More than an exchangeGerman-American Encounters Research project of the CGL in collaboration with the Norfolk Academy seminar course with Mrs. Renschen
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Table of contents FOREWORD P.3 MOTIVATION P.4 PERCEP TION P.6 TIME, PLACE OF RESIDENCE P.8 ADVICE FOR FUTURE PARTICIPANTS P.8 RELATIONSSHIPS P.9 CULTURAL DIFFERENCES P.10 EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT P.12 FUN FACTS P.15
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Foreword Dear Readers, Welcome to our research project. We are the seminar course at Copernicus Gymnasium Löningen, and this year we are focusing on the topic of GermanAmerican relations. An important part of our project is to explore the significance and developement of German-American student exchanges over the past decades. Since we (the Copernicus Gymnasium Löningen) have been part of the yearly student exchange with the Norfolk Academy for over 50 years, we used this connection to gather insights from former exchange students from CGL and NA. Many former students followed our letter with the invitation to take part in our survey regarding the research project . We are very grateful that around 50 former German and American exchange students agreed to share insights of their exchange experience and perceptions. All of you have helped us understanding the cultural exchange and improve future programs. In the following, we will show you the survey´s results evaluated by us students concerning topics such as living with your host family, first impressions, personal experiences and many more.
Best regards, CGL, Seminarfach (Renschen)
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Motivation
THE MOTIVATION FOR THE EXCHANGE ON BOTH SIDES IS PRIMARILY TO GET TO KNOW GERMANS OR AMERICANS AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND RESPECTIVE COUNTRY. THE GERMAN STUDENTS ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHILE THE AMERICAN STUDENTS WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR GERMAN LANGUAGE SKILLS. NO PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED OVER TIME. THE SURVEY SHOWS CONSISTENTLY VERY POSITIVE REACTIONS TO THE EXCHANGE ON BOTH SIDES, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS OF FOCUS. ON THE GERMAN SIDE, THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO AMERICA, GETTING TO KNOW A NEW CULTURE, AND GENERALLY BROADENING ONE'S PERSONAL HORIZONS WERE MENTIONED AS THE MAIN MOTIVATIONS. FOR THE STUDENTS FROM NORFOLK ACADEMY, IMPROVING LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE. IN ADDITION, MANY FAMILY MEMBERS HAD ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAMME THEMSELVES AND RECOMMENDED IT DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN POSITIVE EXPERIENCES. BEFORE THE EXCHANGE, THE GERMAN STUDENTS HAD VARIOUS IDEAS ABOUT AMERICA. THESE INCLUDED FAST FOOD AND THE IDEA THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE OVERWEIGHT, AMERICA AS A VERY LARGE COUNTRY, AND THE AMERICAN HIGH-SCHOOL LIFE KNOWN FROM FILMS. THE AMERICAN STUDENTS ALSO HAD CERTAIN IDEAS ABOUT GERMANY. THESE INCLUDED GERMANY AS A VERY SERIOUS COUNTRY, BEER AND BRATWURST, AS WELL AS GERMAN HISTORY AND THE NUMEROUS WARS.
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Motivation
Over time, some of these ideas changed. In more recent exchanges from the 2000s onwards, the German students' ideas about America increasingly focused on high-school life as it is portrayed, for example, in Disney f ilms. Among American students in earlier exchanges before 2000, German history surrounding the World Wars was more prominent. In more recent exchanges from 2000 onwards, their ideas have focused more on typical clichés such as beer and bratwurst. Overall, the ideas have become increasingly stereotypical over time. This is probably due, among other things, to the inf luence of f ilms and social Media
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Perception
Had you ever met Germans before? 50 percent of the respondents answered the question with "Yes" and 50 percent with "No". A considerable number had therefore already met a German and were able to form an impression of Germany through this experience, although this cannot be considered representative. Rather, the statistics show that Germans continue to move to the USA. Friends and families: reactions The survey shows consistently very positive reactions to the exchange on both sides, although there are specif ic areas of focus. On the German side, the unique opportunity to travel to America, getting to know a new culture, and generally broadening one's personal horizons were mentioned as the main motivations. Among the students from Norfolk Academy, improving language skills and cultural exchange also played an important role. In addition, many family members had already participated in the programme themselves and recommended it directly because of their own experiences. However, it should be noted that only young people who actually participated in the exchange were surveyed. The opinions of parents who were critical of or opposed to participation are therefore not included in the data. The sample therefore primarily ref lects the perspective of families who were already positively inclined towards the programme. This does not necessarily mean that there was no scepticism beforehand. Rather, the statements show that trust in recommendations from siblings or acquaintances, a generally positive attitude, and the clearly recognisable personal benef its were decisive factors in overcoming existing concerns and making participation possible.
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Perception
Changes in views on Germany and America On the German side, views of America changed in mixed ways: there were both positive and negative changes, while in some cases there was no change at all. Most prejudices were not conf irmed. At the same time, the German exchange students described the USA as signif icantly different from Germany. They particularly appreciated the fact that people there are friendlier and more open. In contrast, criticism was directed at politics, public transport infrastructure, and the cost of living. The exchange students also experienced American patriotism. On the American side, there were mostly positive changes, or the already positive view of Germany was conf irmed. In some cases, there was no change in perception. Certain stereotypes were refuted through getting to know the culture and German people. It became clear that Germany is more than just castles and the Second World War or German history. Positive aspects mentioned included modern culture, the people, technological and social progress, and the German language. In addition, according to the American exchange students, everyday life in Germany has certain similarities to everyday life in the USA.
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Time, place of residence Advice to future participants
Place of residence The survey shows that all German students lived within the catchment area of Copernicus-Gymnasium Löningen at the time of the exchange. The situation at Norfolk Academy is similar, but its catchment area is much larger, so the students come from a wider area. Evaluation: The survey included participants from Germany who took part in the exchange program between 1978 and 2026, showing a well-balanced distribution across the years. Similarly, respondents from the US participated between 1983 and 2024, with no signif icant clusters in specif ic years. In a few instances, students did not travel to the host country despite having taken part in the exchange program in previous years. This occurred once at CGL and three times at NA Advice to future participants The answers to the question "What advice would you give to future exchange students?" are very similar among German and American participants. The main focus is on being open to meeting new people, making as many connections as possible and stepping outside your comfort zone, even if that means making mistakes, for example, when speaking a foreign language. In addition, many recommend not planning every moment of the exchange in advance, but rather letting things happen naturally. They also encourage students to actively participate in different aspects of school and leisure life, such as sports, academic subjects and music, and to take advantage of opportunities like group trips or activities with their host families. Another piece of advice mentioned is to put away their phones more often and consciously live in the moment. The common message of all the responses is to fully embrace the new culture, be brave and actively seize opportunities.
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Relationships The relationship with the host families was perceived as mostly positive by the exchange students. They all gained many great experiences that they will never forget. They especially appreciated the open communication and the easy and relaxed way of interacting with each other, which was made easier by having similar interests. However, communication and interaction were also more diff icult when this was not the case. The mainly positive experiences were probably due to the fact that everyone was very committed to the project, which required voluntary participation. This made it easier to make new friends, which was also supported by the fact that the exchange students were of a similar age.
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Opinions on cultural differences
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Many students noticed signif icant differences in important aspects of everyday life. These included school and hobbies, especially regarding the amount of time they took. In America, hobbies take place directly after school, which is why the school day often lasts until the evening. This is different from Germany, where school is comparatively "short". Due to differences in infrastructure, the size of the country and the culture, young people in America have the opportunity to drive a car from the age of 16, while many people in Germany use bicycles. Regarding age, the Americans also noticed that people in Germany are allowed to drink alcohol at a younger age. In addition, many students noticed differences in the personalities and social behaviour of people in the two countries. Americans were described as being more open, while Germans tend to be more socially engaged but more reserved in large groups or in public.
What was well received by both the Americans and the Germans was getting to know the everyday life and language of the other country. The Germans enjoyed especially the activities, whereas they did not like the American food very much. The Americans appreciated the sights in Germany. They liked the school the least, whereas many German students viewed their school experience very positively.
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Statistics: Opinions on cultural differences
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Experiences and personal development on the German side
Most important experiences For the German exchange students who went to the United States, personal experiences were especially important. Many mentioned new friendships, a close relationship with their host family, and in some cases long-term contact that continued beyond the exchange itself. Language also played an important role, as they were able to use English in everyday situations and therefore became more f luent and conf ident when speaking. At the same time, the participants gained direct insight into everyday American life and school life, including the school system as well as leisure and sports culture. Many also described personal development: they became more independent, more self-conf ident, more openminded, and more curious. Special experiences such as school events, trips, music activities, and exchange-related activities were also highlighted as unique and memorable experiences. How did the exchange change their view on their own country and how did their personality change? The exchange also changed the way some participants viewed their own country and themselves. Some appreciated their everyday life in Germany more after returning and, for example, developed a greater appreciation for public transportation. At the same time, they noticed personal changes: participants described themselves as more selfconf ident, more independent, and more relaxed. Some also developed a stronger desire to travel. In addition, they improved their English skills, especially their pronunciation and conf idence in using the language. Overall, the exchange did not only provide new impressions of the United States, but also encouraged the participants to look at their own lives in Germany from a new perspective.
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Experiences and personal development on the American side
Most important experiences For the American exchange students who visited Germany, immersing themselves in everyday German life was particularly important. Living with a host family, attending school, and experiencing a normal daily routine gave them a direct insight into life in Germany. Personal relationships also played a major role: connections with host families, people of the same age, and in some cases long-term friendships were described as especially meaningful. In addition, the exchange broadened their perspective. The participants learned not to see their own way of life as the natural or only standard. At the same time, they were able to use German in real everyday situations and became more conf ident with the language. Many also described personal growth, as they had to leave their comfort zone, become more independent, and actively embrace new experiences. How did the exchange change their view on their own country and how did their personality change? The stay in Germany also inf luenced how the participants viewed the United States. Many compared the two countries more consciously after the exchange and looked at certain aspects of their own country more critically. They mentioned differences in public transportation and car dependency, the education system, tuition and living costs, as well as nutrition and physical activity. Community, tradition, and history were also ref lected on more strongly. In addition to these social comparisons, some participants described personal changes: they felt more mature, more self-conf ident, and more open toward other cultures after the exchange. Overall, the experience not only gave them new impressions of Germany, but also encouraged them to ref lect more consciously on their own society and personal development.
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Statistics
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Fun facts
Typical Image The German's typical image of American culture is an open, diverse and big country. Americans see German culture as very welcoming. Both cultures think of each other as fun. Typical Food The Germans had a very typical image of American food before the exchange, consisting of much fast food and burgers. This image didn't change over the course of the exchange. Only a few people described it to be healthy or better than expected. Additionally, many people mention large portions. American thought of German food of being just bratwurst, sauerkraut and bread, but after the exchange the image got way more diverse, ranging from meat to german Brötchen. Surprising habits Cultural habits were a surprise too. Germans were surprised about the habit to greet ANYONE you meet and the 20%-rule for tipping, however also more specif ic habits were described like always having a TV running even when no one's watching. Surprising german habits were also diverse from high attention to recycling, but also drinking beer after soccer and a shockingly lage number of smokers.
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Fun facts
Favorite sayings Many reported on their favorite saying, American sayings include "No way", "Call the Shots", "having the dogs out" or a classic „shit" ' German saying that stuck in the American's minds are „Daumen drücken" (f ingers crossed), "Alles klar" (Alright), "Schadenfreude" (getting joy from someone else's pain) or "Stark!" (awesome!). Favorite songs Regarding the favorite songs many couldn't even decide in the f irst place. Those Germans that could decide however, chose songs like "Sail Away", "American Idiot" ', "Mr. Brightside" or "Gangsta's Paradise". The Americans had a clear favorite with "99 Luftballons" by Nena. Other examples are "Männer sind Schweine", "'54, '74, '90, 2006" or "Du Hast"