What students will learn about Germany

A typical day in a German family is usually strictly organized. Everybody gets up early, 6:30 am at latest. Breakfast is an important part before everybody leaves for work or school. There is usually bread, butter, jam or cold cuts (ham and cheese), sometimes cereals as well as large coffee mugs which are used for hot chocolate or tea.

Children go to school on their own, usually by bike or bus. Bike rides in the morning can look dangerous in the eyes of the exchange students since you will see large numbers of students chatting or listening to music while some times not even holding on to the handle bars and paying little attention to the traffic.

School in Germany may look very different from the exchange students’ perspective. Teachers foster a climate of open discussion where the students are invited to participate rather than be lectured to. German students do not wear uniform and the atmosphere is far more casual than most foreign students are used to.

Usually students come home for lunch. If one of the host parents work part time, lunch is the main meal of the day where everybody gathers around the table and talks about the school day. It usually consists of meat, vegetables and often a salad. After lunch it is time for household chores and homework before most students go to their sports, music, art or leisure clubs. Again using their bike or public transport. Parents rarely need to drive the children anywhere. The reason for this is that teenagers in Germany are taught to be very independent, which is an important part of growing up in Germany.

Dinner is usually a cold meal consisting of bread, sausage and cheese. Depending on the children’s club activities and the working hours of the host parents, it is not always a meal taken together. After dinner the family members gather in the living room watching television, talking or spend time at the computer.