Issue 1 – Averageness
Hello from Maddie! Hi there. Hope you enjoy reading the last issue of the English weekly before the holidays! This week’s theme is averageness. I believe that in today’s society it is becoming increasingly impossible to generalise about how the people of a certain nation dress, eat and think because of multicultural influences. National stereotypes can be amusing but dangerous if taken seriously.
Sarah-Sophie Heinrich’s Thoughts …
Daily Routine of a Stereotypical German By Katharina Solotuchin
Punctually at 7 o’clock in the morning the blue-eyed, blonde haired Mr Müller wakes up and, after a refreshing shower, he greets his wife Bärbel who waits already in the kitchen with breakfrast which consists, of course, of a “Mettbrötchen”, coffee and sausages. Before he goes to his work place (in the forest as a “Holzfäller”) he wakes up every one of his children – five of them. After a very successful hard-working day, at five o’clock in the afternoon he drives home in his car (an Audi), his wife already waiting with home-cooked “Klösen mit Sauerkraut” and, of course, some delicious beer. Together as a family they talk about their day and football in their aggressive language. Exhausted but satisfied Mr Müller goes to bed at nine o’clock and probably dreams about his favourite footballer.
In my opinion averageness is positive and negative. On the one side it represents a country and people with their typical attributes. Averageness makes it easy to differentiate between countries and I think most stereotypes are true and give us a true image. But on the other side averageness can create a false image about people and their country. I also think that everyone is unique and different. For example, when a foreigner hears something about Germany then he thinks about people who love to eat “Bratwurst and drink beer. From my point of view this generalisation is partly right but it sounds bad. So because of averageness there are prejudices against people and countries. I generally think that averageness represents normal people and leaves out the extreme. An average person is not particularly good or bad. But I think learning about an average person is also important and interesting. If you want to know a country you have to travel and meet people. Then you get a correct and real impression of them.
Averageness - Positive or Negative? In my opinion is that averageness is not groovy. Every individual has their own good and bad sides. So everybody can show it because it is typical for them and authentic. This is it what our society needs: people being how they really are, people who have their own opinion and people who stand out from the rest. So don't be average. Be yourself. By Lisa Adler
Issue 2 – Electronic Footprint
Hello from Maddie! Hello everyone. This issue has the contribution of two year 13 classes and the theme is having an electronic footprint. We were discussing ways of communicating in the modern world and whether there are dangers of putting too much personal information online. In my opinion, as long as we are careful the advantages of the internet outweigh the dangers. In this day and age we cannot deny that without emails things would run much slower. At university in Birmingham I was the editor of a campus magazine and I found that Facebook was a useful tool to coordinate the other editors and writers and frankly, the magazine could not survive without it. Hope you enjoy reading each other’s work – we even have a poem this week!
The Complicated Role of The Media in Our Lives By Alexander Krämer
A Poem by Susanne Mayer
In reference to an article published in the last issue of this newspaper, I would like to point out my opinion about the way in which society deals with the media - especially social networks. In my opinion, the internet is a very useful service - in general. I am glad that there is a source of information on many different topics. I often use it myself in order to gather information whether for personal or educational purposes. But as everybody knows (at least I guess everybody knows this), media includes much more than mere information. Anyway, I suppose some services offered on the internet are somehow unnecessary. I have never participated in social networking. Although I do not know much about this topic, I am certain that this will never change. I meet my friends when I want to tell them something. Why should I publish masses of personal information about me voluntarily? I do not want strangers to know my date of birth or any similar details. Moreover, what is all that modern technology which I used to call “knickknacks” (language obviously changes) for? A few decades ago, one simple computer filled an entire room. Nowadays, one “simple” computer does not even fill a pocket. However, I do not mind anyone using or developing such services or technology as long as I do not wake up as a cyborg one morning.
The Media is everywhere, That’s a fact you don’t care. Whether mass, electronic or print media, It is found in every area. But think about the dangers, Because most on the internet are strangers!
Facebook or Twitter are very known, Anne-Marie Richter’s thoughts … In our modern world everybody is connected to everybody so you can send messages to your friends on the other side of the world. But many people don't know about the dangers of the information they leave for others. The best example: Facebook. Most people use it and many people put on information -- like your home town, your address or your phone number -- that could be useful to criminals. The next invisible hint you leave is your IP-address. With this address anyone with a little bit know-how can see what website you actually use. You need to check what information you publish on the internet in order to avoid bad consequences.
The profile you created it’s your own. Anyone can steal your identity, So it’s too much risk for me. Should we just talk face-to-face And meet friends in a real place???
Issue 14 – Theatre Reviews
English Review: Relatively Speaking by Michael Schick
Hi there. Last week our school was host to two performances by White Horse Theatre Company and now our students are sharing their impressions after seeing it. I wonder if their views on the play have changed now.
My classmates and I watched a stage play completely in English. It was totally overwhelming for me because I had never watched a stage play before, not even in my mother tongue. We sat right in front of the actors so that we could understand every single word they spoke. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action. The story was made up of the complex issues of two generations. On the one hand are Greg and Ginny: a lovely young couple and on the other hand are Philip and Sheila: a long-term married couple with some everyday problems as well as some kind of everyday squabbling. We had discussed about the story and looked at some scenes beforehand and this was extremely helpful for us because, thanks to this, we could concentrate better on how they acted and the ironic meanings of some sections. It was exhausting as well as entertaining to listen to such a well performed live stage play. I am very glad that we could have such an experience and it is also pretty good for gaining more English speaking skills. For this reason I would completely recommend this stage play to anyone who is interested in improving their skills of understanding the English language or of stage plays in general.
Review: Promised Land
I truly think you would be able to follow the story because the actors made every single situation clear through great body language and gesture. So you can follow the story by simply watching the actors!
By Lisa-Jasmin Nabiar
On Thursday 16th January 2014 five people from the White Horse Theatre Company visited us. They performed two dramas for us. At first we helped them a little bit to build the set. The first play Promised Land started at half past ten and 14 to 16 year old students came here and watched the performance too. The Play was from the point of view of Ravi, he is an illegal immigrant in Britain. There are four actors as the main characters Ravi, Jaz, Snoz and Fiz. Three of them played more roles such as the policeman, a social worker and a prisoner. The play had seven acts and went for one hour. A very funny thing in the play was that Ravi could only say “How do you do?” I found only one thing that I do not like in the play. I think the actor of Snoz – Kayleigh Phillips – was unconvincing. She looked older and so I think she did not fit the role of a youth-gang-member. The actors won us over when they looked at us and spoke to us. The important main character is Ravi. I do not say that he is the hero but he attracts the most attention. Throughout the play chemistry builds up between Ravi and Fiz and tension between Ravi and Jaz. My opinion of the play is very positive. It was funny but it also draws attention. It shows how horrible racism is and, if you speak about your problems, you can change this. It was a shame that the acoustics were not good but I was positively
Review: Relatively Speaking by Laura Lehmann The actors played their roles well. The clothes and styling represented the characters absolutely perfectly. Through their performances they made a funny story. The props they used like a box of chocolates, flowers and slippers provided a positive atmosphere in the gym where the play was performed and made the play comprehensible. The set changed once from an apartment to a garden where the rest of the story took place. Transitions between scenes were made smooth by music, dancing and miming. The actors sometimes used facial expressions and gesture which they held for one second to explain what had happened between scenes (freeze-frames). It was very interesting to see such a performance and way of acting. My impression of the play as a whole was very positive. Although the play was too long and the plot was not clear all the time (because of long dialogues and fast speaking) I can thoroughly recommend this play. It depicts a plot which everybody can identify with and is honest in a funny way. Dealing with such real values makes successful plays such as Relatively Speaking.
Review: Relatively Speaking by Christina Fischer The play Relatively Speaking was no normal performance. The plot goes that a young woman has had an affair with her boss. But she also has a boyfriend who wants to marry her. Now the young woman wants to end her affair. And the drama takes its course. The performance by White Horse, in my opinion, was not so good. Firstly the play is relatively confusing and I had hoped that seeing it would clarify it. But it was still confusing. Secondly the play was too wordy. My last point is that the actors (the women) did no thrill me. They always pulled frowns. I think it is good to see a play in which not everything is fine and harmonious. To my mind a lot of people are flirty, sneaky and lie. The play is for everyone to think about.
Issue 9 – The Monarchy
English Hello everyone! This week we were treated to presentations by BG12 on the British Monarchy. We had a wealth of different topics: Lady Diana and her legacy, Queen Victoria and industrialisation, the Commonwealth, the political role of the Monarchy, William and Kate and the current Queen Elizabeth II. In this newsletter students report on the presentations of another group whose topic interested them. What I learnt which really interested me was that it was from Thüringen, Germany that Christmas trees originated!
The Commonwealth by Lisa Adler Surely you know the European Union and the fact that Germany and a lot of European countries are a member of it? What about the other countries outside the EU?
Maddie
Queen Victoria
not know a lot about how to govern but her friend and private tutor Lord Melbourne showed her some useful tips. The people liked her. In 1839 she met the young Prince Albert from Germany and fell in love with him. They married on the 10th February 1840 and had 9 children over the next several years. In her period of reign Victoria became very successful. It was the time of industrialization and the building of railways. But in 1861 Albert died and Victoria went into a deep depression. After few months she recovered and became very interested in the British Empire and the colonies. Victoria was a family friendly person and loved all of her 37 grandchildren. She died on the 22th January 1901.
by Sarah Mai
Britain is famous for its Monarchy. Queen Victoria plays an important role as one of the most powerful women in the history. Queen Victoria was born on the 24th May 1819 in the Kensington Palace. She was the child of Edward August, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and Princess Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Her mother was extremely protective and so she grew up largely isolated from other children. In her life as a young adult she made a trip around England to learn more about the country but she did not like the tour because it made her tired and sick. But her mother supported her to go on so she became very famous. At the age of 18 Victoria was crowned queen. She did
53 countries from all over the world are members of the Commonwealth of Nations -- an intergovernmental organization with member states that were mostly territories of the former British Empire. The former colonies have been independent for a long time but the organization holds them together. It promotes freedom and democracy in a friendly merger. Small countries have more chances in global politics and get more stability. They strive for human rights. Hopefully it will bring an end to injustice and racism. The head of the CW is Queen Elizabeth II. Every four years are the Commonwealth Games with athletes of the member states who strengthen the community through the event.
Princess Diana
by Nina Harzer
A group of our class presented Lady Diana. They talked about her family, school life, wedding and involvement. It was very interesting because the group used PowerPoint and they put pictures on the board. After the presentation I knew more about her life than I did before. Princess Diana’s biography was very interesting. She had contact with Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen was my topic so I could connect some things. Lady Diana had an important role in England. In 1997 she died. But still today she is a role model for so many people. She was popular worldwide and was the most photographed woman in the world who no one will ever forget…
Issue 11 – Christmas in the World
Merry Christmas! By Mareike Kittelmann
English Hi everyone. I hope you are all well into the Christmas mood now! Last week of term then nice family times to come I hope. I personally am returning to my hometown Leeds for the holidays and cannot wait to bake some Lebkuchen for my family! This week in the newsletter you can read about Christmas traditions around the world. We watched an amusing video which told us fun facts such as that in Italy and Spain they have a Caganer figure in Nativity scenes who is a pooping man with his trousers down!
Christmas is celebrated all over the world and it is very funny to read the different ways to wish someone a Merry Christmas. Some are similar to the German or to the English. To say Merry Christmas in German is: Fröhliche Weihnachten and in Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr! I find it so funny because it sounds like many languages together. On the other hand there are many ways which are similar to the Spanish which is Feliz Navidat such as Portuguese: Feliz Natal.
Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Enjoy reading and Merry Christmas, Maddie.
Christmas in Russia By Katharina Soloutuchin
Actually there is not really a separated Christmas and New Year festival in Russia. Instead everything is together in one big event named Festival of Winter. Preparations start on the 25th December and go until 31st then the festival begins and lasts for 10 days. Everyone is happy and together with friends and family. Presents are given to children by “Ded Moros” and his grandchild “Sneggurotchka” (a kind of an angel) on the 31st December. On this day everyone is outside and no one is alone. People are very open minded and light hearted on this day; you can even get a little present from a stranger. Music is played, everyone dances or watches New Year program on television. This event is also known as the “Yolka”-festival, so of course there is a Christmas tree which is decorated. This holiday is, in fact, not a celebration of Jesus’ birth; it is more like a big-New-Year-family-new-beginning event.
Indian Christmas by Vivien Hager & Sarah Mai There are a lot of different traditions for Christmas around the world. You can find very interesting traditions in India. Christian people decorate banana or mango trees with small oil-burning lamps and with other small things. Also they fill their church with flowers from the Poinsettia, a typical flower from India with brilliant red colors. This makes the church inviting for the Christmas Midnight Mass. Another tradition on Christmas is to help poor people by donating essentials for life. The Christians in India also give presents to family members and Baksheesh. The Christmas traditions are near to the traditions of Diwali, the festival of the Hindus. They also put clay lamps on the rooftops and walls of their houses. So you can see there are also things in common between the different religious festivals.
Christmas Tradition in Slovakia By Sophia Müller
Traditions in Slovakia have many things in common with German festivities. In Slovakia Christmas trees go up on Christmas Eve. Likes Germans the people go to the church on this day and after that they have a traditional dinner which consists of two main dishes. These are sauerkraut soup and fish and potato salad. After the main meal they eat a dessert like a fruit loaf which consists of raisins and poppy seeds. Snacks you can eat during the evening are apples, oranges, pineapples, bananas and nuts and cakes. As in Germany people open their presents, which lie under the Christmas tree, after dinner.
Issue 15 - Democracy
Germany vs Britain by Lisa Adler
English Hello there everyone living in the wonderful democracy that is Germany! This week we were discussing the right to vote and why there is unfortunately a voting crisis amongst particularly young people who do not go out and vote. We wondered why this could be when there are some nations where they are not as lucky to have a vote at all. Read our students’ views about the how democracy works. Maddie
I think the voting system in Germany is much better because all parties who get enough votes (5%) get seats in Parliament. Therefore people feel they have participation. I can imagine that people in Great Britain do not vote even if they see their party never wins. That certainly is frustrating because even if you dislike the current situation you never get the chance to change anything about it.
We can Change Something! by Lisa Bielert
Every person who goes voting wants to change something. They can express their opinion about different aspects of their life. For example the social situation like the school system or unemployment. Many people go voting because they are dissatisfied with the current situation like the economic crisis, taxes or the law. They hope that they can change something with their vote. We have free elections for people who are over 18 so we live in a democracy. But there are many people who do not go voting. I think most people are uninformed and they are not interested in politics. The largest proportion of people who do not go voting are teenagers. I think that these people think that they are powerless and that their vote will not change anything. Voting has advantages and disadvantages in every country. Voting in England is a ‘First-Past-The-Post’ system. The people in their home country know their own system. In my opinion everyone has their own opinion about their electoral system. Some see advantages and some disadvantages. Because of that I think that everyone should vote because only then can we change something.
Voting by Nina Harzer Katja Müller’s thoughts…
So many people in different countries do not vote. Most young people are uninterested in politics or too lazy. They are uninformed or think that it is not relevant to vote. But still every vote counts.
I am 18 years old and want to vote. It is very difficult because the politicians talk a lot and promise so much but they are not really satisfying the people of Germany. I want to vote because it expresses my opinion and with my vote I support the party I agree with. It is very important that the party sets realistic goals. Some people say “my vote is powerless” or “politics is so uninteresting and boring…” I do not agree with these answers. If everyone who thinks this voted for their favourite party, politics would be better and the elections would be more democratic than today. Often people who do not vote are the first to grumble about the system and the parties. It is very difficult but if you read a little bit of the party programs before voting you should find the right one .
Why should we vote? With our voice we can express our opinion and select a side. We can change something. Most people complain but do not do anything. But what are the differences between the political system in Great Britain and in Germany? In the UK you can find only three political parties so it is easier than in Germany. You can find the ‘Labour Party’, ‘The Liberal Democrats’ and the ‘Conservative Party’. In Germany before you vote you should do research. It is more difficult and it is understandable that German people do not choose a side. But on the other hand, it is good to have more opinions and therefore more parties. In Great Britain you have to decide between three. We Germans have a first vote and a second vote. The electoral system in the UK has developed through a long historical process. The right to vote was won in 1945 and in Germany in 1919. The small parties in Britain are at a disadvantage; they do not get quickly to power.