How to Enjoy German Culture

Опубликовал Admin
17-03-2021, 16:20
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Germany has a diverse culture with a rich history, so it's great you want to learn more about it. You can start by taking in German culture in your own home by watching movies or exploring the culture online. You can also try your hand at learning the language, as that will help you better understand the culture. Alternatively, check out local German spots in your area, or save your pennies to spend some time in the country itself.

Learning about German Culture in Your Home

  1. Watch German movies and television shows. Even though television and movies aren't "real life," they can still give you an insight into German culture. German documentaries are also a great way to learn about German life. You can find all of these options online or through movie-streaming services.
    • For instance, you could try the Netflix-exclusive series Dark, which is about disappearances in a small German town, or the 1920s period drama, Babylon Berlin. Another series, Weissensee, depicts 2 families in East Berlin in the 1980s and 90s.
    • For movies, try The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band), a 2009 black-and-white film about home life just before World War I, or Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika), a film about a Jewish family moving to Kenya during World War II.
  2. Read German books. If you speak German, try reading books in German. If you haven't learned German yet, try reading translated books. You won't get all the nuances of the language, but you'll still be appreciating German culture.
    • Try checking out German books from your local library or searching for them through an online book store.
    • If you're not sure which one to start with, ask you librarian for a recommendation. You can also try a "Top Ten Best German Books" list or something of that ilk.
    • If you're looking for a classic work, try Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung) by Franz Kafka.
  3. Cook a traditional German meal like bratwurst and sauerkraut. Bratwurst is a type of German sausage that you can fry up in a pan. Serve it with a side of fried potatoes and a dollop of sauerkraut, and you can enjoy a bit of Germany in your own home.
    • Alternatively, try a German breakfast, which typically consists of a hot beverage like tea, cocoa, or coffee, and toast or a roll spread with butter and/or marmalade/jam. You can also try German sausage or cheese with your breakfast.
    • Another option is making a German dessert, such as bienenstich, a cake with a custard cream filling and honey and almonds on top.
    • If you want to try out other German recipes, try checking out a German cookbook from the library. You could also peruse a site like https://germanfoods.org/recipes/.
  4. Pick up some German beer. Many liquor stores carry international beers, and Germany is famous for its beer. Some varieties you can try include Pilsner, weizenbier, and altbier.
    • Beer is by far the most popular alcohol in Germany, but you can also try German brandy or schnapps.
  5. Take in some German art and music. Mozart, Bach, Beethovan, Brahms, and Wagner are all German and Austrian composers, and you can find their music online to listen to for free. For art, check out some of Germany's famous woodblock prints, as they have a strong tradition in this area.
    • For more contemporary music, try finding a German radio station online. You can often listen to them for free. Polka music is also quintessentially German.
    • You could also check out German art, such as artists in 2 of the most influential German expressionism groups, The Bridge and The Blue Rider.
  6. Host an exchange student from Germany. Welcoming someone from Germany into your home is a great way to get to know the culture. If you work with an agency, you can usually request where the student comes from.
    • Of course, you must be willing to share your home for a set period of time, including food, transportation, and an area for them to sleep. However, in return, you get a person who will likely be more than willing to teach you about their culture and who wants to learn about yours!

Learning German

  1. Take a class in German to tackle the basics. If you've never learned any German, a class is a great place to start. Try checking out a local community college or even a local German cultural center for classes.
    • Make sure to sign up for the beginner's class if you've never had any German!
  2. Find a conversation group to practice your German for free. If you know some German, a conversation group is a great way to solidify what you know! Your local German society may have a group you can join or check with your local library.
    • Alternatively, try starting a group for your area on social media and inviting people to join. You may be surprised how many people want to come practice German with you!
    • Another option is to find a foreign language partner to chat with. You can connect over the phone, through email, on a language exchange site or penpal site, or via Skype. You'd help them with English, while they'd help you with German.
    • You may be able to practice with native speakers or just other non-native speakers who are trying to learn the language.
  3. Try a language-teaching app. You can find a variety of language apps designed to teach you how to speak German. Some of these are free, while others cost money. If you want to just dip your toes in, start with a fee app like Duolingo, which will help you start building your vocabulary.
    • You can also try websites that are focused on learning German, through videos, games, or tutorials.
    • Pick up a German-English dictionary to help you translate words.
  4. Listen to German being spoken to enhance your skills. Whether you're listening to German radio, German audio books, movies, or television, hearing the language spoken can help you learn it. Movies and television also give you a visual component, which can help you figure out what's being said.

Visiting Local German Spots and Festivals

  1. Check out a local German museum or cultural center. Many areas have German influence, and you're likely to find a German cultural museum somewhere in your country. Try visiting one to learn more about the culture. At a cultural center, you may find language classes, German music, German art, and information on German food.
    • To find one in your area, try an online search. You can also call city hall or check with your local library to see if they know of a cultural center.
  2. Patronize a local German restaurant. If you live in a large city or near one, they may have a German restaurant. Visiting a German restaurant is like taking a mini-vacation! If you're not sure where to begin with the menu, ask the waitstaff for recommendations.
    • Some popular options include sauerbraten and mashed potatoes, a type of marinated roast beef, and schnitzel, fried pork cutlets, often served with sauerkraut.
    • Be sure to pick up some tasty German bread on the way out if the restaurant has a bakery. If it doesn't, look for another German bakery nearby.
  3. Take part in a local German festival. If your area has any German heritage, there's likely to be a German festival sometime during the year. October beer fests are popular (Oktoberfest), and you may also find German Christmas markets.
    • Begin looking for Oktberfests as early as September, as some areas start early.
    • Check with your local German society to see what events happen in your area.

Traveling to Germany

  1. Manage your logistics. To travel to Germany, you'll need at least a passport. As long as your visit is fewer than 90 days, you likely won't need a travel visa, though always check for the country you're traveling from.
    • Be sure to book your travel well in advance for the best selection and the best deals. Look at plane ticket prices on comparison websites to find the best deal. You can also book hotels on comparison travel websites.
    • Keep in mind that train travel in Germany and across Europe is fairly inexpensive, so check that out as an option when booking.
    • If you're looking for cheap accommodations, try hostels or home and room rentals. You can find rentals through a site like www.airbnb.com.
    • Make sure to check out festival dates. Travel will be more expensive around these times, so note festival dates on travel websistes, whether you plan to go during one or not.
  2. Explore the famously beautiful castles. Castles speckle much of Germany. Notable are the ones built by King Ludwig, who loved fairy-tale like castles with a passion. You can take a tour of many of these castles and get a snapshot of German architecture.
    • King Ludwig was actually declared crazy because he built so many castles.
  3. Taste beers in each region. Beer is one of the most popular drinks in Germany, and each region has its own specialty. One way to take in German culture is to try beers in each region or to at least check out several regions.
    • Germany has what's known as biergartens or beer gardens. Essentially, these are restaurants where you can drink beer and eat food outside. Keep in mind that you often must share a table with other people, as the seating is usually designed to accommodate bigger groups.
    • In the winter, try a beer cellar instead, so you can hunker down inside over a warm beer.
    • However, if wine is more your style, Germany also has its share of wineries and fine wines.
  4. Enjoy the local cuisine. Germany is famous for its sausages, breads, saurkraut, and potatoes, and you'll be able to find these foods all over the place. Pretzels also top the list of many travellers' favorite foods, so be sure to stop in for one at a local pub or bakery.
  5. Take in an "old town" or "old quarter." Many German cities have an historic area dating back centuries. Sometimes, the whole town is historic. Walk down the hallowed streets and pop in and out of landmarks, then end the day at a biergarten.
    • For instance, the old quarter in Dresden features more than one palace, the Semper Opera House, and the Church of Our Lady, all historic landmarks.
  6. Explore Germany's natural beauty. From the sandy coastlines to the Black Forest, Germans love their natural sites. You can visit one of the many national parks, dig your toes in at the beach, or go skiing in the mountains.
    • Germany is famous for its forests, and in fact, these same forests inspired many of the fairy tales you know today, such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Rumpelstiltskin," and "Snow White."
  7. Take in the history of the country. If you're a history buff, Germany has historical monuments on every corner, including those from WWII and the Cold War. Pieces of the Berlin Wall still stand, and you can take in The Holocaust Memorial near the Brandenburg Gate.
    • You can also visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside of Munich.

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