Final Class Post

           I have learned a lot this semester and not just about the German culture.  I learned that while we may be thousands of miles away, they are not that much different than we are.  They have differences in generations, some not so great aspects of their past, and an unknown future where anything can happen.  I am glad that we researched the different states in Germany because most of my previous classes focused on Germany as a whole and not on the contributions of the specific states.  I really enjoyed learning about Bremen, especially about the Bremen Town Musicians.  I wish we would have learned a little bit more about the fairytales recorded by the Grimm Brothers because it does add to the history and appeal of Germany to younger generations.  While researching Turnvater Jahn, I learned a lot about how gymnastics became popular.  I didn’t know that it was first used to help boost the moral after Napoleon defeated Prussia.  I also didn’t realize that there are so many different political parties in Germany.  In the U.S., we normally only hear about Democrats and Republicans and occasionally an Independent party.  Knowing that there are six parties that are popular in Germany in outstanding and to me, it would seem a lot harder to identify with a particular party.  I think making us read All Quiet on the Western Front was a good idea.  It gives us an idea of what it was like to be a soldier in WWI.  Our generation has a hard time realizing how far we have come in such a short time.  Previous wars would be a lot different if we still fought using trench warfare.  The only thing that I would change about the class would be to have more of an idea of what we will be doing and when.  I would have more of an outline of the class instead of updating the syllabus every week.  The students would have more of an idea of what to expect in the class and when everything will be due. Overall, I really enjoyed class this semester.  I am glad I decided to take Intro to German Culture because it not only increased my knowledge of Germany and its people, but I also met people who enjoy German as much as I do.