This training program is especially targeted for American university students, but all exchange students, people on business and tourists can use this information to prepare themselves for a stay in Germany. It is addressed and written for all those people who are interested in the German-American cultural differences as well as for all of those who are curious and interested in how Germans appear and are seen by their foreign visitors.
You will be given a variety of typical daily situations which are often critical turning points for the acceptance and understanding between visitors and members of the host country. The chosen situations are known as "stumbling blocks", which often create confusion, misunderstandings and conflicts for many foreigners. For each episode there are four possible explanations for the native's behavior. Only one explanation is correct from the foreign point of view. The other alternatives are misinterpretations which arise from ignorance about the factors that influence a culture, or they arise from prejudices and wrong ideas about the foreign culture. The trainee has to choose the alternative he considers to be the best, in order to explain the situation from the host culture's point of view. Each explanation contains information as to why it is appropriate or not.
At the end of every unit the underlying "Culture Standard" will be explained as well as the historical development of these standards.
This step by step process will sharpen the interpretation skills of the trainee to the point that he will be able to see and do things the way a German would.
The training helps you to avoid intercultural missunderstandings from the start and thus makes it easyer for you to
cope with the foreign culture.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAINING MATERIAL
The training: goals and theoretical background
How this training program was developed
The structure and use of this training program
Tips on how to use this training program successfully.
THE TRAINING
Unit 1
Culture Standard Background Information: Interpersonal Distance Differentiation
Unit 2
Culture Standard Background Information: Direct Interpersonal Communication
Unit 3
Culture Standard Background Information: Rule-Orientation
Unit 4
Culture Standard Background Information: Respect for Authority
Unit 5
Culture Standard Background Information: The Need to Organize
Unit 6
Culture Standard Background Information: Physical Proximity
Unit 7
Culture Standard Background Information: Clearly Defined Personal Space
Unit 8
Culture Standard Background Information: Personal property
Unit 9
Culture Standard Background Information: Compulsory Sense of Duty
Unit 10
Culture Standard Background Information: Sexual Role Differentiation
Objectives and Core Themes
This training program aims to provide international students, especially from the United States, with a deeper understanding of central German "Culture Standards" to help them navigate daily life in Germany, reduce culture shock, and foster successful intercultural communication through the "Culture-Assimilator" method.
- Analysis of typical daily situations that often cause misunderstandings or conflicts.
- Explanation of fundamental German social values and behavioral norms.
- Development of skills to make realistic "attributions" regarding the behavior of German locals.
- Guidance on navigating social interactions, academic life, and professional settings.
- Contextualizing behavior through historical and environmental factors influencing the German mindset.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter 1
Whether while taking a walk or just being out and about Jane often said "Hallo" to the people she ran into just as she was accustomed to doing at home. Instead of responding in the expected way most people looked puzzled as if they were wondering, "Why is this person talking to me?" and simply walked on without an answer. Jane became insecure and could not understand why the people didn't react to her greeting.
How would you explain these people's reaction to Jane?
1. Greeting a stranger with "Hallo" is regarded as an insult in Germany.
2. In Germany it is not common to address strangers in the street.
3. Due to her accent the Germans realized she was a foreigner and did not want to greet her.
4. If Jane had said "Guten Tag" instead, the chances of a response would have been greater.
Chapter Summaries
Unit 1: Examines how Germans interact with strangers and the development of friendships, emphasizing the differentiation of interpersonal distance.
Unit 2: Discusses the communicative modes between Germans and Americans, focusing on how the "how" of communication is interpreted.
Unit 3: Explores the German tendency toward high rule-orientation and its impact on social structure and daily life.
Unit 4: Addresses the specific student-teacher relationship in Germany, characterized by hierarchical distance and respect for authority.
Unit 5: Focuses on the German need to organize to eliminate uncertainty, which is closely linked to their penchant for long-term planning.
Unit 6: Looks at how the high population density in Germany influences physical proximity and personal space norms.
Unit 7: Analyzes the German emphasis on private space and the function of closed doors as boundaries of personal sanctuary.
Unit 8: Explores how Germans deal with material possessions and their expectations regarding property respect and self-reliance.
Unit 9: Investigates the high expectations for self-discipline and the "compulsory sense of duty" inherent in German work and study habits.
Unit 10: Deals with traditional interpretations of sexual roles and how they influence interactions and expectations between men and women.
Keywords
Culture Standards, Intercultural Training, Culture Shock, Attribution, Social Interaction, Interpersonal Distance, Rule-Orientation, German Mentality, Academic Culture, Communication Style, Personal Space, Professionalism, Social Norms, Behavioral Patterns, Intercultural Competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of this manual?
The manual is designed to prepare foreigners, particularly American students, for a stay in Germany by explaining common cultural misunderstandings through the "Culture-Assimilator" training method.
What are "Culture Standards"?
They are the core values, norms, rules, and attitudes within a culture that regulate behavior and act as the "rules of the game" for social interaction.
What is the "Culture-Assimilator" method?
It is a training approach that uses critical, everyday conflict situations to teach participants how to correctly interpret behavior from a host-culture perspective.
How is the training structured?
It is divided into ten units, each focusing on a central German Culture Standard, using typical interaction episodes followed by explanations to sharpen interpretation skills.
Is this training only for students?
While targeted at university students, the situations are general enough to be useful for tourists, business people, and anyone interested in German-American cultural differences.
Why are Germans often perceived as "reserved" or "rude" by Americans?
This perception often arises from different understandings of social distance, direct communication styles, and the German preference for not being intrusive with strangers.
How does the history of Germany influence its modern culture standards?
Historical events, such as the devastation of the Thirty Years' War, have instilled a deep-seated need for security, order, and precise planning in German society.
How should one react when a German person is "too direct" or "critical"?
Rather than interpreting it as a personal attack, it should be seen as an expression of honesty, a desire to avoid errors, and a commitment to constructive communication.
Why is punctuality so important in German daily life?
Punctuality is regarded as a form of showing mutual respect and esteem for others; to be late is to suggest that the other person's time is not valuable.
What advice does the book give for navigating social situations?
Take the initiative, respect the sanctity of personal privacy (like closed doors), be prepared for direct honesty, and understand that friendships develop slowly but deeply.
- Quote paper
- Richard Markowsky (Author), 2011, Studying in Germany - Intercultural Training for Students from USA, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/181169
