Intercultural Module (FLNG 199 A)
The objective of this module is to provide Centenary students with intensive exposure to German language, culture, and everyday life over a period of three weeks. The students will travel to Bremen, Germany. They may audit classes (in English or German) with students of the "Hermann-Böse-Gymnasium," ranging from coursework in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The afternoons and evenings will be spend with cultural excursions and assignments (e.g. how to get around, how to get information or advice, how to meet with certain people, what to do in certain situations etc.). Living arrangements, i.e. room and board are provided by German host families. Our students will live with the families of Hermann-Böse students: This is a significant part of their intercultural experience. They are free to participate in activities planned by their host families. In addition, the group will go on longer trips to various German cities and areas (among them, most likely, Cologne, Hamburg, Münster, and the Rhineland). Fluency in German is not a requirement.
Sample Schedule of Activities in Germany (give or take a few days—depending on airlines)
The meeting place in Bremen is always the Hauptbahnhof (central train station) at the indicated times, unless other plans with host family exist.
- Tuesday, July 1: Shreveport-Dallas-Frankfurt-Bremen
- Wednesday, July 2: Arrival in Bremen; get settled in host families
- Thursday, July 3: 2:00 p.m.: Meet at "Hauptbahnhof" (central train station):
- if rainy: "Überseemuseum" (colonial museum);
- if sunny: "Böttcherstrasse" (arts and crafts)
- Friday, July 4: 2:00 p.m.: Social meeting of Germans and Americans
- Saturday, July 5: spent time with host family or exchange students
- Sunday, July 6: 10:00 a.m.: "Bürgerpark" (open air jazz in a park/beergarden setting)
- Monday, July 7: 2:00 p.m.:
- rainy: shopping (Karstadt, Horten, etc.);
- sunny: old medieval part of town (Schnoor)
- Tuesday, July 8:
- sunny: 8:00 a.m.: Goslar (by train), includes hiking in the Harz mountains;
- rainy: 2:00 p.m.: Weserburg (modern art)
- Wednesday, July 9: 2:00 p.m.:
- sunny: Dom (gothic cathedral)
- rainy: Bleikeller (site of bishops' graves and archeological findings)
- Thursday, July 10: 2:00 p.m.:
- rainy: Kunsthalle (art museum);
- sunny: Bürgerpark (zoo, rowing,and hiking)
- Friday, July 11:
- sunny: 8:00 a.m.: trip to Cuxhaven (North Coast)
- rainy: 2:00 p.m.: Focke-Museum (history of North Germany)
- Saturday, July 12:
- sunny: 2:00 p.m.: Botanical Gardens
- rainy: shopping downtown
- Sunday, July 13: 10:30 a.m.: "Waldbühne" (traditional beer garden in the Bürgerpark with live music)
- Monday, July 14:
- sunny: 6:00 a.m.: trip to Cologne and Rhineland (castles)
- rainy: optional
- Tuesday, July 15: sunny/rainy: 2:00 p.m.: from this day on, we will play catch up, i.e. we will do all the things we didn't get to do yet—due to bad or good weather.
- Wednesday, July 16:
- sunny: 6:00 am.: trip to Koblenz (castles)
- rainy: any of the above
- Thursday, July 17: sunny/rainy: any of the above
- Friday, July 18: sunny/rainy: any of the above
- Saturday, July 19: sunny/rainy: any of the above
- Sunday, July 20: 10:30 a.m.: "Waldbühne" (traditional beer garden in the Bürgerpark with live music)
- Monday, July 21: sunny/rainy: any of the above
- Tuesday, July 22: spend last day with host family
- Wednesday, July 23: 6:00 a.m.: Departure to Frankfurt
The Average Day in Bremen
No matter what is on the agenda: the main ingredient of this program is the intercultural experience you gain from contact with Germans. Your host family plays a key role in this respect. If they want to do things with you, you shouldn't think twice. You are excused from anything when your host family has made plans for you. Of course, they are also working people, so there will be times when you are on your own. That is your chance to participate in the scheduled activities. Your host family should always be informed what your plans are. Give them a copy of the above schedule, please. That way it is easier to coordinate all the well-meant plans, before misunderstandings arise. Make certain you know your host family's daily routine (breakfast, lunch, dinner, laundry days, possibilty of catching a ride to places, etc.). Germans are very orderly and punctual. They should be informed if you're going to join them for the meals or for other things in advance. Be considerate enough to ask them if late night returns are disturbing. Anything can be solved in advance. But don't assume that they know "your ways." And don't assume that you know their ways.
Optional: Attend classes of your choice (English or German: from about 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Hermann-Böse-Gymnasium). A good way to make contacts is to go along with your host and ask him/her about classes that interest you.
Eat breakfast and lunch before and after school at "home," unless other arrangements are necessary.
Daily excursions and assignments within Bremen from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (two cathedrals, two historical museums, two art museums, the port, the old middle-age quarters, the citizens' park, an artists' colony, and tour of a company).
Eat dinner at "home" or kindly ask guest mother (early enough) to provide you with sandwiches ("Butterbrote") in case we want to spend more time in the city, i.e. do things after dinner time. Of course, you can always ask your host family to provide you with snacks for our daily excursions. You shouldn't count on restaurants unless you have a lot of money to spend!
Methods of Student Evaluation: Reports by host families and daily log book entries.
Other Relevant Information
Estimate of costs:
travel (plane) 1000
travel (train) 200
room and board
@ host families 300
instruction -0-
instructor's expenses 350
admission fees & bus fares 50
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total $1,900
(first 50% due Feb. 13; second 50% due April 1)
Instructor: Dr. Mark M. Gruettner
Important Phone Numbers in Bremen:
- Dr. Mark Gruettner: Country code: 01149 Area code: 0421 Phone: 384662
- Axel Zirk: Country code: 01149 Area code: 0421 Phone: 257-4922