The First Two Weeks of the Semester
Hello!
Today marks the beginning of my third week of classes here in Germany. I am taking a total of six classes (five in German and one in English). Classes here are very different than they are in the US. Where it is obvious you are receiving a grade for a course you take in the US it is not so in Germany. In fact if you want a grade for a course (or a Schein) you must speak to your professor and ask for it. SO weird.
So with this in mind - taking part in a class is kind of optional. There is no participation grade. Instead each class has one or two assignments. The most common is a Referat - which is a type of presentation. A Referat involves you presenting on a topic that the professor has likely pre chosen and that you have to do research for. It also involves handouts and original sources. The second most common type of assignment is a Hausarbeit or an essay. This essay is completely academic and is usually a minimum of six pages long (I think 8-10 is normal). The Hausarbeit is not due when class ends (which is when a final exam is administered - if there is one), but instead about a month and a half later right before the beginning of the next semester. How cool is that? I unfortunately will not be able to take advantage of such an opportunity because of the whole grade thing.
Most classes here are only held once a week for three-ish hours (anything above two hours counts as three credits). So once a week I have class. I actually kind of like it. The classes held by the university do not last a full three hours and I find that I am never bored by the time. The JYM classes I could not say the same for - they use every inch of the three hours and make me suffer.
The weather here for the past two weeks has been absolutely lovely (or hot). With highs in the seventies (and occasionally low eighties) I almost never need anything but the lightest of jackets. I was kind of surprised. It seemed we jumped straight from snow on the ground to hot summer weather, a lot like Virginia right? I was expecting a great deal more rain and you know Spring. But I like the chance to be outside. My dorm is a five minute walk from the English Gardens (a 900ish acre park that runs through the northern part of the city) and I like to go there and enjoy myself in the shade. I am always on the lookout though- nudity is a THING here in Germany. I have seen more wrinkly behinds than I ever wanted to.
This past weekend, a group of JYM students headed to the English Gardens for a picnic. They drank a bunch of wine and I enjoyed watching them get funnier and funnier. It was SUPER crowded, as everyone was taking advantage of the chance to enjoy the weather. The Isar River runs through Munich (and the English Gardens) from the Alps - so if you get overheated a quick dip will fix that for you. Here are some photos I took during the picnic.
Right now I am prepping for a few of my classes, and firming up the details to my trip to Holland to see the tulips in bloom! Homework is calling my name, and I am ready to move onto the next stage of procrastination - homework adjacent activities.
Tschüß!
Today marks the beginning of my third week of classes here in Germany. I am taking a total of six classes (five in German and one in English). Classes here are very different than they are in the US. Where it is obvious you are receiving a grade for a course you take in the US it is not so in Germany. In fact if you want a grade for a course (or a Schein) you must speak to your professor and ask for it. SO weird.
So with this in mind - taking part in a class is kind of optional. There is no participation grade. Instead each class has one or two assignments. The most common is a Referat - which is a type of presentation. A Referat involves you presenting on a topic that the professor has likely pre chosen and that you have to do research for. It also involves handouts and original sources. The second most common type of assignment is a Hausarbeit or an essay. This essay is completely academic and is usually a minimum of six pages long (I think 8-10 is normal). The Hausarbeit is not due when class ends (which is when a final exam is administered - if there is one), but instead about a month and a half later right before the beginning of the next semester. How cool is that? I unfortunately will not be able to take advantage of such an opportunity because of the whole grade thing.
Most classes here are only held once a week for three-ish hours (anything above two hours counts as three credits). So once a week I have class. I actually kind of like it. The classes held by the university do not last a full three hours and I find that I am never bored by the time. The JYM classes I could not say the same for - they use every inch of the three hours and make me suffer.
The weather here for the past two weeks has been absolutely lovely (or hot). With highs in the seventies (and occasionally low eighties) I almost never need anything but the lightest of jackets. I was kind of surprised. It seemed we jumped straight from snow on the ground to hot summer weather, a lot like Virginia right? I was expecting a great deal more rain and you know Spring. But I like the chance to be outside. My dorm is a five minute walk from the English Gardens (a 900ish acre park that runs through the northern part of the city) and I like to go there and enjoy myself in the shade. I am always on the lookout though- nudity is a THING here in Germany. I have seen more wrinkly behinds than I ever wanted to.
This past weekend, a group of JYM students headed to the English Gardens for a picnic. They drank a bunch of wine and I enjoyed watching them get funnier and funnier. It was SUPER crowded, as everyone was taking advantage of the chance to enjoy the weather. The Isar River runs through Munich (and the English Gardens) from the Alps - so if you get overheated a quick dip will fix that for you. Here are some photos I took during the picnic.
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| You can see the Isar River running through the Garden |
Right now I am prepping for a few of my classes, and firming up the details to my trip to Holland to see the tulips in bloom! Homework is calling my name, and I am ready to move onto the next stage of procrastination - homework adjacent activities.
Tschüß!
Can't wait to come visit you. Is it humid like VA? It appears you are settling in and getting acquainted to your area. I love that you can walk to the English Gardens.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!!
Tschub!
Hi Sweetie,
ReplyDeleteSo happy you have settled in and are enjoying Germany
Ich liebe dich
Interesting how they hold class 3 hrs, yeesh, is there some type of break? and only 2 assignments and the final is a month or 2 later, hmmmm! No wonder your CNU professor called in Eduvacation :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the rated G photos. Patrick says the same thing about his travels. 😜
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't scar anyone else with the things that I have seen. No one deserves to be tormented like that. I find the European secularism startling.
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