Germany
Germany has been called das Land der Dichter und Denker (the Land of Poets and Thinkers). The culture and history of Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe, making it hard to identify a specific German tradition separated from the larger context of European culture. Germany has been the birthplace of the composers Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, the writers Goethe and Schiller, and the artists Grunewald and Durer to name just a few. Germany has also been a center for science and engineering; the invention of movable type, the discovery of X-rays, and the establishment of psychology as a science all occurred in the Germany.
Germany is a beautiful nation, with tremendous history and culture, and has been placed fourth overall among countries with top-ranking universities internationally. Students can live and study in historic cities, visit castles that are hundreds of years old, and see country-side and villages that have changed little since the middle ages, or study in cities with the latest in technology and development. UCF has had study abroad programs in Germany for language and culture.
Fun Facts
- Germany is home to the Autobahn, a highway with no speed limits.
- One in three Germans belongs to a sports club.
- Nearly everyone in Germany has health insurance.
- Germany has the largest economy in the EU, and the third largest in the world.
- 88% of people in Germany live in cities and conurbations.
Phrases
The official language of Germany is German. However, a large portion of the population speak second and/or third languages, often including English.
- Hello Hallo
- Good-bye Auf Wiedersehen
- Excuse Me Entschuldigung
- Thank You Danke
- Where is the bathroom? Wo ist die Toilette?
Links
Embassy of Germany in the United States