German Language Blog

99 Luftballons

German music has had it impacts in the United States. Nena introduced her song “99 Luftballons” to the US market and made it all the way to No.1 in the United States. The song was played in German even though an English version existed. Nena was part of the “Neue deutsche Welle” (new German wave) that was used as an expression for the success of numerous German bands in Europe. These included the Spider Murphy Gang, Hubert Kah, and Peter Schilling, who also had a very successful hit single in the US with “Major Tom”. Other German speaking singers like Falco are also still remembered. The question now is, why did these songs have success even though the majority of the population was not able to understand the lyrics.

However, the same is true in Germany, where mostly songs with English lyrics can be found in the charts and English is also used by German bands and singes in their songs. After many years without any German songs in the US charts the so far most successful German band introduced itself to the market and made use of the German stereotype by using mystic and provoking images in their videos and their choreography. Typical and recognizable German words like “Autobahn”or Fahrvergnügen”are used in the songs which seems to hit the taste of the American population. I would like to ask our readers what their favorite German related songs are that made an appearance in the US. Let’s hear it!

The first time a German student is confronted with a foreign language in a class is between third and fifth grade depending on the individual school. The school system in Germany starts with the Grundschule (elementary school) from first to fourth grade. During those for years it will be determined which school a student will go to afterwards in the high school phase based on the performance shown. The lowest level is the Hauptschule, then the Realschule, and finally the Gymnasium. The newest form of education combines all three schools into one, which is called “Gesamtschule”.

What all school forms have in common is that the English language is taught in fifth grade which means that every German student will have be provided with English language skills. This is a mandatory class and one of the more important classes during a student’s life. The focus of this blog will be on the “Gymnasium” which has the highest percentage of the Germany students with 30% (2001). After two years of English the student has the chance to elect his second foreign language. In general the decision can be made between French and Latin. Again, the student has to choose one of the two. As a third option in 11^th grade many schools offer Spanish or Italian, which are non mandatory classes.

It becomes obvious that there is a very big focus on language skills within the German school system. There is also a current movement to start English in elementary school for everybody.

Almost every single school in Germany has a partnership with a school in other countries like the U.K, France, or Poland. There are many exchange programs offered and the classes have the opportunity to test there language skills with their fellow students from across the border. A lot of friendships have developed in this way and families actually apply for hosting exchange students and provide them with a temporary home during their usually week long stay.

Most Germans in the US experience very common stereotypes within the US, just like many Americans experience the same when they travel to Germany. When I first moved to New England I was looking for all the skyscrapers, huge cars and cowboy hats. After I had to change my perception of the US based on my experience it was easier to understand for me why the perception of Germany is what it is over here. Since we all learn the most out of die Kiste (the box, here the TV) most movies deal either with WWII subjects or drunken Bavarians dancing around in their Lederhosen. I am of course also a big fan of Bayern (Bavaria) but Germany has so much more to offer than one state and the Vergangenheit (past).

Germany has all kinds of different Landschaften (country sides) from the beaches in the North and North East to the flat lands of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), the Schwarzwald (Black Forrest) and the uniqueness of the Spreewald and its famous Gurken (cucumbers). I think it is on all of us to educate other people about everything Deutschland has to offer and especially get away from the dark chapter of the Third Reich even though it is very attractive to the movie industry and should not be forgotten. The future of the country is what matters most. A fantastic friendship between the US and Germany has developed and despite all the negative media coverage within the US the country still has a very positive image, especially in Germany.

I would like to ask you what is important for your generation when it comes to the image of Germany and what can be done in order to change the focus from the typical stereo type?

Die Kiste – the box (slang word for the tv)

Die Vergangenheit – the past

Die Landschaft – the countryside

Der Schwarzwald – the black forrest

Die Gurke – the cucumber, Die Gurken – the cucumbers