renewable resources, such as windmills, this shows a commitment to the environment and trying to find cleaner sources of energy. This is increasingly important as the planet needs to work together to reduce carbon emissions, and major countries like the US should be better models of protecting the environment and safety of the people. I was also surprised about the constitution of Germany. I sometimes wonder what my country would be like if values such as the dignity of a person and equality and privacy would be more greatly protected here. I especially admire that German society is more open to the LGBT community. There are many German values that could be adopted in the US to work towards a more equitable and free nation.

            Overall I enjoyed the coursework. Of particular interest to me was learning about the individual states and the discussions that ensued. Learning about different cultures in Germany was especially interesting to me. I found it helpful to look at both similarities and differences between Germany and the USA. Another aspect that I appreciated was reading the novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, and watching the film, Berlin Calling. These helped in creating a more vivid picture of life and issues in Germany, both in the past and more currently. In addition, I enjoyed class discussions on all topics during the class. I also liked having the opportunity to explore topics of my own choosing, especially learning about Turkish Hip Hop and what life is like for Turkish people in Germany. I was intrigued by the experience of this population trying to find their own German-Turkish identity and the struggles they have faced. It resonates with the difficulties that many Spanish-speaking immigrants face in the USA.

            In thinking about how this class could be restructured, I would put less emphasis on group presentations and add more small-group discussion. I think I would have been able to gain more from discussions with my peers in a smaller setting since we are a larger class, and then opened up to a whole group discussion. I also would have liked to have more specifics on assignments and a syllabus to outline the course to better gauge what was expected of me as well as a time line to plan accordingly. An interesting idea, although it could be difficult to coordinate, would be creating a pen-pal system with students in Germany to have discussion back and forth to learn about each other’s cultures and ask questions and gain varying insights. Additionally, I have not used a blog as part of a class, and I found that I enjoyed it once I learned how to upload projects and navigate the webpage. Perhaps something to add could be cultural YouTube videos to the main blog, or having online discussions about an article, etc. I found all of the topics interesting and useful in promoting my understanding of German culture. The country is rich in history and culture, and there is still much to be learned. The coursework has motivated me to continue learning the language and look for an opportunity to travel or live there in the near future.

Stuttgart, Germany

Capital of Baden-Württemberg

Stuttgart, Germany is surrounded by one of Germany’s largest wine-growing regions.  Stuttgart beckons cultural junkies with its acclaimed ballet, opera and philharmonic, while auto fans get revved up over the Mercedes Benz Museum. There’s more green space than urban sprawl in the festival-friendly city, home to Europe’s largest zoo and botanic garden combo, the Wilhelma. The WäŸrttembergisches Landesmuseum, in one of the city’s oldest structures, traces area history from the Stone Age. Buses or subway provide handy transport.

Backpacking in Stuttgart: Click Here!