Henning: A German Exchange Student
Who is Henning?
Henning Flath is 22 year old from Nackenheim, Germany. He attended Eastern Mennonite High School (E.M.H.S.) in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States from 2008-2009. I contacted him via Facebook to ask him some questions about German/American life and education (he gave me permission to use this interview and the image on the left- he can be contacted at [email protected] to confirm this). While E.M.H.S. is a private school, the value of education and the education system he experienced is not different enough from public education in the United States to negate his answers. The interview is below: 1. Q: What are some differences between German education and American education? A: There are several differences in the educational systems of america and germany: - First and most important is that in germany you can't really choose classes until you enter class 11 (equivalent to your junior year in high school). Even after that choosing process you still must have the main classes such as Maths, German and the first foreign language. Classes also aren't as specific as they are in america. For example: in america you can take choose between many many different classes such as poetry, photography, car care, psychology, etc.. In germany there only are 14 different classes, most of which you have from beginning of school until you graduate (Major subjects: german, maths, first and second foreign language. Minor subjects: physics, geography, sociology, history, biology, chemistry, arts, music, religion and if you choose to, a third language). - After 4th grade the german educational system sorts above average students from average and under average students into three different school systems: Hauptschule (for under average students), Realschule (for average students), and Gymnasium (for above average students). In the "Hauptschule" students are educated until 9th grade and attain the qualification to start an apprenticeship. In the "Realschule" the students stay until 10th grade and have the same qualification as a "Hauptschul" student, although they are more likely to get a job. The "Gymnasium" students are taught until 13th grade and afterwards are allowed to go to a University. Those are the main differences. There are way more, but that'd be too much text 2. Q: What are some social differences between German students and American students? A:The social differences aren't that great, since both germany and america are countries with well developed school systems, which allow every citizen an education. In germany tough, public schools are as highly regarded as private schools, so students don't necessarily get a better education because they have rich parents. 3. Q: What are some cultural differences that were really strong that you noticed while in America? A: The most apparent difference concerns patriotism. After what happened during world war 2 we germans aren't really allowed to be proud of our nation anymore and are always being looked upon with suspicion whenever we start being remotely patriotic. In america on the other hand, a lot of people are very proud and patriotic. Another difference lconsists of saving money for the next generation or retirement. This "saving for the times to come" mentality comes from the times right after the war, when the germans hoarded food and money for tough times. germans nowadays still have this mentality. To me most americans seemed to be extremly materialistic: owning a lot of cars, owning the newest cellphone, owning a huge TV, etc. (the mennonite community actually is more german than american in this aspect). Talking about mennonites: the americans in general are more religious than germans. First of all we only have two main religions: protestant and catholic. In the U.S. there's many different religions. And second: the faith is faltering in germany. More and more people are either atheists or don't go to church except on christmas eve and maybe easter. American churches always seemed to be full and the people faithful. 4. Q:Was it hard adjusting to American life? And when you went back to Germany, was it hard adjusting back to German life? A: It was quite easy, adjusting to the different life styles, the only difficulty I had coming to the U.S, was not having a drivers license, so I was dependent on my fellow students to pick me up and drive me to social events (in germany public transprtation is how I used to get around at that time). Coming back I, at first, had problems with the drinking culture. Since it is legal to drink beer and wine when you turn 16, my friends (17 at that point) had already developed a habit of drinking whenever they would meet on weekends. I somewhat disliked this habit and took some time to readjust. |