Today was our last lesson, and I want to think about what I've learnt in the last three weeks.
I think, I could improve my English grammar and my pronounciation. Unfortunatly I had the impression, that my English didn't improve during the last week, but remaind on the level I reached before. I think, that three weeks are a too short time to become completly fluently in English.
I've learnt a lot through listening to other people, for grammer and pronounciation. I also think that my corrections from the blogtexts helped me to see my own mistakes. I think, learning here was more effective than all my English lessons at home because in Cincinnati someone told me my own grammar mistakes and I could correct them.
I could acquire new knowlege in the importance of culture and the unterstanding of culture. More about that topic I will write in my next blog.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Reflection of our experiences
This is our last day in the United States, and our last blog.
Today I talked about stereotypes Germans have about Americans, I must admit that I had some too. For example, I thought that most Americans go to Fast Food restaurants, that they drive around in cars most of the time, that they are very strong religious, and that most of the Americans have guns.
I've learned during the last three weeks and my preparations that a small part of stereotypes is most of the time true, The important thing is to understand why Americans behave like that, or why they have things, which Germans don't want to have.
Gestures, discussions, religious, status symbols are parts of culture and we have to learn and accept them, even when we don't understand them. We can't be integrated in a new country, when we don't know anything about it, and when our only knowledge are stereotypes.
I have learnt how different culture is, and in how many parts of life it is integrated. I got a new impression how important it is to be prepared and open minded when you go abroad, even when it doesn't safe you completly from falling down.
Today I talked about stereotypes Germans have about Americans, I must admit that I had some too. For example, I thought that most Americans go to Fast Food restaurants, that they drive around in cars most of the time, that they are very strong religious, and that most of the Americans have guns.
I've learned during the last three weeks and my preparations that a small part of stereotypes is most of the time true, The important thing is to understand why Americans behave like that, or why they have things, which Germans don't want to have.
Gestures, discussions, religious, status symbols are parts of culture and we have to learn and accept them, even when we don't understand them. We can't be integrated in a new country, when we don't know anything about it, and when our only knowledge are stereotypes.
I have learnt how different culture is, and in how many parts of life it is integrated. I got a new impression how important it is to be prepared and open minded when you go abroad, even when it doesn't safe you completly from falling down.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Yesterday we went to the famous Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.
In comparison to the railway underground museum, the Hall of Fame and the Museum were not so impressive. For me it was a real museum with old cloth, guitars, history etc., but no shrine. They tried to use as much media as possible, for example, with movies, computers, and music. The famous songs in the background should create a feeling of being part of this time.
I think for a person who is interested in music and the musicians, this museum would be a perfect place. For people like me, who have no greater knowledge and interest in musicians, and who listen to music because they like to hear it, this museum was no so impressive and extraordinary.
In the museum were different display cabinets, and on their side were huge display boards which shown the history of this period. In the display cabinets were different cloth, guitars, records, and other things from musicians from this period. They tried make the history more real by showing this important things from a period.
I think that the museum wanted to show how the American culture influenced the different kinds of periods and different kinds of style, for example, the influence from the Afro-Americans in the 50-thies. Music is an important part of the American culture because the musicians are heroes and examples.
It's a little bit like the story of the "American dream", to have a dream himself, and then to make the dream come true. For a lot of Americans, musicians are an example, an ideal, someone who made his or her dream come true, even when they behave strange, or take drugs. They are heroes for normal people because they can fascinate thousands of people, while a normal man has problems to fascinate, and to speak in front of five people. On the other hand musicians are an example especially for teenager who often imitate their behavior.
In comparison to the railway underground museum, the Hall of Fame and the Museum were not so impressive. For me it was a real museum with old cloth, guitars, history etc., but no shrine. They tried to use as much media as possible, for example, with movies, computers, and music. The famous songs in the background should create a feeling of being part of this time.
I think for a person who is interested in music and the musicians, this museum would be a perfect place. For people like me, who have no greater knowledge and interest in musicians, and who listen to music because they like to hear it, this museum was no so impressive and extraordinary.
In the museum were different display cabinets, and on their side were huge display boards which shown the history of this period. In the display cabinets were different cloth, guitars, records, and other things from musicians from this period. They tried make the history more real by showing this important things from a period.
I think that the museum wanted to show how the American culture influenced the different kinds of periods and different kinds of style, for example, the influence from the Afro-Americans in the 50-thies. Music is an important part of the American culture because the musicians are heroes and examples.
It's a little bit like the story of the "American dream", to have a dream himself, and then to make the dream come true. For a lot of Americans, musicians are an example, an ideal, someone who made his or her dream come true, even when they behave strange, or take drugs. They are heroes for normal people because they can fascinate thousands of people, while a normal man has problems to fascinate, and to speak in front of five people. On the other hand musicians are an example especially for teenager who often imitate their behavior.
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