Comparison of the US and Germany!

[melluransa]

This was a cool thing to read when I try to imagine what it's like for the Kaulitz twins living in the United States. This covers a lot, from the media, politics, religion, society, culture, money, attitudes, technology, age, sex and gender roles, jobs, socioeconomic status, and all the things we live every single day but aren't aware of.

I was impressed by how much training it takes in Germany to become a schoolteacher. I was surprised to hear of the racism there, though; I thought the United States was bad. There is more jelly in American jelly donuts, but here, waiters and waitresses are annoying. There is more environmentalism in Germany, but no "give a penny, take a penny" cups at the store.

It's really interesting! Click here to read.

Comments

[steinsgrrl.livejournal.com]

I read this a long time ago when I was researching for a story, but tbh, I've forgotten most of it! Thanks for linking it; it's a fascinating read!

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

It is fascinating! Some of the things about Germany and the U.S. blow my mind in how different they are! You're welcome! I'm glad you found it interesting, even a second time.

[stolen-warmthth.livejournal.com]

WOW. Ive never read this before. I just finished the whole thing. This is awesome! Thank you girl!

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[elizabeth21r.livejournal.com]

Wow! It took me a while to read all of that, incredibly interesting. Thanks for sharing <3

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

It took a while for me too, but it wasn't dreary reading, for sure! You're very welcome Lillypop! <3

[19leela89.livejournal.com]

I have only read the part on education as Iam studying to become a teacher (and have little time to read the rest^^) but I have a note on this:"(except for overrun fields such as medicine or psychology) prospective [German] students don't have to apply anywhere: they simply sign up at their school of choice and start studying, provided they have the Abitur. On top of that, the German government pays a fellowship to every student without affluent parents. Only one half of this grant is paid out as a loan and has to be paid back later."

You don't just sign up,you apply at several,sometimes a great number of unis.Yes,there are fields where signing up works but most fields have a certain average in marks you have to have or special tests.I,for example,had to proof my English skills in order to get my place at Uni.
And while my parents earn quite an average amount of money they could not afford supporting me and paying fees for Uni if I moved out. Thus I study at Uni in the next big town and go by bus every day.which luckily works.
I would have gotten 50€ if I moved out. Couldn't even have rented a broom closet :D

"Handicapped children in the US are routinely educated together with normal children; this is also still the exception in Germany."

Lately almost all federal states/provinces in Germany have been moving towards 'inclusion'. Which means coeducation of handicapped and normal children. However, teachers are not prepared for it at all and students who study to become teachers do not get preparation for it- I honestly feel really unsure about my ability for the day that will happen to me. professional persons to care for the handicapped special needs are not on hand, at least not at all times.

are there people like that in the USA?

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

Haha! I was wondering if you would notice this post, my lovely German friend!

I see! From what the article was saying, it sounded like getting into a university was guaranteed if you signed up. I found that a little unbelievable! Here in the U.S., it's like what you described too. It's competitive and some unis are definitely better than others, and more selective in choosing students than others. I'm glad your situation worked for you with taking the bus! 50 euros is nothing, wow. -_-

Here in the public schools, there is a huge movement toward "inclusion." The kids who need special help of any kind, from learning disability or reading disability, to autism, to cerebral palsy -- anything -- most of these kids are included with their classmates. The only ones who aren't included are those with profound disabilities.

Children with special needs and the normal kids are together in the same classrooms for a few reasons. One is so the classmates and classroom can be supportive to the kids who need help. Also for the kids that need help, it gives them the chance to be social.

Lastly (and most importantly for me because it's my job in particular), what the professionals teach handicapped kids who need help is more effective for them and for everyone if it's done in their natural environment. For example, if you're working on teaching little Tim with autism to share toys and not just take them, it's more effective to use real kids and their toys than a fake, contrived environment filled with only adults and "fake" experiences.

One of the reasons inclusion is possible in the schools here is because the teacher, the special education teacher, the physical therapist, speech-language therapist, etc., all work as a team. The classroom teacher is not expected to know how to support the kids with special needs, and that wasn't part of his/her training and that's ok. It's a team approach so that's how it works! There are still some teachers who resist it, but that number is decreasing since everyone is seeing how it is effective in teaching the special needs kids.

I can see it as a big area of uncertainty for you, if the professional persons who are specifically trained to help aren't there. Oh no! So then the kid is just there, and he/she needs help and you, understandably, don't know how to provide that specialized help. D: If that is how the situation is in Germany, then they need to change, yes?? Get more people at hand who can help the kids, and work as a team! Because then it must be so hard on the normal teachers, and the kids aren't getting the help they need. :(

I don't blame you for feeling unsure at all. For me, it's my whole job and study to learn how to help kids with speech and language problems. I have no idea how to teach a classroom of normal children. Likewise, a normal teacher doesn't know how to do my job. :(

[snowstormskies.livejournal.com]

I've just started reading it and it's quite interesting to see the differences - I wish someone had done it wiht the UK too.

Something for you; how does a give a penny, take a penny cup actually work? Isn't it... kind of stealing?

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

Nope! A penny is a very small, practically worthless (and useless) value. If it were .05 or .10, people might begin to think it's stealing. If it is .25, definitely people would think it's stealing!

"Take a penny" is for convenience. Like if you pay with some cash, and the total comes to $5.02 or something and you only have a five dollar bill. Then you can use two pennies from the penny cup for the .02 cents. It's convenient for you (you don't have to dig around in your pockets for two small coins) and for the cashier (they don't have to count out .98 cents back to you).

And when you do have spare pennies (they accumulate over time) you can "give a penny." Or, the business can supply the cup with some pennies when the till is over at the end of the day. Or, sometimes too the customers don't want any change back, so you throw that in the register but put the pennies in the cup.

I guess it's just some dumb, useless, but convenient and friendly thing to have. It doesn't serve any real purpose.

[snowstormskies.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's because we're all tightfisted people in the UK or we just say 'keep the change' and then it's up to the business if they donate it into the pots on the counter or whatever, but it's a really bizarre concept for me.

A really friendly, nice one, but really /odd/....


*fascinated*

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

It is odd! It serves no purpose at all but shows how much Americans like convenience and friendliness. I hope one day we get rid of the penny altogether and just stick to multiples of five, or even just multiples of ten.

[snowstormskies.livejournal.com]

Seems as though that would be easier but I like the concept of coppers and shrapnel in my purse. It adds weight, and it's really handy sometimes when you need to make the money without a note.


But it does show something about the culture, as you say. Make it easier for people to make things happen. :D