German Culture A Unique Blend Of The Old And New

German culture is a unique blend of the old and new. The large separation between the formal professional life and the informal private life amongst its people creates a country that is steeped in tradition, but also very forward thinking and evolving. While German is the official language of Germany, it is not the only language spoken in Germany. Many Germans claim to speak at least one other language. As of 2011, at least 92.8 of German students were learning English and/or French in general programs and much of the population is bilingual or somewhat familiar with another language.(Eurostat, 2014) The German language does not share many similarities with English. Some words come from Latin and Greek, while fewer come from French and†¦show more content†¦While politicians occasionally make calls to return to this set of ideals, it has come under some fire. Many criticize it saying that they do not give any room for sciences or art, and others criticize it for being very militaristic. However, these ideals can still be seen in the usual customs and etiquette. Germans tend to have a clearly defined separation between their personal and professional lives. Both sides tend to be very structured. In their professional lives, Germans are very respectful, formal and punctual, often exemplifying Prussian virtues. It is seen as very rude to speak informally to someone who is not a close friend or family member, or hasn’t given permission to use the informal forms of words. It is also seen as rude to not make a point of using someone’s title and/or surname when addressing them. As part of the idea of separation between private and professional life, the home is a very private place in Germany. It is not often that individuals outside of close friends or family are invited in so it might be more acceptable to schedule meetings in a more public setting. If someone outside of the familiar group is invited into the home, it is customary to wait to be asked to enter and to bring some kind of small gift. While there are clear signs of strong professional values, Germans also have a reputation for being forward thinking and very supportive of modern civil movements. Germans are known for having