1) German media in comparison to American media
a) Television
i) History
ii) Laws
iii) Public vs. private
b) Radio
i) History
ii) Laws
iii) Public vs. private
c) Print
i) History
ii) Laws
iii) Public vs. private
d) Internet
i) History
ii) Laws
iii) Public vs. private
Ryan Krebs
ENGL 191 sec 21
Preparations for the interview
For my interview I came up with ten questions along with three addition points of interest about Germany and its culture. My objective for the interview was to have Wilma give me as much information she could about Germany and about being an international student. I wanted to learn about the pros and cons of the German and American university system. I also wanted to learn more about German traditions like Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets. I researched on the Internet about Germany and that is where I came up with my additional points of interest that I formed into questions during the interview. To record the interview, I brought in my computer and recorded the whole interview on GarageBand.
How Did You Approach People?
To secure three people for my interview I simple asked the three German students in my economics class if they would be willing to let me interview them. Luckily for me, they are all very nice people and agreed to be interviewed. I asked them what times would work best for them to do the interviews because I wanted to make it as little of an inconvenience as possible.
When, Where, and How did you Conduct the Interview?
I conducted the interview with Wilma after our economics class on the first floor of Stewart hall. There was a table set up with chairs, so we had a nice comfortable place to conduct the interview. It was quiet there since it was 5 o’clock and most classes were over for the day. I conducted the interview by showing Wilma the list of questions I had while I was setting up my computer. I told her that I would also be asking her a few questions about Germany and its culture.
Whom did you Interview?
I interviewed Wilma. She is 21 years old. She is a finance and human resource major. She studies at the university of applied sciences in Ingolstadt. She is from the city of Ulm, which is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is two hours away by train from Munich. She lives with her sister, who will be graduating this year from high school, and both of her parents in a house outside of the big city. Her family likes horses and donkeys; they own one of each and keep them in a stable away from their house, since there is no room to ride them there. All of her aunts, uncles, and grandparents live in northern Germany. Her family enjoys going hiking and skiing, so they go to Austria almost every weekend.
Describe the Interview
I thought that the interview went well. I learned a lot more about Germany. One thing I learned from this interview that I didn’t from the previous two was that at a German university they don’t really have a campus. She told me that most activities were done outside of school and that the University was mostly just for lectures. They have no dorms at the university and your life is mostly centered on your home and not school like it is here. Another thing I learned about was the difference in the high school systems. Wilma studied in St. Louis during her 11th grade year of high school. She told me that they couldn’t pick their classes in high school like we can here. They have to take all of the same classes with the same classmates for nine years. The social life is different in high school too. All of the music clubs and sports teams are not associated with the school. High school is just a place to study in Germany. I also learned about a holiday in Germany that the other two elected not to tell me about. St. Martin’s day in Germany is a day to remember St. Martin because he gave his coat to someone who was poor. Today people walk around with candles through the city and sing songs about St. Martin. Then there is a reenactment of the original St. Martin and then everyone shares a pretzel. I was told that this holiday is for the little kids but Wilma and her friends introduced it to their university, so this year they were celebrating it in Ingolstadt.
Why I didn’t transcribe
I chose not to transcribe this interview because I thought that the first interview with Dan was much better. I thought that the interview with Ann went just as well as this one. Since I had already transcribed the interview with Ann I decided not to transcribe this one.
Report on Country and Culture
Germany is a country in Europe. Germany is made up of 16 different states1, each with their own customs, traditions, and dialects2. The capital city is Berlin and is located in north east Germany. Germany is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency. The climate is temperate and marine2. 82.3 million people live in Germany with about 19% of those people not being German2. Germany is a huge economic powerhouse; it has the fifth largest economy in the world and the largest in Europe1. It is one of the largest trading nations in the world. Germans enjoy a high standard of living with an average income of $35,4001. The geography of Germany consists of low lands in the north and mountains in the south2. Germany has a total land area of 357,022 square kilometers1.
Germany has a very rich culture with some very unique traditions and celebrations. The most famous of all German traditions is Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest takes place every year at the end of September, running into early October. Oktoberfest lasts 15 days and was started back in 1810 when prince Ludwig was married and had a celebration for it2. Today people come from all over the world to experience beer drinking at its finest. Another important event that takes place every year in Germany is its Christmas markets. All throughout Germany, in most cities and towns, you will find a Christmas market for the four weeks leading up to Christmas2. Germans also like to play sports. The most popular sport in Germany is soccer. In 2006, Germany hosted the World Cup, and from my interview I now know that the World Cup brought back a lot of pride to the Germany people. Other than soccer, ice hockey and basketball are gaining popularity across Germany. Germans love their beer. There are over 1300 breweries in Germany2. Drinking in Germany is seen as a social experience rather than the American way of partying. Germans are allowed to drink beer at age 16, and because of this, they view drinking differently in Germany than we do in America.
Works Cited
1Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. September 30, 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html (accessed October 20, 2009).
2German Missions in the United States. Welcome to Germany.info. http://www.germany.info/vertretung/usa/en/startseite.html (accessed October 20, 2009).
Ryan Krebs
ENGL 191 sec. 21
11/2/09
Interview
Me: Where are you from and what’s your name? Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Ann: ok, I am from Germany, and my name is Ann-Kathrin Adae. I am 22 years old and I am studying her for one semester.
Me: Where in Germany are you from?
Ann: I am from New Ulm in Germany, but I am studying in Ingolstadt. It’s in the south of Germany.
Me: Where is your hometown located in Germany?
Ann: In between Munich and Stuttgart in the south
Me: In the Bavaria region?
Ann: Yep
Me Can you tell me a little bit about life back in Germany? Like who do you live with, any family members?
Ann: I have family members, I have one sister and I am living in my parent’s house, but in Ingolstadt I have my own apartment so I was living on my own. I am studying for three years now. I think I am a senior here in America.
Me: Can you tell me about the biggest difference between college life in Germany and college life here? What’s the hardest part to get used to?
Ann: College life in America is more intensive. You have to study very hard, but on the other side you party very hard. So I think its difficult and the people they are younger when they are starting to study because in Germany you usually start when you are 19. So we don’t have the same freshman year. What else? I think that’s the most important one. You have to study every week because you have tests and quizzes and all the stuff. In Germany we don’t have those, we only have the one final exam.
Me: Was that hard getting used to having the assignments and quizzes due every week? Compared to just the one final exam in Germany?
Ann: No, it’s just a different style so you don’t have to study six weeks for only one exam. I think it’s easier.
Me: So you like the style here better than in Germany?
Ann: I like it
Me: What’s your course of study?
Ann: My major is business and finance and marketing.
Me: Can you tell me a little bit about the traditions back in Germany? Any customs you guys might have?
Ann: Ok, tradition in Germany is really different because we have the north of Germany and the South of Germany. North Germany I don’t know about the culture there because I am from the south. So the south is very famous for the Oktoberfest and the lederhosen and all the stuff. So its well known and tradition here, we drink a lot of beer. We have good food. It’s a little bit difficult in America to find good food.
Me: you like the food better in Germany than you do here?
Ann: Yeah. I am not a fan of hamburger and McDonalds and Burger King and Apple Bees
Me: You like the pretzels in Germany?
Ann: Yep, but the pretzels here are not like the pretzels in Germany. You have cheese on your pretzels and that’s impossible in Germany.
Me: What are some holidays that you celebrate in Germany and how do you celebrate them?
Ann: Of course you have Christmas; you celebrate it with your family or usually with your family, but here in America the big holiday is the 25th but in Germany it’s the 24th. The evening, so the people come together, and they have a good meal, and after this you get your presents and you sing. Sometimes it’s difficult between the families but the 24th is the big day. We have New Years holiday. Easter, it’s in March. All the Christian holidays. They are really big in Bavaria because Bavaria is really catholic and there for the church has a good position in society. So we celebrate a lot of Christian and catholic holidays. And I think Germany is the country with the highest amount of holidays in the world. So we don’t have to work during this time.
Me: You said its mostly catholic people in Bavaria, Does religion play a pretty big role in your lives?
Ann: I think, in the small villages (willages), I would say yeah. Yes, but usually it’s a separated from the government. So not like in countries like Iran. So it’s really separated and in the south of Germany I would say religion, not religion but more culture from the religion like Christmas and Easter and other holidays. They play a big role in society but in the North the people are more Protestant, Lutheran. So it’s not so big of a role in the society but compared to other countries I would say there’s not such a big role of religion in our society.
Me: We’ll sift back to America now, have you been anywhere else while you have been here?
Ann: I was in Chicago, now I’m going to Madison, I was in Milwaukee, I was in Wisconsin at a cabin but I have no idea where. I only know the lake and ill go to New York and L.A.
Me: Do you find that it is easy to make friends here, are the people friendly, and are your professors helpful?
Ann: The people are really friendly. I think it’s the Minnesota….
Me: The Minnesota nice?
Ann: The Minnesota nice, so the people are all really friendly and the people here it’s really different with Germany because in Germany the people are also friendly but not in that way like in Minnesota. Everybody says, “do you need help, I can give you a ride or you can have my car.” It’s really nice here. To make friends I would say it’s a little bit difficult with Americans because everyone is your friend after two seconds, but he is not your real friend. So it’s only your facebook friend. That’s why people have 1,000 friends on facebook. In Germany we say, I had a discussion with one of my friends, when you say he is my friend, he is really one of your best friends and friend are perhaps only 20 persons and in America everybody is a friend.
Me: Friendships are a little closer in Germany then?
Ann: Yep, otherwise you say I know this person, but you don’t say it’s my friend
Me: Back in Germany, did you play any sports? What are the main sports?
Ann: I was a boxer. After this I did a lot of music. I play the flute in the orchestra but no sports.
Me: Germany hosted the World Cup in 2006. Did that have a pretty big impact on your country?
Ann: Yeah, it had a big impact because of WWII all the people have not such high pride of Germany. They always say, ah yeah Germany WWII, every one knows Germany for WWII. After this people saw that we can party too and we are friendly, that we are open minded. That we are another country than 50 years ago. Some people are surprised that Germany is rich. That we all have to start liking America. I think it had a big impact on Germany and the people. Now because the people in Germany are not very proud to be German and here in America its always I’m an American. I’m American, I’m proud to be American and in Germany people don’t say I’m proud of being a German citizen. Its what people in our country don’t say because of WWII, because of the history and yeah it had a big impact.
Me: Does history still play a role? I know of East and West Germany, are there still any conflicts with that at all?
Ann: IN my generation I would say no conflicts between eastern Germany and Western Germany. The wall fall down in 1989, so I was two years old and cant remember anything. For me, I have friends in Berlin and I have friends in Munich, so it’s not a big issue, but I think for my parents and for my grandparents they knew all the stuff and they saw it. Perhaps for them it’s more of a big issue than for my generation. The history plays a big role in our society and we are really taught in the history, in school. When you are in another country we don’t say I’m German, I am proud of Germany. So it’s our style not to present too much that you are of Germany.
Me: Why did you want to come study in America, and why did you choose St. Cloud?
Ann: I want to study in America because I thought it would be a good experience and I wanted to see the difference between the cultures and the party stuff. St. Cloud because I knew a lot of people from St. Cloud because its our partner university. I said perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad to have some friends here, so I decided to go to St. Cloud.
Me: Is it hard taking classes in English?
Ann: No, because we have English class in Germany too. The professors teach all classes in English. They have to in university, so it’s not difficult to understand the English. Its more difficult for Germans to speak English because we don’t speak a lot of English but we can understand it and we can write it.
Me: All the classes are taught in English in Germany at the University?
Ann: In business, yeah. My university, but its different for other universities, maybe some classes, but at my university we do everything in English because we have a lot of international students so they have to do it. There is a lot of Americans, people from St. Cloud and they don’t understand any German.
This is the end of interview on the recorder. We stayed and talked for a while after and this is what I took a mental note of while we were talking.
Ann has been to Oktoberfest 22 times. She said she goes more for the tradition than for the beer drinking, since she is from Bavaria.
She said that different size cities are called different things. She is from New Ulm, which she said had a population of 10,000 people, and is called a willage.
She said she went to an all girls’ school for 13 years until she went to Ingolstadt to study.
She can speak four different languages, English, Italian, French, and German. She is learning to speak Chinese because she is going to Hong Kong. She said that she likes languages because she feels that when she is in someone else’s country that it is rude to not try and speak their language.
In Germany they are taught Oxford English. She said that it is different from American English, and that she didn’t know a lot of the slang American words when she came here.
She said that French people don’t like speaking English. She also said that French people know English they just don’t like Americans and English people.
She said that Wednesday is a big party day back in Germany.
Ryan Krebs
ENGL 191 sec 21
Preparations for the interview
For my interview I came up with ten questions along with three addition points of interest about Germany and its culture. My objective for the interview was to have Ann-Kathrin give me as much information she could about Germany and about being an international student. I wanted to learn about the pros and cons of the German and American university system. I also wanted to learn more about German traditions like Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets. I researched on the Internet about Germany and that is where I came up with my additional points of interest that I formed into questions during the interview. To record the interview, I brought in my computer and recorded the whole interview on GarageBand. I then sent the interview to iTunes so I could burn it to a CD.
How Did You Approach People?
To secure three people for my interview I simple asked the three German students in my economics class if they would be willing to let me interview them. Luckily for me, they are all very nice people and agreed to be interviewed. I asked them what times would work best for them to do the interviews because I wanted to make it as little of an inconvenience as possible.
When, Where, and How did you Conduct the Interview?
I conducted the interview with Ann-Kathrin at the coffee shop in the library. I went to the library about ten minutes before our scheduled 12:00pm meeting time to look for a good spot. There were no study rooms available so the next best alternative was the coffee shop. The coffee shop turned out to be a great spot for the interview. It was quiet and we had our own table to sit at. I conducted the interview by simple telling Ann-Kathrin that I have a couple of questions ready to go but the whole purpose of the interview is for me to learn as much as I can from her. After that, I started the recorder and we began the interview. After I was out of my preformed questions, I shut off the recorder because I thought the interview was over, but then we started talking and I learned a few more things about Ann-Kathrin and Germany that did not make it onto the recorder. I listed these things at the end of the transcribed interview.
Whom did you Interview?
I interviewed Ann-Kathrin. Ann-Kathrin is from southern Germany, in the state of Bavaria, in the willage of New Ulm. Ann-Kathrin is 22 years old and is in her senior year of college. She has one sister. She lives with her parents in New Ulm when she is not at school. In Ingolstadt she has her own apartment. Ann-Kathrin is a true Bavarian. She said that she has been to Oktoberfest 22 times because it’s a tradition in Bavaria. Ann-Kathrin went to an all girls’ school before she went to Ingolstadt for college.
Describe the Interview
I thought that the interview went well. I learned a lot more about Germany and from the perspective of a Bavarian instead of from the perspective of a northern German, which was my first interview. Something that I thought was very interesting was how Germans view friendship. She said that here in America everyone is friends with everyone even though you are really not friends but you just know the person. She said that in Germany you have a close group of about 20 friends compared to here where Americans have 1000 Facebook friends. Another thing that I thought was interesting was when she said that she came to America and the English was different from what she had learned. She said that Americans use more slang than the English. She said that was the most difficult part of the language barrier. I also thought that it was weird that she took all of her college courses in English while she was in Germany. The reason they teach all the classes in English is because of the high number of international students and that English is the best way for everyone to understand.
Report on Country and Culture
Germany is a country in Europe. Germany is made up of 16 different states1, each with their own customs, traditions, and dialects2. The capital city is Berlin and is located in northeast Germany. Germany is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency. The climate is temperate and marine2. 82.3 million people live in Germany with about 19% of those people not being German2. Germany is a huge economic powerhouse; it has the fifth largest economy in the world and the largest in Europe1. It is one of the largest trading nations in the world. Germans enjoy a high standard of living with an average income of $35,4001. The geography of Germany consists of low lands in the north and mountains in the south2. Germany has a total land area of 357,022 square kilometers1.
Germany has a very rich culture with some very unique traditions and celebrations. The most famous of all German traditions is Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest takes place every year at the end of September, running into early October. Oktoberfest lasts 15 days and was started back in 1810 when prince Ludwig was married and had a celebration for it2. Today people come from all over the world to experience beer drinking at its finest. Another important event that takes place every year in Germany is its Christmas markets. All throughout Germany, in most cities and towns, you will find a Christmas market for the four weeks leading up to Christmas2. Germans also like to play sports. The most popular sport in Germany is soccer. In 2006, Germany hosted the World Cup, and from my interview I now know that the World Cup brought back a lot of pride to the Germany people. Other than soccer, ice hockey and basketball are gaining popularity across Germany. Germans love their beer. There are over 1300 breweries in Germany2. Drinking in Germany is seen as a social experience rather than the American way of partying. Germans are allowed to drink beer at age 16, and because of this, they view drinking differently in Germany than we do in America.
Works Cited
1Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. September 30, 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html (accessed October 20, 2009).
2German Missions in the United States. Welcome to Germany.info. http://www.germany.info/vertretung/usa/en/startseite.html (accessed October 20, 2009).
