So I've been learning German for like a year or so. Accordingly, I have been running into alot of them in my valley, and have been speaking with them for practising conversation etc. I have noticed this trend: WHY ARE GERMAN PEOPLE SO SMART? Every German person I know speaks like 2-3 or more languages. Usually German and English, but lol not only that. They are always like successful/ have alot of money. I know two of em that own resorts. And they like beer quite a lot (everyone does though). I'm not being stereotypical here too btw! just from what I've experienced I've never met a German person that is in a difficult situation in my life! It makes me wonder from like a Linguistic standpoint, learning such a crazy inflected language when you're young does wonders to your brain!
Try watching German television. Or, well, better don't try it if you value your brain cells... I'd estimate 75-90% of TV here is complete and utter crap (a lot of "scripted reality" trash and other nonsense), but apparently there's enough idiots watching that stuff to keep it on air, so...
Yeah there are smart and dumb people everywhere, but basically, I guess german Average Joes (Average Jürgens? ) are probably less likely to travel a lot or relocate compared to entrepreneurs and such... Knowing multiple languages is a GREAT thing but doesn't turn one into a genious though In sweden studying english and any third language is mandatory... Still lots of dumb people here
I always thought people in Europe learned at least 3 languages. With the distance between countries not being an issue, that should be a common thing.
At least in Germany (and as far as I remember; been a while since I had anything to do with school...) English education is mandatory from 5th grade on, while a second foreign language, with IIRC French being a common example, is only mandatory in higher levels of education. I wasn't on a secondary school of a high enough level, so I only ever learned English.
Here even public schools have mandatory english but the quality is subpar and even those getting good lessons forget everything in a few years. There was a british guy telling that in Frankfurt everybody knows english and other languages because its a big economic hub but for example Berlin is deutsch only and that he couldn't buy bread on a store without knowing german.
I think kungmidas hit the nail on the head. The smart, wealthy, successful Germans are the ones who will be able to travel overseas, and thus, you're able to meet them.
You are encountering successful/smart Germans because those are the ones who manage to leave their country, managed to make a living using a foreign language and overcame the difficulties associated to this process! There are still a lot of dumb people in Germany, just like in any country. German mentality has some great attributes such as precision, reliability and critical/logical thinking which is lacking in American/Canadian mentality (I tell you what.. seriously!). Then again I wish Germans in general would accept some of the nicer American mentality aspects, such as general optimism, lightheartedness, hospitality towards strangers and being more aware and grateful for who they are. Germans could also be damn proud of who they are if there wasn't the big Hitler stigma that we all still have to feel ashamed for. The strongest country in the entire European union despite having had 2 disastrous wars and a economically extremely demanding reunion with a completely rundown country in 1990. We have some great high quality television programs hidden among the crap (similar in quality to the UK or France) excellent healthcare and high quality construction and engineering. Also: Obviously you haven't had much chance to compare! German television offers some excellent programs. You can't expect to find arthouse movies and calm documentaries all the time, but at least we do have 3sat, Arte and the high quality night program of the oeffentlich rechtlichen Sender (public broadcasting stations). In North America, we have the same shit as in Germany but unlike there, there's no alternative - no Arte, 3Sat and so on. Just Regular TV shows, news, entertainment --- no vintage movies, art house,... if you ever see that, it's a once in a lifetime thing. German TV is pretty damn awesome, I came to realize that only once it's gone. But not Germany alone, I think French and UK TV also rocks!
Knowing multiple languages hardly makes you a genius, it's just that the US is an exception among Western countries because most people only know one.
Germans have that show, it's like Inspector Rex but with rockets. Caught some of it on late night TV here in Australia. Quality!
Lol, Rex even run on Japanese TV. Watched all episodes until Moser died. But to be fair, Rex is an Austrian thing :hororr:
I haven't had the chance, no. I guess I've formed my opinion based on just how publicly visible and advertised all the shit is... Like how you seem to see and hear about it everywhere - "This-or-that B-list celebrity now judge on talent show X!", "Shocking something happening on soap opera Y!". You're certainly right about some of the public broadcasters - 3sat and Arte, as well as some of the "thirds" and Phoenix come to mind, which do have different and I guess better content compared to the private broadcasters in particular. I still don't watch them very much, but that's more down to the fact that I don't watch much TV nowadays in general, and less to their programming.
I had no idea it was Austrian! I assume Austria is to Germany as New Zealand is to Australia? Thanks for letting me know! :congratulatory:
That's interesting. Because all the times I've been to Germany I had to look a long time for someone to speak english. It's not about english being mandatory in school, it's about english language tv/movies being dubbed to german in deutschland. In Sweden 90% of tv shows and movies are english language and only have subtitles. Isn't austria the grandpa of germany? Like they have all these old words that germans don't use anymore..
