THE OTHER AMERICA
A project of the German-American Institute Heidelberg and the Robert Bosch foundation in cooperation with Heidelberg University, the schoolboards of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate as well as selected schools from the Rhine Neckar region.
In January and February of 2010, 14 American guest students visit 14 different secondary schools to convey a realistic image of present-day America by working with the German students on current topics for three days.
This project disintegrates prejudices and stereotypes and fosters the intercultural exchange. Additionally, working with a native speaker of English enriches the vocabulary the students learn in school with topic-relevant terms and colloquial expressions.
Facebook-Groups (only open to participants and moderated by institute staff) will host a lively discussion about the topics between the American guest students, German students, teachers, and students of American high schools. All topics will eventually be part of an exhibition to be held in the German-American Insitute. There, school classes from the region that could not take part in “The Other America” earlier, will have the possibility to profit from the project during a one day crash course.
Topics
Mobile America
Languages & Dialects in America
Exploring American Culture through Comedy
Holidays & Traditions of the United States
The Social and Cultural Differences between the U.S. and Canada
Climate Change
Life in the American South
Multiculturalism in America
Food and Food Industry
The Birth and Rise of Hip Hop
The History of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Movement
Religion in America
Free Time Culture
Obama and his New America
