Teaching American culture to German school kids

I'm going to be living in Munich this coming school year working as an assistant Englisch teacher at two Gymnasiums. Part of my position is to come up with discussion topics for the students about American culture. I was just wondering if any of you American's out there living in Munich have any ideas about what high school age Germans should or would want to learn about America? What are the biggest misconceptions Germans have about us? What are the biggest cultural differences? Also... what would be good American "props" to bring with me that they wouldn't be able to get in Germany? Magazines? comic books?

The American Dream is only a state of mind. It is simply the thought that you can be whatever you want to be and that being physically in America is not a prerequisite to achieving your own dream. Life takes hard work no matter where you live.

George W Bush is not America and not all Americans are right wing nut jobs.

Yes, Americans are by and large prudes and we don't get naked in the saunas.

Americans on average do not have a true view of actual life in foriegn countries and don't know the difference between Marxism, Socialism and Communism.

Jay Leno's street interviews/quizzes are all too real.

I agree with euro... the whole Bush thing is a little out of control. I've had people shocked at the fact I'm from America and don't support Bush. I have many other ideas I'll post later, as for now I'm running late for school...learning German (Impossible!)

Some discussion topics about potential "cultural differences" that come to mind:

- Patriotism: What does it mean?

- Religion: What role does it play (or should it play) in society?

- Role of government: What do people expect their government to do? To what extent and in what way should the government care for the "needy"?

- What exactly do Republicans and Democrats stand for in American politics? (I find that many Germans have a very patchy understanding of this, other than disliking Bush and therefore automatically liking the Democrats)

I'm presuming you'll teach senior students close to the Abitur, otherwise those topics might be a little "heavy".

Pretty hard to "teach" those things from a neutral point of view though, I could imagine parents interpreting a lot of that stuff as propagandist, if this is a school situation its probably safer to stick to history, holidays, typical leisure activities.. More facts and figures rather than fiery opinions on rather emotional topics.

But tom_a has some great questions that I would be interested in hearing discussed.

EDIT: Paragraph removed due to pissing people off.

Kza, someone really ought to just put a muzzle on you. Why not give that shit a rest? Have you truely nothing interesting to talk about? No wonder your girlfriends fall asleep under you! I swear I'd love to shove a sock down your throat. Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!

//end rant
I feel better now

If you can hand out, you should make sure you can handle getting some back. It's good you have opted out of the Karma.. -ve Karma to you just for the fun of letting you know what I would have given you.

At the gymnasium level, I would expect topics such as patriotism/nationalism and religion to crop up in any discussion of American culture. It was, after all, founded in no large part by a group of religious malcontents over from the continent, and national narrative is an important facet of any study of any nation. Course, all depends upon whether the main thrust of the classes is to teach English (at which point, the pop-level mag would be in order), or to teach culture.

And yes, such subjects can be approached, if not exactly from a 'value neutral' point of view, at least one that stops questioning the validity of valuing, and inquires instead into how those values are arrived at.

I'd suggest the Crucible-McCarthyism angle if it's deeper culture you're after, along with the picaresque tradition (Huck Finn, On the Road, and other road narratives). There's also the angle of both Native-American and African-American traditions, both, I think, somewhat definitive of the American experience as a whole. And of course, the Enlightenment principles informing the original documents under which the States were founded as a nation. Course, all this is fairly heavy-going stuff...but you might be surprised at what a Gymnasium student is ready to take on. I certainly was when I tutored for Australian HSC students, some of which had to generate essays on King Lear...which, I'd argue, is pretty much out of range for anyone with less than about 20 years of age, and a bit of a stretch even then.

If you wanna walk a middle road, you could do much worse than to base the whole thing on the history of American music, which would bring a lot of other cultural topics into the discussion with relative ease.

I think many germans think of American as fat, unhealthy, loud, uneducated, burger eating ppl who don't really care what happens abroad unless the US is involved.

I think it is good that you come here and tell them about your cultures so that these misconceptions will not be carried any further.

Unfortunately only the bad examples stick out and also Hollywood and MTV doesn't necessarily make it any better.

Why should that get -ve karma? People get sick of shit once in awhile and rant. So what...

If she's opted out, she can't give out the karma anyway, so your point is moot.

You might also want to look at what kind of US TV shows are broadcast here and discuss how true to life they are for the average American.
If your reference point is stuff like "The O.C." you might well think that everyone in America has perfect skin and a Chanel bag. Or watching "CSI" you might think that the US is full of so many murders that it is a surprise that there is anyone left. Or "King of Queens" - how does a fat guy get such a great looking wife, do little work and has a great house?
That might be a starting point for some good discussions.

Oh here we go again.
Why not just paint a target on your foreheads or change your log-ins to "Pick_On-Me_I'll_Rise_To_The_Bait"?
Makes things easier for everyone else.

Good suggestion, Katrina. I had some Egyptian guy I shared a taxi with, who assume that I was Australian since my hubby is, telling me all about how crazy Americans are based on the MTV show "Wild Boys."

Everyone else? Americans make up almost half of the forum.

Get the chip off your shoulder (or I'll have to go and get some vinegar and salt for it).

Katrina, where did this sudden attitude of "we are right and you are wrong and that is that" come from? It's actually been quite some time since *any* American on the forum has said a thing about a stupid comment like the one Kza made (and fortunately, there haven't been many of those, either - at least that I've seen). Of course Kza was trying to get a reaction, but that doesn't make someone stupid for giving one. Where did this rule come from that everyone *must* ignore insults or they're a weenie?

I knew it. I knew this thread has legs.

I will get my popcorn.

And I actually intended my comment in a different way to how it seemed, (I meant it more as an expresion of surprise that the thread hadnt been hijacked into a battle, rather than actually trying to start one, but it didnt work), thats why I got rid of it, sorry about that...

EDIT: Yeah thats how I meant my comment to be, like what roots wrote above...

"In order not to further high-jack the thread, I'll just figurativly laugh in your face per PM. You can carry the message back to your leader in obnoxious postings too." From kat to me...

You defend your country kat by telling people (just giving there point of view or looking for a fight) how bad they are in bed ??? Shame...

Welcome to TT, annie.

Just let us get our internectine battles out of the way, and once we're done, we might even provide some useful advice on the original topic.

PM me if the above was of any help. I'm of the mind that American culture is actually much more deep than most--both Americans and non-Americans--know. It's all a matter of where the students are likely to be, and how heavy/light they need the going to be.

Nah, roots, there's nothing really to go on about. While I'll forever defend the right of people to get annoyed with such statements as Kza's original one, but he was just being a stirrer and everyone knows it, so the discussion should easily turn back to the original topic.

Another suggestion for Annie: You could simply print out some juicy TT threads and bring them to class for discussion...

What I always spend a lot of time explaining is that I'm from the "North", went to school in the "South", lived in the "Midwest", etc.

Maybe you could find a way to tell them about the regional differences within America.

You could use misconceptions to draw out the similarities between cultures. After all, not all Germans are fat, leather shorts wearing, knee-slapping, ass-smacking, beer swilling sausage-eaters. Nor are they all black trenchcoat wearing, nihilistic, pale, repressed homosexual fascists either.

See the similarities? Both nations share media bias, journalistic and cultural prejudices. Quite a lot in common, actually.

disclaimer: I have a good deal of German friends, the above is obviously an exaggeration (a bit tasteless) to draw a point about perceived differences vs. actual similarities.

I'm not sure what American culture is. I'd say Texas is more culturally different from New York than England is from Australia. Though I've not been to Australia all my Australian and British friends are far more alike than they are different (so I'm willing to be corrected here). The same does not go for New Yorkers and Texans. Northern vs. southern Californians are remarkably different. Look at Vermont vs. New Hampshire; two tiny states of the same size, same shape, same geography, same region right next to each other. Vermont is an extremely liberal state with a long tradition of voting left. New Hampshire's license plates carry their revolutionary slogan, "Live Free or Die" and the populace regularly votes right.

The reason the American populace is so poorly understood is because it is hard to understand. I'm one and I don't know what it is. I do know it's not: McDonalds, George Bush, MTV, Harley Davidsons, Levis, and Coke, however.

As you've said many times on this board though, people will ultimately believe whatever suits their fancy regardless...

Well said DW. That's exactly what I'm always trying to tell the Germans who ask me what 'Americans' are like. I always counter with, 'What are 'Europeans' like?'

I also think that Americans are possibly too touchy when it comes to stereotyping US culture and should realize that Europeans are specialists when it comes to this stuff. People here dish it out to everyone, including other Europeans, with great vigor...

But it's just so juvenile. It sometimes feels like I didn't leave behind that irritating pig-tail puller back in Kindergarten.

You could feed them things that we all ate while growing up - Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, Kraft Mac & Cheese, home-baked chocolate chip cookies and dunk them in milk, fruit roll-ups, etc.

Or you could record TV commercials and show them in class. My prof in Mannheim did this for our Marketing class. Although, in most cases he used SNL commercials (because they over-exaggerate the marketing concept) it still made me homesick and want to talk to my fellow classmates as to why this commercial "emblemizes" the U.S.

Well, they're right about that now aren't they.

History of american music is an excellent idea. Its a great way to reflect the thoughts of the people and happenings during that time from political to personal. In addition, it would help the german population to realize there is more coming from america than 50 cent and brittney spears. Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Grateful Dead and the whole culture surrounding this, Woodstock...hey the 60's had a lot going on...and so much more.

A funny thing I realized is that in Europe they consider us to be 100 percent American, but at home we brag about our 16 percent Irish, 40 percent Italian, or whatever. They get a big kick out of it...

Its much more difficult to see the cultural differences as an outsider. Not only are there big differences between the UK and Oz. There are quite big differences within the UK (Scots, Welsh, English, Irish*) and even in England itself.

*This is more complicated and would require another thread to explain it.

There's some great American literature she might introduce to them. Steinbeck, Vonnegut, Mark Twain.

Adding to what Kileo said I'd also think about doing something like how arts and culture have had a political influence, not just Vietnam but also the civil rights movement for one example and tracing that back. And you could even include Rock The Vote I guess.
And also do a class or two about migration, especially mention the bit about how many Germans went through Ellis Island.
It could also be an idea to give all the kids a bit of paper and ask them to sum-up the USA in a word, then each week you could take one of the slips out of the hat and discuss that word (hopefully it isn't a hat full of what DW has said the USA isn't).

As penance for going off topic above:

How about either writing or getting someone of the appropriate age to write a "My typical day/week" and using that as a springboard for discussing how a German day/week is different/the same.

annie, perhaps you could also explain them the many faces of American culture instead of presenting it as one American Culture because there is nothing like a single American culture unless perhaps we are talking about native American culture which in itself is extermely diverse. German culture is lot more uniform in that sense. Present day America is so much more different from what it was even 50 years ago. While some of the original American traditions continue to remain part of everyday American life, they are evolving and changing with each generation due to the mixing of nationalities, races and cultures from all over the world in US society. I really do not know what really American culture is because American society is a spectrum of so many nationalities. I am an Indian American and for the most part my lifestyle and thinking is so called American but still I will probably never think and act like someone from say New Hampshire or Texas. The culture I represent is a fusion of cultures yet I am American. There are tens of millions of Americans like me with cultural influences from literally every country in the world. So what is American culture again? I dont know and I am not sure a prop or a book will ever define that.

What Kileo and Katrina are saying is spot on, and actually delving pretty deeply into the roots of popular music (and go ahead, hold your nose and go into bluegrass and C&W) actually goes some way to reflecting the diversity in what is generally presented as a mono-culture. Find yourself a copy of the original "Dazed & Confused" for example, you're shot straight into the blues, and you have a MAJOR defining moment (i.e. slavery and how it was coped with) of American culture. Leadbelly you can take from Nirvana, then teach 'em who sang it first. Same sort of thread can be followed with jazz, and, as above, with gospel, bluegrass, c&w, dixieland, toss in zydeco so you can take a road trip to NO, while you're at it...they all provide a very accessible window into important, defining moments in American culture.

While I'm with DW on the variety of 'cultures' in America, there is the tiny issue of addressing why those many cultures still so clearly see themselves as 'American,' even though they may qualify it by region. There are culturally identifying concepts that make most Americans see themselves as unified, even in this respect. Those concepts are not properly expressed through things like McDonalds and Levis...but can be illustrated through them, by, say, a closer study of why McDonalds was--and is--such a huge commercial success.

Alls I gotta say is: ROAD TRIP!

I would definitely steer clear of anything related to politics or history as you may end up just beating a dead horse with peoples' preconceived notions. On the other hand, there's than enough American literature, art and science to fill up your sessions and surprise your students for the next few semesters! Throw 'em a curveball if you can!

why not deal with immigration and intergration? its pretty relevant to germany and mainland europe as a whole, and i feel america tries to make a better job of it than most people. where else can you buy black plasters and make up. but deal only with the social asspects as much as possible, as to avoid the whole political dowdyness.

or art and design and industrial culture. america's influence is massive there. from streamlining to "pimping".

I think gids and JW are chicken.

The politics are half the picture. One assumes America is in the position it is in (and that with absolutely no value attached) largely because of the shape of its political structure. Stress structure and you should be able to negotiate the tricky waters of dealing with 'German' attitudes toward same. Stress personalities, you may be headed for considerably more trouble.

Do admit engaging the political angle will be tougher going...but then, these are Gymnasium students...you may find you don't have a choice but to engage such questions.

Sorry, but I think that if you start a political discussion without them having a better "understanding" of america then it will be nothing but a one-sided discussion of anti-bush, anti-war, and dumb american comments. If all they know is what they see on MTV or in Movies, then the arguments will all be like this.

In her class, she can at least attempt to show them that America is not what they see on TV or in the Movies. Maybe she wont change their opinion, but at least she will make them stop for a second and say "oh, they arent all like that?" and then they can go on with their stupid american comments.

Well it depends on annie, I'm sure. I'd think 'dumb american' comments would be an excellent way to field some misconceptions about the place, and by making the students defend those misconceptions (and watching them fail), make them come up against a more accurate picture.

As I said, I'm not entirely sure that she'll have the luxury of choice with Gymnasium students. By the time I hit that level in high school, I was pretty adept at getting the conversation to go into those controversial issues, if for no other reason than to watch a teacher squirm. Something tells me that the pleasure I felt, at that age, in seeing a teacher squirm, is not something that is specific to American culture, and that she's likely to encounter a few German students who like to do the same thing. Forewarned is forearmed. And ignoring American politics in a discussion of American culture seems to leave a huge hole in the picture being presented. At least, it does if the lessons are meant to go to any significant depth at all.

And how do you avoid American history when addressing the question of American culture?

I'm just sayin'. Being challenged by a student is usually an opportunity to teach--and learn--something new, just in disguise.

I think the Harvard Professor Samuel P. Huntington did an excellent job in his recent book Who are we? I just finished reading it. It summarized brilliantly many of the disparate concepts that Americans have of themselves. The origin of the "creed" as he calls it, nationality, culture, religion, patriotism, enlightenment and most importantly: immigration. Harvard is rather leftist leaning and some of Huntington’s conclusions may surprise you…

I wonder if other TT members could also attend the course??

@Bumpy,

Probably one or two who could stand to be subjected to that treatment, yeah...though I suspect if we were all challenged to make a list of those most in need of such a course, very few, if any, TTers would escape inclusion. Not even the Americans.

me chicken when it comes to debate mmmm. shall remember that. no i just think that it would be nice to learn culture, not cliches. would make a change for people to learn the regional differences and how they came to be.

i've worked with youth exchange programs and, from my experience, one thing teenagers absolutely love to discuss about is "what people of their age range are allowed (by law) to do in each country, and why". For example:
- driving. in europe at 18, in the usa 16, sometimes 14 or 15.
- voting
- drinking alcohol
- buying birth-control pills
- having abortions
- going to jail
- having a paid job
- getting married without parents' consent
etc.

they like to discuss in which country youths have more or less freedom, what is fair and what is not, etc.

Point taken. My point is, to learn how those regional differences came to be tends to take the discussion in the direction of history...and politics.

Maybe what's being warned against is discussion of contemporary politics?

How do you discuss the Yankee/Rebel divide without at least skirting the fact of the Civil War...which leads to state vs. federal structures, slavery, etc? The book Bumpy suggested has as one of its premises (and I'd agree...in a book that looks to contain much with which I'd disagree) that the notion of being more 'American' than say 'Virginian' started at that point in history. All of this leads only too easily, from a high school student's point of view, into discussions of present-day perceived or real racism. It's too easy to steer the discussion that way, and high school students are too eager to do so, to come to the job not prepared for just such an eventuality. Why not confront it head on, and with material the kids are actually going to be able to relate to in some fashion?

And how do you really get into Utah/Idaho by ignoring the role of religion in westward expansion?

I'm saying it'll likely be part of the curriculum, whether annie wants to engage it or not...and it's better to be ready to 'head 'em off at the pass,' so to speak.

yes probably a good idea. up to the end of the cold war. and stop.

Viel Gluck.