Jenna Cooper

EDUC-365
Culture Project
10/20/19
The artifacts, locations, practices, beliefs, food, music, language and educational systems

of Germany define its culture in many ways. There are symbols and artifacts which are iconic

Germania such as national emblems like the black, red and gold national flag or symbols such as

the iron cross or the infamous swastika, which remind us of a tumultuous past. Artifacts of faith

are also prevalent, from the ubiquitous Catholic crucifix to the more modern appearance of the

Muslim moon and star. All of these form the character of Der Deutsche Michel, “Michael the

German”, who represents the spirit and culture of the German people. The intellectual growth of

the human race as a whole has been influenced by great German contributors such as Johann

Wolfgang Goethe, Martin Luther, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottfried von Herder. ("German

Culture: Facts, Customs, Traditions, and Things To Know", 2019)

Germany’s capital city of Berlin is home to some 6 million people and serves as a

cultural center in the north just as Hamburg and Munich in the south. Berlin is the tourist

destination of Germany. “Attractions in the city include Berlin Fashion Week, Museum Island,

and the Jewish Museum” (Sawe, 2017). In addition, Berlin is the center for religious

organizations such as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Berlin and Cathedral of St. Boris.

Germany draws on a long history of Catholicism as the source of their love of street

parades and festivals none more well recognized than ‘Oktoberfest’ which is the first Saturday in

September and lasts between 16-18 days, ending on the first Sunday in October. This festival is

so vibrant and popular that it is often celebrated all over the world. German courtship and

marriage is very familiar to the traditions of the rest of Europe and America but naturally has its

own traditions. For example, it is tradition for the bride to carry bread and salt with her as an

omen for food harvest. Holidays in Germany are traditional Christian holidays like Christmas
and Easter but there is a day on October 3 called German Unification Day which reunites East

and West Germany; this is the only federal holiday. ("German Culture”, 2019).

Celebrating before a baby is born is considered bad luck in Germany and the name of the

baby must be chosen from a government approved list. Germans observe the end of life

according the familiar funeral rituals of the catholic religion. In Germany, the male was always

seen as the head of the household, but as is true of many nations family hierarchy has changed,

and women are having more equal opportunities. An artifact of past communist rule in eastern

Germany is the provision of significant childcare subsidies such as KiTa Gutschein but not every

state in Germany offers it. ("German Culture”, 2019).

Germans first access point for healthcare is the ‘Apotheke’. It is similar to a pharmacy,

but all medications are located behind the counter or in a back room. Open 24 hours, the

apotheke is staffed with people qualified to give medical advice potentially avoiding doctor and

hospital visits. Hospitals in Germany take a variety of different health care insurance which often

comes from employers to their employees. ("German Culture”, 2019).

Most single homes in Germany are very expensive and the average cost of land and

construction is double or triple what it is in the United States. A small percentage of people own

their houses, but most live in apartments and condos. Living spaces are often modest which is

indicative of the sort of utilitarian and environmentally conscious designs used in German

housing.

A majority of the individuals, about 70% in Germany, recognize themselves as Christian.

A smaller percentage of about 29% are Catholics and there is also a Muslim minority of about

4%. There is about 36% of people who do not consider or identify themselves with any religion.

("German Culture”, 2019).

 While it may seem a stereotype that Germans drink a lot of beer, this is in fact true. “It is

estimated that the average German consumes around 140 liters of beer per year.” ("Facts About

Germany", 2019). This leaves Germans being the second largest consumer of beer in Europe,

behind the Czech. Germans enjoy pork, beef, or veal sausages known as wurst. There is also a

strong tradition of bread making “breads with different shapes, black and white, with different

tastes and names, sweet, soft, plain with all types of seeds you could think of” ("Facts About

Germany", 2019).

Germany is home to many famous composers; especially the well-known Bach and

Beethoven. Bach and Beethoven have marked the transition of music between the classical and

romantic to western classical music. Germany is home to many music festivals with a variety of

different music; electronic, hip-hop, folk, and rock and roll. Germany also has a wide variety of

opera houses as well. ("German Culture”, 2019).

The official language of Germany is German, where 95% of the people speak German as

their native language, “whether it is the standard German or any of its dialects” ("Languages

Across Europe", 2014). Despite this high number, four minority languages have been recognized

by the German state; Sorbian, Frisian, Danish and Romani.

Of all the aspects of German culture, the most important by far is the educational system.

The education system in Germany is based on rules and regulations created in the Basic Law

“Grundgesetz’. These are created by the Federal Ministries of Education, Cultural Affairs, and

Sciences. There are five main distinctions within the German education system: early childhood,

primary, secondary, tertiary, and continuing education.

 Early childhood education is for children from birth to age six. It is optional education

provided by the Federal Territory of Germany. “Local authorities may offer preschool education

services, only if there’s a lack of private initiatives” ("Education System in Germany", 2018).

All across Germany students are required to attend both primary and secondary education

starting at age six, “up until they complete a 9-year full-time schooling at Gymnasium, or 10

years of full-time years for other general education schools … German compulsory education

obliges pupils to regularly participate in school lessons” ("Education System in Germany",

2018).

Grundscheule is the German name given to primary schools. Primary schools provide

education for students of age six till they finish fourth grade. Primary schools run on two

different schedules. “In a 5-day school week pre-education system, there’re 188 teaching

days/annually. In a 6-day school week preschool system, there’re 208 days of teaching/annually”

("Education System in Germany", 2018).

After primary school, students enter secondary education in two parts. Lower secondary

education is provided for students age 10 to 16 who are in grades 5 through 10. “Lessons in this

level are of a general nature and serve as preparation for the upper level of secondary education”

("Education System in Germany", 2018). Upper secondary education is provided for students of

age 16 to 18 who have already gone through lower level secondary education and have a desire

‘for the purpose of getting a university entrance qualification … This level resumes all the

courses of lower secondary level” ("Education System in Germany", 2018).

There are several types and styles of high schools in Germany. The three high school

designs are gymnasium, hauptschule, and realschule. Gymnasium provides a concentrated

general education in great detail to prepare students for university studies in the science areas. It
consists of students in grades 5 to 13. Hauptschule provides a basic general education to prepare

students for university entrance qualifications or vocational studies. It consists of students in

grades 5 to 10. Realschule provides a substantial education in preparation for university entrance

qualifications or vocational studies. It can also encompass grades 5 to 10.

Under these three main high school designs, schools can also offer more than one subject

of study and provide vocational experiences. Frachoverschule provides a two-year program

where the student is able to enter a university of applied sciences. Berufsoberschule is also a

two-year program, but the student earns a vocational qualification. It can also be completed over

3 to 4 years for a double qualification. Berufssschule provides students with knowledge to be

best prepared for a vocational education or a job. Berufsfachschule provides “education for one

or few professions which require formal recognition or leading to a vocational training

qualification” ("Education System in Germany", 2018). Additionally, Germany also provides

private secondary school options. Alternative schools, known as ersatzschulen, provide the same

education as a public secondary school does in a private school setting. Complementary schools,

known as ergänzungsschulen, include all of the coursework offered at the public secondary

schools, but provides additional and more in-depth content.

Tertiary education provides a higher level of education for those who qualify, by

completing secondary education in Germany or abroad by completing the requirements for

higher education entrance. There are Universities across the country that are specialized in

providing knowledge in a workforce area to provide an education which leads to a job in a

“profession that addresses needs of the local and international labor market” ("Education System

in Germany", 2018). Students can earn a bachelor (first German higher education qualification)
or magister (second German higher education qualification) degree through completion of

studies. Additionally there are state examinations, known as staatprüfung, such as for teachers.

Lastly, adults can choose to be lifelong learners through continuing education. This

education is provided by where one works “aimed at responding to the ever-changing demands

of the labor market” ("Education System in Germany", 2018). They will continue to learn skills

as they are in the workforce in order to be able to keep up with the everchanging workforce.

Each of the educational levels has a purpose behind its practice. These beliefs are

expressed throughout the use of expectations and guidelines for the students in each educational

level. The first goal of early childhood education for children under the age of three “is the

enhancement of communication skills amongst kids. Secondly, it is the development of their

language skills” ("Education System in Germany", 2018). The skills are demonstrated to students

through the teachers use of picture books, singing and other instruments. The second goal of

preschool education is motor development. Motor development is “increasing body awareness,

self-acceptance, self-confidence and concentration” ("Education System in Germany", 2018).

Again, this is also demonstrated through the teacher and their use of hands-on activities,

exploration of environments, and early education programs integrating singing and movement.

Key areas of development are: “(1) language, writing, communication (2) personal and

social development, (3) development of values and religious education, (4) mathematics, natural

sciences, information technology, (5) fine arts/working with different media (6) body,

movements, health and (7) nature and cultural environments” ("Education System in Germany",

2018). These values can be expressed to students through different types of learning such as

organized activities including creativity, teamwork, investigation and experimentation.

 The goal of lower secondary education contains “fundamental education, individual

specialization, and identification of individual abilities amongst children” ("Education System in

Germany", 2018). The goal of upper secondary school is for preparation in order for students to

obtain a university entrance qualification or vocational training.

In Germany, the interactions between teachers and students are very similar to those in

the United States. It starts with teachers being supportive, offering feedback and praise, as well

as being respectful and considerate of all. In higher grade levels, the students are provided more

freedom but understand that the teacher is there is be of assistance to them. Through

understanding, a teacher can incorporate different cultures and backgrounds into their lessons.

(Dykes, 2014).

The way the classroom is managed is also similar to methods used in the United States.

The teacher presents a clear mission statement, provides daily instruction, and creates curriculum

and assessments to best evaluate students. In addition, the teacher openly communicates their

role and the student’s role in the classroom for students to understand their expectations.

Through this, the teacher is a motivator and communicates between parents to be a supportive

resource. (“Classroom Management”).

The German education system is thoughtfully designed to provide for the growth of the

nation’s children while ensuring that the skills and vocational knowledge that they acquire

benefits German culture and society as a whole. As it has a more sophisticated grade level

structure that say, the American system, is has valuable advantages for the German people.
 References

Classroom Management. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://germanyeled4220.weebly.com/classroom-

management.html.

Dykes, T. (2014, June 20). Differences between German and American high schools. Retrieved

from https://toridykes.com/blog/2014/6/20/schoolsystemdifferences.

Education System in Germany. (2018, November 19). Retrieved from https://www.studying-in-

germany.org/german-education-system/.

German Culture: Facts, Customs, Traditions, and Things To Know. (2019, May 7). Retrieved

from https://www.studying-in-germany.org/german-culture/.

Languages Across Europe. (2014, October 14). Retrieved from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/countries/germany.shtml.

Sawe, B. E. (2017, May 16). What Is The Capital Of Germany? Retrieved from

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-capital-of-germany.html.