Author:
Shawn Moak, Mimi Fahnstrom, Amber Hoye
Subject:
Languages
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Level:
Middle School, High School, Community College / Lower Division, College / Upper Division
Tags:
  • Adjectives
  • Adjektive
  • German Stereotypes
  • Prejudice
  • Typisch Deutsch
  • Vorurteil
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English, German

    German Level 4, Activity 09: Stereotypen / Stereotypes (Online)

    German Level 4, Activity 09: Stereotypen / Stereotypes (Online)

    Overview

    Students will discuss and learn about different stereotypes between Germany and the U.S.

    Activity Information

    Did you know that you can access the complete collection of Pathways Project German activities in our new Let’s Chat! German pressbook? View the book here: https://boisestate.pressbooks.pub/pathwaysgerman 

    Please Note: Many of our activities were created by upper-division students at Boise State University and serve as a foundation that our community of practice can build upon and refine. While they are polished, we welcome and encourage collaboration from language instructors to help modify grammar, syntax, and content where needed. Kindly contact pathwaysproject@boisestate.edu with any suggestions and we will update the content in a timely manner.

    Stereotypes / Stereotypen

    Description 

    Students will discuss and learn about different stereotypes between Germany and the U.S.

    Semantic Topics 

    German Stereotypes, Typisch Deutsch, Prejudice, Vorurteil,  Adjectives, Adjektive

    Products 

    Cultural clichés, Kulturklischees

    Practices

    Understanding cultural clichés about people in German speaking countries. Kulturklischees über Menschen im deutschsprachigen Raum verstehen.

    Perspectives  

    Danger in stereotyping people.  Value of cultural individualities of German speaking lands.  Gefahr, Menschen zu stereotypisieren. Wert kultureller Individualitäten im deutschsprachigen Raum.

    NCSSFL-ACTFL World-Readiness Standards

    • Standard 1.3 Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners on a variety of topics.
    • Standard 4.2 Students demonstrate an understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons between the cultures in German-speaking countries and their own.

    Idaho State Content Standards

    • Objective: COMM 2.1 Understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed on a variety of topics.
    • Objective: Analyze the cultural practices/patterns of behavior accepted as the societal norm in the target culture.

    NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements

    • I can discuss stereotypes of German speaking countries.
    • I can discuss stereotypes of my own culture.
    • I can form an opinion about the validity of certain stereotypes.

    Materials Needed

    Warm-Up

    1. Discuss Can-Do Statements with students.

    2. Discussion Questions:

    • Was ist ein Klischee/Stereotyp? (What is a cliché/stereotype?)
    • Sind Klischees immer wahr? (Are clichés always true?)
    • Welche Stereotypen kennt ihr von anderen Länder? (What stereotypes do you know of from other countries?)

    Main Activity

    1. Read the following clichés and discuss whether they are true or not.

      • Germans get their nutrition from just bratwursts, beer, and potatoes.
        • Die Deutschen ernähren sich von Bratwurst, Bier und Kartoffeln.
      • Germans are cold, harsh, and ruthless.
        • Die Deutschen sind kalt, unfreundlich und rücksichtlos.
      • Germans do not have a sense of humor.
        • Deutsche sind humorlos.
      • Germans love order and hold themselves to rules.
        • Die Deutschen lieben Ordnung und halten sich an Regeln.
      • Germans love soccer.
        • Deutschen lieben Fußball. 

    2. Discussion Question:

    • Gibt es noch andere Klischees? (Are there any more clichés?)
    • Sind diese Klischees wahr? (Are these clichés true?)
    • Stimmt ihr diesen Klischees zu? (Do you agree with these clichés?)

    Wrap-Up

    1. Ask students the following question(s) to finish the activity:

    • Welche Klischees/Stereotypen gibt es in Deutschland über die USA? Stimmt ihr zu? (What clichés are there in Germany about the US? Do you guys agree with them?)
    • Was halten die Deutschen von den Amerikanern? Was denkt ihr? (What do you think Germans think about Americans?)

    2. Read the following German article about stereotypes that Germans have of Americans and then discuss.

    • Was denken Deutsche über Amerikaner? (What to Germans think about Americans?)
    • Was denkt ihr darüber? (What do you think about that?)

    Cultural Resources

    Attached is a link from Meet the Germans, What do Foreigners Think about Germans.

    End of Activity

    • Read Can-Do statements once more and have students evaluate
      their confidence.
      (Use thumbs up/thumbs down or download our student cards.)
    • Encourage students to be honest in their self-evaluation.
    • Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future activities!

    NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements

    • I can discuss stereotypes of German speaking countries.
    • I can discuss stereotypes of my own culture.
    • I can form an opinion about the validity of certain stereotypes.