Rings’s blog

Dear Students,

The last topic about which you will read has to do with ideas about friendliness and friendship. How do you know the difference between someone’s being friendly and someone’s wanting to start up a friendship? German speakers tended to view some of our talk as overtures to friendship, when all we wanted to do was be friendly or polite. I hope you will enjoy reading about these differences. The last excerpt you should read is, I think, really good, because I think the German speaker lived in the U.S. long enough to see beyond the surface of our relationships.

http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkpolite.htm
Read at least one excerpt from each of the three subtopics: Routine Formulae, Friendship or Friendliness and Small Talk? and Respectful Distance/Reticence (read Paul Meier under the latter).

How you should write on the topics in MY COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:
1. In English state briefly what you learned about the topics, what surprised you, what bothered or disappointed you, what you found interesting or inspiring.
2. Copy in German one sentence or utterance, from an interview excerpt, that best describes ONE of the topics.
3. Search the internet (find texts in English and/or German and pictures) with a US, German, Austrian, or Swiss search engine, seeking to obtain further understanding of at least one of the topics and the crosscultural misunderstandings that exist. Possible search words and phrases: Freundschaft, Freundlichkeit, Floskeln, Grüße - greetings (google.de, google.ch, google.at)

4. Cite the URL(s), and WRITE ABOUT what you find AND how you react to it/them.

5. How would you explain to a native speaker of German the difference between being friendly or polite and starting up a friendship?

German 2314: In addition, complete the following sentences in German.
Ich habe über Freundlichkeit und Freundschaften in Deutschlund gelesen. Ich habe gelernt, dass ____________(Verb here). Ich habe es interessant gefunden, dass _________________ (Verb here). Ich glaube, die Deutschen sind/haben/machen/etc. _________________. Ich glaube, Amerikaner verstehen nicht, dass __________________ (Verb here).

Viel Spaß!

Ihre Kursleiterin

Reactions to Comments and Links by Your Classmates

1. Read what your classmates wrote about dating and public nudity to see if anything surprises you. Comment by stating what surprises you, if anything, and also by discussing what you found interesting in your classmates’ thoughts.

2. Read the internet links your classmates linked to. Look at the pictures, and read the German and English texts as best you can. What did you learn from the links that you did not know before? How did you react to them and why?

3. In regard to the definition of “dating” and in regard to what kind of clothing is required (or not required) when in public, what does this teach you about questions of what is appropriate behavior and what is moral? How can Germans and Americans both be “moral” while doing things differently?

Dear Students,

You should enjoy — or at least find interesting — the next two cultural interviews. Monika Roubach came as a student to Texas, and when she got together with a young man, she didn’t realize it was a “date.” The clues we interpret correctly without even thinking about them were clues that she didn’t understand. What happened was funny. Then Paul Meier went to a college in Florida where there were a lot of foreign students learning English. One of them didn’t understand that there is a law against going topless when sunbathing — another funny story. So enjoy! Your assignment is written below.

Dating (in English only): http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkdate.htm
Public Nudity, Paul Meier: http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalknude.htm

How you should write on the topics in MY COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:
1. In English state briefly what you learned about the topics, what surprised you, what bothered or disappointed you, what you found interesting or inspiring.
2. Copy in German one sentence or utterance, from the interview excerpt, that best describes ONE of the topics.
3. Search the internet (find texts in English and/or German and pictures) with a US, German, Austrian, or Swiss search engine, seeking to obtain further understanding of at least one of the topics and the crosscultural misunderstandings that exist. Possible search words and phrases: “Dating,” ausgehen, nackt baden, oben ohne gehen, (google.de, google.ch, google.at)

4. Cite the URL(s), and WRITE ABOUT what you find AND how you react to it/them.

5. How does one know when differences are cultural and not necessarily “moral” or “immoral?” For example, some U.S. citizens might think it immoral that someone would go out with a member of the opposite sex while in a relationship with another, or some might think that public nudity in public is immoral. How does one know when people might be being “immoral” and when their behavior might not be immoral at all in their culture?

German 2314: In addition, complete the following sentences in German.
Ich habe über Nacktheit und Freundschaften in Deutschlund gelesen. Ich habe gelernt, dass ____________(Verb here). Ich habe es interessant gefunden, dass _________________ (Verb here). Ich glaube, die Deutschen sind/haben/machen/etc. _________________. Ich glaube, Amerikaner verstehen nicht, dass __________________ (Verb here).

Liebe Studenten und Studentinnen,

diese Woche gibt es Teste, Teste, Teste! (Prüfungen, Prüfungen, Prüfungen). Deswegen schreiben wir diese Woche KEINEN Blog. Die Testinformationen finden Sie rechts unter “2008 1442 Schedule” oder “2008 2314 Schedule.”

Nächste Woche fangen wir wieder an — mit Nacktheit (public nudity) und Freundlichkeit (friendliness).

Ihre Kursleiterin

Dear Students:

Here are the next topics for you!

1. ‘Du’ or ‘Sie,’ READ and LISTEN to TWO of the speakers’ experiences: http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkdusie.htm
2. Religion, READ and LISTEN to ONE of these speakers, Sara Johnson, Michael Schwarz, OR Ursula Smith (Swiss woman): http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkrel.htm

These two topics have nothing to do with each other – unless YOU can find some connection!

1. When to use ‘du’ and ‘Sie’ seems pretty straightforward, but you’ll see that it is not as simple as it seems.

2. Religious practices stir up controversy. Whether it has to do with doctrine, how many denominations (‘Konfessionen’) there should be in the Christian religion, how many churches, what one does at church, TV preachers, or even how one talks about religion or church, there’s sure to be a surprise on the faces of German speakers when they come to Texas.

How you should write on the topics in MY COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:
1. In English state briefly what you learned about the topics, what surprised you, what bothered or disappointed you, what you found interesting or inspiring.
2. Copy in German one sentence or utterance, from the interview excerpt, that best describes ONE of the topics.
3. Search the internet (find texts in English and/or German and pictures) with a US, German, Austrian, or Swiss search engine, seeking to obtain further understanding of at least one of the topics and the crosscultural misunderstandings that exist. Possible search words and phrases: Wann benutzt man ‘du’? Wann benutzt man ‘Sie’? Siezen oder duzen? (To use ‘Sie’ or to use ‘du’?), Religion, Kirche, Gottesdienst, Kölner Dom (the Cologne Cathedral where you can go virtually: http://217.160.164.18/typo3-dom/index.php and click on “Rundgang;” or see the webcam: http://www.wdr.de/themen/global/webcams/domcam.jhtml )
(google.de, google.ch, google.at).

4. Cite the URLs, and WRITE ABOUT what you find.

5. So far we’ve discussed cliques, bars, alcohol, food, education, dogs in restaurants, women’s shaving habits, and now ‘du’ and ‘Sie’ and religion. How can this kind of knowledge help you deal with people who live in your own country who are different from you? (Perhaps they have a different heritage from you or speak a language at home that is different from yours. Perhaps they are not from Texas or your home state.)

Viel Spaß!

LR

Dear Students,

I’ve been reading with interest your experiences, opinions, and knowledge about your own and others’ (and other cultures’) ideas regarding dogs and shaving, as well as your questions about midday meals.  I’d like to begin with the last first: why has the midday meal in Germany been the big one? I do not know the answer, but suspect it may still be a holdover from the days when Germany was more agricultural than it is now. I say that, because as a child in Kansas our Sunday noon meals were always the big one (pot roast, carrots, potatoes) and the evening meals were tuna sandwiches. I have heard that in the days when the U.S. was more rural, farm hands would come in for a big midday meal. Does anyone have any knowledge to support or refute that?

Now some questions for you regarding dogs and shaving!

1. Take a look at what your classmates have written. You have differing opinions on both topics. Any reactions to your classmates’ ideas?

2. Look, also, at some of their links. What do you learn from them?

3. Then reflect on and address as much of the following as you can:

a. SHAVING: According to Becky Williams (thanks, Becky) who learned that the fashion industry began women’s shaving back in the early part of the 20th century. Before that, women evidently did not shave! I know women not shaving bothers (disgusts) some, while it does not others. I think this is a good example of how even such emotions as disgust are culturally conditioned. How do you react to that idea? Secondly, I myself have always found it amusing that many people are disgusted by women’s body hair (armpit or leg), but not by men’s. I understand that people have these opinions, but to me it is completely illogical — again a result of what we are brought up to believe. But isn’t it illogical? Also, I have heard that society’s ideas about men are changing — that now some men feel impelled to shave their chest hair. Is that true in your circles? If we shave more and more of ourselves, is not the fashion industry happier to sell more of the equipment needed? What if water becomes extremely scarce? Or does it not figure?

b. DOGS: You have differing opinions regarding dogs as well. I think the point well taken that German dogs must, by law, behave in public. In my experience in Germany dogs do not slobber, have fleas, and jump up on you or bark in public places. I saw a man on a bike, his dog riding in a basket with him, who got on the bus — dog and bike and all, and no one thought a thing of it. I know here some dogs are very well behaved, while others aren’t. I was riding my bike once, and a collie-type dog chased me and bit at me! You experiences/thoughts?

Viel Spaß!

Dear Students,

I read with interest your responses to others’ opinions and to others’ web findings regarding education and food in Germany. I was very impressed by the THOUGHTFULNESS with which many of you addressed these topics. You could see not only both sides to the issues, but YOU EXPLAINED and discussed them. The person whose husband is a mechanic sees firsthand the pros and cons of both systems and finds no easy answer to the question, “What is best?” and for well explained reasons. You DREW ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE of food to discuss in what ways and why you perceive much to be the results of how we are raised and what we are exposed to. You gained some insight into how prevalent Turkish cuisine is in Germany — and you now know why. A couple of you found it refreshing that people spend time during eating to socialize and to enjoy food, whereas others could not fathom that — food is merely something to be dealt with during one’s day. I agree that we are caught up in a hectic lifestyle and also that it is easy to rush through meals in order to “get on with the day.” My own feeling, after having lived and experienced different ways of living and eating in my 60 years on this planet, is that good, healthy, nutritious, and extremely tasty (gourmet-like) food is possible, desirable, and is indeed one of the great pleasures in this life. It takes a bit of preparation and planning, but it is worth it to me. (See me for the name of a wonderful cookbook — healthy, natural, and gourmet!) And enjoying it with people one likes significantly increases the pleasure. I was also gratified to see that you are reading the websites that others have found, because that can only deepen your understanding of German-speaking Europe. Thank you for explaining your deepening understanding of German and (U.S.) American culture. Hopefully, when you leave German classes, you will find you are taking something of value with you.

More of the “Story:” 1. There is what is called a “zweiter Ausbildungsweg,” in which people who have chosen one path in high school change paths, so it is possible, although probably not as prevalent as here. Bear in mind that some people find the security of one job/one profession comforting. 2. When Germans look at our educational system, they may find it confusing, with the private schools and universities, junior colleges, the elite universities, the colleges, tech schools, state universities, graduate school, as well as junior high, middle school, grade school through 5th or 6th or 8th grade, tracks in high school (honors, college prep, AP, vocational, etc.). 3. People still eat sauerkraut and Wurst, just as people here still eat steak and potatoes (think of all the steakhouses here in the metroplex). 4. The midday meal, while changing, still exists, as Rike says.

Now to this week: This week’s topics should be a lot of fun for you. Topic 1: Most women in Germany today, especially younger women, shave. Right, Rike? My questions: if women have to shave, why don’t men? When did U.S. women begin shaving? Two generations ago? Three? … Topic 2: Most dogs in Germany are well behaved and must be on leashes. They must be very well behaved in public. How is it in Texas with dogs? I understand that Dallas requires dogs not to be tethered now, and that Fort Worth is thinking about it — and that tethered dogs tend to be meaner.

Shaving, Ingeborg Brown: http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkshave.htm

Dogs in Restaurants: http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkdogs.htm

How you should write on the topics in MY COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:
1. In English state briefly what you learned about the topics, what surprised you, what bothered or disappointed you, what you found interesting or inspiring.
2. Copy in German one sentence or utterance, from the interview excerpt, that best describes ONE of the topics.
3. Search the internet (find texts in English and/or German and pictures) with a US, German, Austrian, or Swiss search engine, seeking to obtain further understanding of at least one of the topics and the crosscultural misunderstandings that exist. Possible search words and phrases: Sollen Frauen sich die Beine rasieren? Sollen Frauen sich die Achseln rasieren? Hunde, Hunde im Restaurant, Hunde: Gesetze (laws) (google.de, google.ch, google.at)

4. Cite the URLs, and WRITE ABOUT what you find.

5. Based on the six topics you have read about thus far, talk about how Americans and Germans can be led to understand one another better.

German 2314: In addition, complete the following sentences in German.
Ich habe über Rasieren und Hunde in Deutschlund gelesen. Ich habe gelernt, dass ____________(Verb here). Ich habe es interessant gefunden, dass _________________ (Verb here). Ich glaube, die Deutschen sind/haben/machen/etc. _________________. Ich glaube, Amerikaner verstehen nicht, dass __________________ (Verb here).

Have fun, or “Viel Spaß!”

Lana Rings

(1442 exam prep is one post below this one.)

Dear Students,

I’ve been reading your comments on food and education with interest. I can see you see some of the advantages and the flaws in both systems. In my own opinion, German education is great at preparing well trained workers and well educated professionals. What our system does is provide more flexibility — for “late bloomers” and for people changing careers in adulthood. You have discussed that in some depth. GREAT!!! Here’s the next assignment (take no more than one to two hours!):

1. Read what your classmates wrote about education and food to see if anything surprises you. If so, comment on it. (Post titled: Week of Feb. 11: German 1442 Lab & German 2314 Friday Homework)

2. Read the links your classmates linked to. What did you learn about education and/or food you did not know before?

3. What does this tell you about people’s attitudes concerning food and education? Do you agree that they are conditioned by their upbringing? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? (HAVE FUN! LR)

A story about travel in Germany (scrambled version)

HERE IS THE PUZZLE. (THE UNSCRAMBLED STORY IS BELOW IT.

Zuerst / in die Schweiz / ist sie / gefahren.
Dann / mit dem Zug nach Nürnberg in Süddeutschland / ist sie / gefahren.
Mary Smith / ist / nach Deutschland / gefahren.
In Nürnberg / ein Hotel / hat sie / gesucht (looked for), aber / sie / keins (kein Hotel) / hat / gefunden.

Er hat ein Hotel gefunden. Dann hat er gefragt: “Möchten Sie ein Glas Wein trinken?”
Er ist zu ihr gekommen und hat gesagt: “Ich helfe Ihnen, ein Hotel zu finden.”
Ein junger Mann war auf der Straße und hat sie gesehen.
“Ja, das wäre sehr nett,” hat sie gesagt, “aber ich habe einen Freund.” Er hat erwidert (gesagt): “Oh, kein Problem. Ich habe auch eine Freundin.”

Sie haben dann ein Glas Wein getrunken und haben über Deutschland und Amerika gesprochen.
Der junge Mann ist weggegangen.
Sie hat ihn nie wieder gesehen.
Danach hat er sie zurück zum Hotel geführt (led/took).

A story about travel in Germany (unscrambled version)

Mary Smith ist nach Deutschland gefahren. Zuerst ist sie in die Schweiz gefahren. Dann ist sie mit dem Zug nach Nürnberg in Süddeutschland gefahren. In Nürnberg hat sie ein Hotel gesucht (looked for), aber sie hat keins (kein Hotel) gefunden.

Ein junger Mann war auf der Straße und hat sie gesehen. Er ist zu ihr gekommen und hat gesagt: “Ich helfe Ihnen, ein Hotel zu finden.” Er hat ein Hotel gefunden. Dann hat er gefragt: “Möchten Sie ein Glas Wein trinken?”

“Ja, das wäre sehr nett,” hat sie gesagt, “aber ich habe einen Freund.” Er hat erwidert (gesagt): “Oh, kein Problem. Ich habe auch eine Freundin.”

Sie haben dann ein Glas Wein getrunken und haben über Deutschland und Amerika gesprochen. Danach hat er sie zurück zum Hotel geführt (led/took). Der junge Mann ist weggegangen. Sie hat ihn nie wieder gesehen.

FOOD AND EDUCATION!

Read the English renderings on the following sites, then listen to the German audio WHILE reading the German transcription:

Food, Martine Hoffman-Johnston: http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkfood.htm

Education, Ingeborg Brown (or Martine Hoffman-Johnston): http://langlab.uta.edu/german/personal/rings/rings/amgertalkeduc.htm

Read and listen to any other interview excerpts and/or essays on these sites that interest you.

How you should write on the topics in MY COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:
1. In English state briefly what you learned about the topics, what surprised you, what bothered or disappointed you, what you found interesting or inspiring.
2. Copy in German one sentence or utterance, from the interview excerpt, that best describes ONE of the topics.
3. Search the internet (find texts in English and/or German and pictures) with a US, German, Austrian, or Swiss search engine, seeking to obtain further understanding of at least one of the topics and the crosscultural misunderstandings that exist. Search words: Brot, Strassencafés, Biergarten, türkische Küche, italienische Küche, griechische Küche, Erziehungssystem, Schulsystem, Lehre, Auszubildende. (google.de, google.ch, google.at)

4. Cite the URLs, and report what you find and how you react to the ideas.

German 2314: In addition, complete the following sentences in German.
Ich habe über das Essen und über Erziehung in Deutschlund gelesen. Ich habe gelernt, dass ____________(Verb here). Ich habe es interessant gefunden, dass _________________ (Verb here). Ich glaube, die Deutschen sind/haben/machen/etc. _________________. Ich glaube, Amerikaner verstehen nicht, dass __________________ (Verb here).

Have fun, or “Viel Spaß!”

Lana Rings