German I, Semester I; Der Kalender

Sections:

Introduction  |   Section 1  |  Section 2  |   Section 3   |  Dictionaries

Section One:

Part A  |   Part B  |  Part C  |   Part D |   Part E |  Part F  |  Part G

Section One - Part B Deutschland In Unit 2, we are going to learn some fascinating things about Germany. First, look at the map. Perhaps you already know that the first group of German speakers came from the areas now known as Germany, Poland, Austria and Switzerland. Germany is located in Central Europe and is almost as large as the state of Montana. Approximately 82.4 million people live in Germany, making it the most populated country in Europe. From the map, you can see that the capital city is Berlin, which is also the country's largest city with about 3.4 million people living there. Hamburg and Munich are the second and third largest cities with over a million people living in both cities. About half of Germany's land is used for farming, but the largest industries are in technology, chemicals, and steel. Click here to read more about Germany. Germany enjoys a literacy rate of almost 99%! This is due to the excellent educational system there with a variety of choices for upper schools around ages 11-14. Most Germans can speak a second language, usually English, and many can even speak a third language, such as French or Spanish, pretty well. It's easy to learn another language when you can hop on a train and be in another country in a mere two hours. Similar to the United States, there are sixteen different states in Germany. The climate is mostly cool and wet, with it being colder in the mountainous and costal regions--especially during the winter. If you visit Germany, be sure to pack an umbrella. You can also see from the map that there are many rivers in Germany, such as the Danube, Main, Neckar, and Elbe. Germany's highest point is the Zugspitze, at 9,718 feet, located near the Swiss border. The attractions and sights of Germany's most popular destination, Munich, draw millions of visitors each year. In Munich, you might want to go see the Marienplatz, or you might want to visit during the Oktoberfest or Fasching festivals. In German, the city name is actually spelled München. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Germany, you will have the chance to see very different architectural styles than those that you see in most American cities. Some of the buildings are hundreds of years old, especially the castles. Some are amazed that in Germany, people look like they might in any American city. The Germans are European and therefore, look much like people you would see in the United States who have ancestors who came from Europe. As we focus in on Germany in this unit, be sure to read these sections carefully as you will be assessed on what you learn in these culture sections throughout the unit. Go on to Part C.

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