2. Agenda German Culture Cultural learning Literature Philosophy Science
Music
Fine arts & architecture
Religion
Cuisine
Sports
Cultural learning
What is cultural learning?
Examples

3. German Culture I. Literature
„Land der Dichter und Denker“ (Land of the Poets and Thinkers)
Starting in the Middle Ages with Walther von der Vogelweide
Most famous German work of the time: Nibelungenlied
Grimm-Tales lateron
„Classic“ poets like Goethe, Schiller, Lessing
Modern poets like Thomas Mann, Bert Brecht, Hermann Hesse
Recent Nobel Prize for literature: Herta Müller
All in all nine German Nobel Prizes
(Nobel himself was German.)

4. German Culture II. Philosophy
Again, starting in the Middle Ages with Albertus Magnus
Most famous philosopher: Immanuel Kant
Early German philosophers: Leibnitz, Hegel, Nietzsche
Heidegger and Gadamer in 19th century
Modern German philosophers: Adorno, Habermas, Horkheimer, Max Weber, Simmel, Luhmann
Culture of cafés and salons, mostly imported from France and Austria in the early 19th century, led to philosophy becoming „national“
Flood of philosophic books even today, many of them #1 bestsellers:

5. German Culture III. Science
Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing machine
Konrad Zuse built the first computer
Count Zeppelin built the first Zeppelin
Daimler, Diesel and Otto created the first automobile
Planck, Schrödinger, Fahrenheit, Röntgen > famous physicists
Fraunhofer-institutes and Max-Planck institutes continue research in the tradition of their role models
And of course: Albert Einstein was German.

6. German Culture IV. Music
Most famous composers: Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Händel, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Richard Strauss, Orff, Stockhausen, Brahms, Wagner, Haydn, Schönberg
Always austro-german co-operations > access to a wide range of influences
Modern artists: Herbert Grönemeyer, Nena, Rammstein, Tokio Hotel, Kraftwerk
Wide gap between classical and modern music
Children learn at least one instrument in special music schools.

7. German Culture V. Fine arts & architecture
Middle Ages painters Lucas Cranach, Hans Holbein, Albrecht Dürer
Long break in baroque and renaissance
Modern painters are Jopseh Beuys and Georg Baselitz
„Bauhaus“ style in architecture, led by Walter Gropius
Cathedrals of Cologne and Ulm
Many Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque churches („most beautiful baroque village church in the world“ in Steinhausen).

8. German Culture VI. Religion
Many of the greatest believers and critics were German
Land of Martin Luther and the Pope
Christianized by Charlemagne (around 800)
Feuerbach (critic of religion, saw god as a projection of man‘s flaws)
Karl Marx: „religion as opium of the people“
Today, „ökumene“ (greek: one-house) tries to reconcile protestants and catholics
New lines of conflict have developed between muslims and christians due to the high amount of turkish immigrants.

9. German Culture VI. Cuisine
Many different cuisines: bavarian, palatine, svabian, etc.
Mostly famous for Kraut and „Würstchen“ (sausages) pretzels and beer

10. German Culture VI. Sports
Football is the most common German sport
Teams can be more important than religion in chosing your partner!
Other relevant sports: marksmanship, tennis, dance
Nordic Walking is practiced by many – individually or in groups
Every year, journalists vote for the „German sportsman of the year“
Racing was famous with M. Schumacher but is currently losing fans.

11. Cultural Learning I. What is cultural learning?
Cultural learning can foster so-called „soft skills“
Social competences
Intercultural competences
Creativity
Teamwork
Open-mindedness
Empathy

12. Cultural Learning - I. Example
The Steiner Waldorf Approach
The Steiner Waldorf approach to education emphasizes on the use of practical, artistic and conceptual elements into education.
This method of education was established by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of a philosophy called anthrophosophy.
The Steiner Waldorf approach is based on the fact that the role of imagination in learning is integral for the development of creative and analytical thinking.
This educational approach is aimed at providing an environment where young people can develop free thinking, which can be a basis for developing their own personalities as responsible individuals by fulfilling their destiny.
The Steiner Waldorf approach to education is based on scientific study of the development of children's learning capabilities.
Early childhood learning is the stage for children below 7 years of age, elementary learning is for children between 7 and 14 years, and high school level education is for adolescents.

13. Creativity in SW schools plays a major role
Dance, arts, music and physical expression are each subjects of their own
EC study shows that Steiner Waldorf students are highly creative
The approach is „seen to exert a favouralble influence on the development of the personality (e.g. personal sense of worth, self-assurance, creativity, flexibility) and of social competency (e.g. empathic faculties, consideration, ability to cooperate) as well as the development of the ability to form one‘s own opinion and become self reliant.“

14. Cultural Learning - II. Example
Drama pedagogy
Drama pedagogy is a holistic teaching and learning approach closely connected with dramatic art forms (Conf. in Leipzig, Oct. 2009).
Publishing of SCENARIO is part of this development.
Drama techniques guide students to experience the foreign language in hands-on situations that simulate reality and, at the same time, inspire imagination and creativity.
In accordance with established principles of foreign language teaching such as student-activating, action-oriented approaches, task-based learning, cooperative methods and, above all, inter-/transcultural learning, drama pedagogy embraces a holistic understanding of the individual as well as the personality development of foreign language learners (as intercultural speakers).
It includes the performative dimension of learning a (foreign) language, such as movement, physical aspects and interaction, which add to the special potential drama pedagogy represents for the development of intercultural competences.

15. Importance of „Darstellendes Spiel“ as German school subject is emphasized by studies
Drama pedagogy can support the learning of foreign languages
Helps children to develop empathy and imagination
Drama pedagogy classes are held in Berlin schools