Germany is a land rich with music, fine dining, hand-crafted beer, classical literature and internationally recognized films. Teaching your students about German culture can be an enjoyable and informative lesson for all involved. Because Germany has such a complex history, there are many different topics you can cover when teaching a lesson in German culture.
Festivals
Teach your students about the different types of festivals celebrated nordic mythology around Germany. Some festivals that take origin in Germany are the Berlinale, the Frankfurt Book Fair and Munich’s Oktoberfest. The Berlinale is a film festival in Berlin that was started in post-war Germany intended to be an international affair. The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world’s largest book fair, dating back to the 15th century, and it attracts visitors from around the nordic mythology gods globe every year. The Munich Oktoberfest is perhaps the most famous German festival, attracting a global audience to drink German beer and celebrate over a 16-day period.
Literature
Talk to your students about classical and modern German literature and authors. In traditional German literature, teach your students about Norse mythology, the invention norse myths of the printing press, Goethe, Friedrich Schiller and the inventor of the cartoon strip, Wilhelm Busch. More modern authors include Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Franz Kafka and Bertolt Brecht. If your students are at an advanced level of German language comprehension, assign readings from some German authors in the original language for your students to build understanding.
Architecture nordic mythology gods
Explore German culture through the different styles of architecture found around the country. Teach your students about the castles, cathedrals and government buildings that can be found in all corners of Germany. Help your students discover Gothic, renaissance, baroque and Bauhaus-style architecture, explaining that Bauhaus and “Neue Sachlichkeit” influenced building styles in America as well as around the world. You may also want to mention some famous German architects such as Ludwig Mies van deer Rohe and Walter Gropius.
Film
Germany has produced several internationally recognized films. Watch some of the most well-known German films with your students to gain a deeper understanding of the German culture and the ways that history is reflected in film. You can watch The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with your students to experience the expressionist film style. You can also watch the film Metropolis for a look into the “future” according to Fritz Lang. For a more modern German film experience, watch the movie Run Lola Run. Discuss the cultural importance and implications made by each movie with your students.
