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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!howland.erols.net!newsfeed.direct.ca!look.ca!newsfeed1.earthlink.net!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsmaster1.prod.itd.earthlink.net!newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net.POSTED!not-for-mail
Newsgroups: soc.culture.german,soc.answers,news.answers
From: lutterdc@cs.purdue.edu (David Lutterkort)
Subject: soc.culture.german FAQ (posted monthly) part 4/6
Followup-To: soc.culture.german
Summary: These postings contain a list of Frequently Asked Questions
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Archive-name: german-faq/part4
Last modified: 2001-09-02
Posting-Frequency: monthly
URL: http://www.watzmann.net/scg/
Version: 2001-09
This is part 4 of the ASCII version of the FAQ list for
soc.culture.german. Find the WWW version at
<http://www.watzmann.net/scg/index.html>. The FAQ is posted on
the first of every month.
Table of Contents for Part 4
=============================
13. Books
13.1 ISB Numbers on the Net
13.2 What German Dictionaries are Available? (Deutsch-Deutsch!)
13.3 Which Books do German kids read?
13.4 German Literature Online
13.5 Mail Ordering Books
13.5.1 Page comments
14. Audio / Video
14.1 Different Video Norms!
14.1.1 Do it yourself
14.1.2 Commercial conversion
14.2 Movies
14.2.1 Dubbing?!
14.2.2 Contacts
14.3 Mail Ordering
14.3.1 Audio / Music
14.3.2 Video Tapes
14.3.3 Page comments
15. Foreign Affairs; Consulates / Embassies
15.1 General Remarks on the Embassies
15.2 Foreign Embassies in the FRG
15.3 German Embassies and Consulates General
15.4 Other Foreign Affairs Institutions
15.5 Goethe Institutes
15.5.1 Page comments
16. Educational System
16.1 Schools
16.1.1 The structure of the German school system
16.1.2 Vacations
16.1.3 International Schools in Germany
16.1.4 German Schools Abroad
16.1.5 Summer Schools for German Abroad
16.2 Universities
16.2.1 Statistics
16.2.2 Listings, Rankings
16.2.2.1 Listings
16.2.2.2 Rankings
16.2.3 Studying at a German University; Exchange Programs
16.2.3.1 Exchange programs and organizations
16.2.4 Finding the Right One... (On-Line)
16.3 Volkshochschulen
16.4 Education-Relevant Addresses
16.4.1 Page comments
17. Economy; Industry; Working in Germany
17.1 News, Overviews, Briefs, Stock Data and other Databases
17.1.1 On-Line
17.1.2 Other
17.2 DIN, ISO
17.3 Economy Research Institutes
17.4 Bundesstelle fuer Aussenhandelsinformation (BfAI)
17.5 Looking for Individual Jobs
17.5.1 Some Addresses
17.6 Chambers of Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer)
17.7 What is the minimum wage in Germany ?
17.7.1 Page comments
13. Books
In Germany, the price for a book is set by the publisher and all
retail stores are required to sell the book at that price, a
regulation that is under heavy attack from the European Union right
now. As a consequence, there is little point in shopping around for a
good bargain on a book. The only books that you can buy at a discount
in Germany are damaged books, even though it often takes an expert to
see what exactly the damage is.
The Preisbindung, as this practice is called in German, means in
particular that the only differences in price between `online
booksellers' come from their differing fees for shipping and
handling, not the books themselves.1999-04
Bookstores will usually order books published in Germany for you if
they don't have them in stock. This is free of charge and usually
very fast: the ordered book will often be at your local book store the
day after you order it, and almost always within three days after the
order. Foreign books take longer to order, sometimes several weeks.
13.1. ISB Numbers on the Net
You can find all the books in print in Germany at Verzeichnis
lieferbarer Buecher <http://www.vlb.de/>, a site maintained by the
association of German booksellers.
You can also try the search engines of any of the `online
booksellers'; their search results usually contain the ISBN, among
other things.
13.2. What German Dictionaries are Available? (Deutsch-Deutsch!)
o Der Brockhaus in einem Band: US$39.95 (US)
o Wahrig (Bertelsmann) US$48.95
o Wahrig DTV Woerterbuch (paperback) US$21.95
o Deutsches Woerterbuch von H. Paul (Niemayer) US$68.95
o Duden deutsches Universalwoerterbuch US$49.95
o Knaurs grosses Woerterbuch der deutschen Sprache US$45.95
13.3. Which Books do German kids read?
Bring up any of these book titles in conversation with a German under
the age of 50, or anybody over 50 whith kids, and you have a sure-fire
way to go down the road to nostalgia ...
o by Ottfried Preussler
o Raeuber Hotzenplotz
o Die kleine Hexe
o Das kleine Gespenst
o Der starke Wanja
o Krabat
o Der kleine Wassermann
o by Max Kruse
o Urmel aus dem Eis (and more Urmel books)
o by Michael Ende
o Jim Knopf und Lukas, der Lokomotivfuehrer
o Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13
o Die unendliche Geschichte
o Momo
o Der satanarchaeoluegenialalkohoellische Wunschpunsch
o by Erich Kaestner
o Das fliegende Klassenzimmer
o Emil und die Detektive
o Puenktchen und Anton
o der kleine Mann
o by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg <http://www.AngelaSommer-
Bodenburg.com>
o Der kleine Vampir
13.4.
German Literature Online
The German Branch <http://www.gutenberg.aol.de/> of the Project
Gutenberg <http://www.gutenberg.net/> has now gone far beyond offering
just fairy tales. The Project Gutenberg <http://www.gutenberg.net/> is
dedicated to bringing works of literature whose copyright has expired
into electronic form.
A very nice website dedicated to German literature is Oliver Gassner's
carpe <http://www.carpe.com>. It contains the Literatur und Buecher im
Cyberspace <http://www.carpe.com/lubic/> link list and Olivers Links
zur Literatur <http://www.carpe.com/lit/>. For the scholarly minded,
there's the German Studies Web
<http://gort.ucsd.edu/rsonn/wessger.html>, coordinated by Reinhart
Sonnenburg.
13.5. Mail Ordering Books
The FU Berlin maintains a list of German publishing companies and
bookstores <http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/outerspace/verlage.html>,
including many mail-order bookstores.
Some of the more popular mail-order bookstores are
o Amazon.de <http://www.amazon.de/>, the German branch of amazon.com
<http://www.amazon.com/>
o Bertelsmann Online <http://www.bol.de/>, the online store of the
largest German publishing company,
o Buch.de <http://www.buch.de/>, Aachener Buchversand
o Buecher.de <http://www.buecher.de/>
Here is a list of bookstores and publishing companies, both in Germany
and abroad, that somehow deal with German books:
Der Buchwurm
PO Box 268, Templeton, CA 93465, tel +1(805)238-2353, fax
+1(805)238-9523
German Books, Music Tapes, CD's, Journal Subscriptions, etc.
1994-6
Mary S. Rosenberg, Inc.
1841 Broadway, New York, NY 10023, tel +1(212)307-7733, fax
+1(718)857-7163
Mail order, but no credit cards! However, checks do not need to
clear your bank before they send merchandise. 1994-6
Schoenhof's Foreign Books
76A Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, tel
+1(617)547-8855, fax +1(617)547-8551
Accepts Visa, MC, and AMEX. French, German, Italian, and Spanish
books 1994-6
Adler's Foreign Books, Inc.
8220 N. Christiana Ave, Skokie, Illinois 60076, tel
+1(800)ADLERS-1
Accepts major credit cards, no current catalogue! 1994-6
Buch-Bruecke
96 Sweet Road, Ballston Lake, NY 12019, tel/fax +1(518)399-6516
They have a very good selection of German language books,
videos, cassette tapes, CD's, and magazines, at reasonable
prices. A catalog is available. 1994-7
International Book Import Service, Inc.
2995 Wall Triana Highway, Suite B4, Huntsville, Alabama
35824-1532, tel +1(800)277-IBIS fax +1(205)464-0071 1996-03
1995-4
Continental Book Company
80-00 Cooper Avenue, Bldg. #29, Glendale, NY 11385 1994-6
Mail order Kaiser
Postfach 401209, 80712 Muenchen, Germany, tel +49(89)362001
Mail order bookstore in Germany. Delivery worldwide at German
domestic prices. Monthly newsletters. 1994-6
ATS (Associated Technical Services)
855 Bloomfield Ave., Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
Technical Dictionaries 1994-6
2001
Ferdinand-Porsche-Str. 39, Postfach 61 06 37, 60348
Frankfurt/Main, tel +49(69)4208000, fax +49(69)415004
Kantstr. 41, 10625 Berlin 12, tel +49(30)3125017
They deliver only to European countries. A Bill will be included
on delivery. The value of an order to abroad must be above 50
DM. Only books are delivered abroad, no CD's, tapes or records.
1994-6
Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft
Hindenburgstrasse 40, Postfach 11 15 53, 64230 Darmstadt,
Germany, tel +49(6151)33080, fax +49 6151 314128 1994-6
Carl Hanser Verlag
Postfach 86 04 20, 81631 Muenchen
Take major credit cars, and offer books from BASIC programming
to Object-Oriented methods. Nice little catalog - these are the
distinctive bright red books with blue trim. 1994-6
Die Weisse Rose
Rozengracht 166, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, tel
+31(20)638-3959, Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10-18, Sat 11-17 1994-6
Deutsches Komitee fuer elektronische Buecher
(German Electronic Book Committee GEBC), Bertelsmann Electronic
Publishing, fax +49(89)43189-737 1994-7
Bibliographisches Institut <http://www.bifab.de/>
Makers of Der Duden <http://www.duden.de>, Meyer's Lexikon
<http://www.meyer.bifab.de> and Brockhaus
<http://www.brockhaus.de>. Looks like they have a corner on the
German encyclopedia market.
Langenscheidt KG
Langenscheidt <http://www.langenscheidt.de> publishes everything
about learning languages, from dictionaries to Teach yourself
elementary Martian in seven days.
Book publishers, fiction and non-fiction
Some of the biggest German publishing companies are Deutscher
Taschenbuch Verlag (dtv) <http://www.dtv.de/>, Fischer
Taschenbuch Verlag <http://www.s-fischer.de/>, Suhrkamp Verlag
<http://www.suhrkamp.de/>, Verlag Philipp Reclam jun.
<http://www.reclam.de/>, Verlag R.Piper <http://www.piper.de/>.
The Diogenes Verlag AG does not seem to have a webpage. Their
last known address was Sprecherstrasse 8, CH-8032 Zuerich.
13.5.1. Page comments
View/add comments
<http://www.watzmann.net/comments/list.php?page_id=17>
14. Audio / Video
How to convert between Norms, how to get tapes, etc.
14.1. Different Video Norms!
PAL videotapes (as used in Germany) will not display properly
using an NTSC (used in, eg, USA) based VCR and vice-versa.
There are services where video conversion from any to any other
can be made for a fee (VHS, VHS-C and 8 mm types of cassettes.)
This will allow playback of videotapes made overseas using US TV's and
VCR's (PAL, SECAM -> NTSC) and vice-versa (NTSC -> PAL, SECAM, etc
...)
It is also not too expensive to get a VCR which is able to play NTSC
and PAL tapes.
Only a few VCR's are able to record and play VHS tapes in NTSC and
PAL (e.g. Panasonic AG-W1, about DM 5000). Cheaper VCR's are able to
play different formats (NTSC, PAL, SECAM).
14.1.1. Do it yourself
With these setups you can transfer from NTSC to/from PAL at reasonable
cost. Don't expect studio quality though:
o Akai VS R110EM is a three system unit - PAL, NTSC, SECAM , costs
about US$200 mailorder (smile video, nyc).
o AKAI VSX-560, *HiFi-Stereo*, tuner, features include NTSC playback
on PAL TV, US$500 (mailorder from 47th St Photo)
o AIWA MG360S also 3 systems, costs about US$450 (mail order, j/R
music world, nyc, +1(800)221-8180)
o Another VCR that is reasonably priced is sold by Radio-Shack. The
VCR is available through special order only; and not all Radio
Shack employees know that this machine even exists. If they don't,
have them look in the current catalog for #16-706. The cost is
US$600. (You'll need a second VCR for conversions.) 1994-3
14.1.2. Commercial conversion
Mind Logic <http://www.best.com/~jdulaney/convserv.html>
They charge US$18 for the first two hours of conversion. They
also put together a technical overview of the subject.
<http://www.best.com/~jdulaney/faq.html> 1996-04
Hamilton-Smith
Merrill, Ia, USA, hamsmith@pionet.net, tel +1(712)938-2507
1996-04
International Video Conversion
520 Harvest Lane, Raleigh, NC 27606-2217, tel +1(919)233-8689
Fees: US$25 + 5 S&H, Price of a High Grade Cassette Included,
2hrs or less. Delivery: Mailed back the next day, express
shipping at request. Payment: Check, Cash or Money Order mailed
with tape.
sasjrm@unx.sas.com
does it for US$5 per hour + US$3 for the blank tape. Formats:
NTSC, PAL, NPAL, MPAL, SECAM, MSECAM
Soffel VDO
2250 Monroe St #263, Santa Clara, CA 95050, tel +1(408)985-2098
US$20 per tape (up to 2h, each add. hour US$10). Tape, S&H
included. Mail only, next day shipping, overnight available.
Check, cash, money order. Does: NTSC (8mm, Hi8, VHS) -> PAL
(VHS)
Video Conversion
tel +1(614)833-6872/NTSC http://www.videoconversion.com/
Price: $9.99 + S/H for one VHS tape containing up to 3 hours of
material
Local shops
Give your local shops a try! I found a Camera Shop that does PAL
<-> NTCS conversions; a bit expensive, though (US$20/h). But if
you need something the very next day... 1994-1
14.2. Movies
14.2.1. Dubbing?!
American (and other foreign) films are almost always dubbed into
German when they're released in Germany. Frequently, the title of the
movie is changed, as well, so that it makes more sense in the German
language.
It is a recurring subject for discussion in soc.culture.german whether
this is desirable or despicable. Before judging an issue like this,
please consider the market forces at work; the point is that dubbing
costs more than mere subtitles. Why do they do it anyway, then?
Obviously there is a sizable and steady demand which absorbs the added
cost! If you feel that dubbing should be abolished, then, please, also
provide an insight in how you believe this presently existing
preference can be redirected! 1996-03
14.2.2. Contacts
Producer's Masterguide <http://www.producers.masterguide.com> (email
producers@masterguide.com) is an international production manual for
film, broadcast-tv, commercials, videotape & cable industries since
1980. 1996-03
14.3. Mail Ordering
14.3.1. Audio / Music
Some places where to get a hold of the latest from the charts; (did
you know that modern match makers hold as an utmost important
compatibilty criterion what the couple thinks about Volksmusik?)
o Euroexport Intl Music Mktg; Austin, TX, USA; +1-800-872-2966 1996-1
o `See the entry' on Der Buchwurm in the Books section. 1996-01
14.3.2. Video Tapes
For conversion of videotapes (NTSC <-> PAL) see subject `Audio /
Video Tapes'
German Language Video Center
7625-27 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, Indiana 46226, tel
+1(317)547-1257
Free catalogue; hundreds of movies; prompt and courteous
service. The movies cost US$10.50 to rent for 30 days (includes
shipping time to and from you, so it's realistically about 2
1/2 weeks), with a US$20 initial deposit (refundable when you
decide you don't want to rent any more videos from them). 1995-3
The Olivia and Hill Press
PO Box 7396, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107, tel +1(313)663-0235, fax
+1(313)663-6590
Selection of German-language cassette recordings of novels,
plays, and radio plays, e.g. Duerrenmatt's Der Richter und sein
Henker. Free catalogue.
Schau ins Land
PO Box 158067, Nashville, TN 37215-8067, tel +1(800)824-0829
Monthly audio magazine of news, stories, music, etc. Comes with
a written transcription including a vocabulary glossary.
Approx. US$120/yr. in the US.
14.3.3. Page comments
View/add comments <http://watzmann.net/comments/list.php?page_id=18>
15.
Foreign Affairs; Consulates / Embassies
Some basic background; lots of addresses. Federal Republic of Germany
is abbreviated as FRG.
15.1. General Remarks on the Embassies
The German Consulates are very helpful in getting information about
anything concerning Germany (travel, politics, laws ...) They're very
thorough and supply lots of information in response to requests. Among
other things:
o info about quarantine questions (importing pets)
o all German phonebooks available
o business/government directories
o registries of names and contact addresses of German citizens in
foreign countries (one has to register oneself upon arrival)
They also sponsor the German Information Center
<http://www.germany-info.org/> (address in the `Newspapers
section').
For background and general information on Germany the German Embassies
will send anyone a complimentary copy of the booklet Facts about
Germany.
There is a list of all embassies/consulates in the US. You get it from
the Department of State. Its title is Foreign Consular Offices in the
United States and it contains addresses, names of the staff and phone
numbers. You might find the booklet in most public libraries.
For quite a lot more embassies and consulates (etc.,) besides those
related to the FRG, try globescope's embassy page!
<http://www.embpage.org> 1996-10
15.2. Foreign Embassies in the FRG
Botschaft der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika
Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn, tel +49(228)339-1/-2053, fax
+49(228)332712, Amtsbezirk: Nordrhein-Westfalen
There are a number of other consular instutions in the FRG ...
in case you live elsewhere you might need to contact Berlin,
Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Leibzig, or Stuttgart. Let me know
-- I'll get you the address, too.
Konsulat der Ungarischen Republik
General-Vollmann-Strasse 2, 8???? Muenchen, +49(89)911032,
1997-06
Die Botschaft des Staates Israel in der
Bundesrepublik Deutschland" Simrockalle 2, 53173 Bonn, tel
+49(228)823-0, fax +49(228)361916, fax +49(228)356093, email
botschaft@israel.de
Generalkonsulat des Staates Israel in Berlin
Schinkelstrasse 10, 14193 Berlin, tel +49(30)893220-3/-4/-5, fax
+49(30)8928908, email konsulat@israel.de 1995-11
Botschaft von Singapur,
Suedstr.133, 53175 Bonn, tel +49(228)9510314 1996-11
15.3. German Embassies and Consulates General
The Auswaertige Amt <http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/> (Ministry of
Foreign Affairs <> provides a list of the German embassies
<http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/7_aw_amt/3/7-3Adr.htm>. For english
speakers, there is a page in English <http://www.auswaertiges-
amt.de/1_fremsp/english/Index2.htm> that lists the embassies in
English speaking countries. And one for in Spanish
<http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/1_fremsp/spanish/Index2.htm> for
Spanish speaking countries.
The German Information Center <http://www.germany-info.org/> maintains
a list with the addresses of the German embassy in Washington, D.C.
<http://www.germany-info.org/newcontent/index_ge.html> and of the
German consulates in the United States <http://www.germany-
info.org/newcontent/gc/consulate_home.html>.
Some German embassies have their own web pages: Argentina
<http://www.embalemana.com.ar/>, Austria <http://www.deubowien.at>,
Canada <http://www.GermanEmbassyOttawa.org/>, Chile
<http://www.embajadadealemania.cl/>, Denmark <http://www.tyske-
ambassade.dk/>, Egypt <http://www.german-embassy.org.eg>, Finland
<http://www.germanembassy.fi/>, Ghana
<http://members.aol.com/GhanaGeEmb>, Rep. de Guinee
<http://www.zyan.com/botschaft-conakry/>, India
<http://www.germanembassy-india.org/>, Israel
<http://www.germanemb.org.il/>, Japan <http://www.germanembassy-
japan.org>, Mexico <http://www.embajada-alemana.org.mx>, Namibia
<http://www.german-embassy.org/>, Norway
<http://home.c2i.net/germanembassy/start.htm>, Paraguay
<http://www.pla.net.py/embalem/>, Russia <http://www.germany.org.ru>,
Singapore <http://www.germany.org.sg/>, Slovakia
<http://www.germanembassy.sk>, Spain <http://www.embajada-
alemania.es/>, Switzerland
<http://missions.itu.int/~germany/willkommen>, Thailand
<http://www.german-embassy.or.th/>, United Kingdom <http://www.german-
embassy.org.uk>, United States of America <http://www.germany-
info.org>.
15.4. Other Foreign Affairs Institutions
Auswaertiges Amt
Postfach 1148, 53001 Bonn, Adenauerallee 99-103, 53113 Bonn, tel
(0228)17-0, fax (0228)17-3402 www http://www.auswaertiges-
amt.government.de/
Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Werner Weidenfeld Koordinator fuer die deutsch-
amerikanische zwischengesellschaftliche, kultur- und
informationspolitische Zusammenarbeit, Auswaertiges Amt,
Postfach 1148, 53001 Bonn, tel (0228)17-26611-28701-2678, fax
(0228)17-3402
United States Information Agency
German Country Affairs Offlcer 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington,
DC 20547 USA, tel +1(202)619-5940, fax +1(202)619-6821
Deutsch-Amerikanische Parlamentariergruppe im 12. Deutschen
Bundestag" Referat PB 3, Sekretariat der Parlamentariergruppen,
Bundeshaus, 53113 Bonn, tel (0228)16-7466/3588/2444/3879, fax
(0228)16-85124
The Congressional Study Group on Germany
Suite 422, 1755 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20036
USA, tel +1(202)332-3532, fax +1(202)543-7145
15.5.
Goethe Institutes
The various Goethe Institutes <http://www.goethe.de/> (English page
<http://www.goethe.de/eindex.htm/>) are funded by the German
government to provide an opportunity for people outside Germany to
become acquainted with German culture and learn German. They offer:
German classes <http://www.goethe.de/z/demindex.htm>
of which readers of soc.culture.german report that they are
intense but really make you learn.
library services <http://www.goethe.de/z/30/eniindex.htm>
that are open to all, including getting material via
interlibrary loan or fax. The services used to be free, but some
locations seem to charge for them. The Goethe Institut in
Manchester, England, for example, introduced an annual fee of
GBP 10 in September 1999.
exhibitions <http://www.goethe.de/a/deausst.htm>
My favorite still is Vee have vays to make you laugh - German
humor.
This page <http://www.goethe.de/a/enwindex.htm> contains a list of all
Gothe institutes world-wide, including websites, mailing addresses and
everything else you need to get in touch with your friendly
neighborhood Goethe Institut.
15.5.1. Page comments
View/add comments
<http://www.watzmann.net/comments/list.php?page_id=19>
16. Educational System
School examinations generally furnish no basis for evaluat-
ing aptitude ... The true test of aptitude for a profession
does not come until later in life.
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (1845-1925)
Look at the Bildungsseiten <http://www.dino-online.de/bildung.html> of
DINO. They cover all major issues!
16.1. Schools
You find many online schools at this gopher <gopher://klinfo.unix-
ag.uni-kl.de:71/0D%20klinfo.unix-ag.uni-
kl.de%209000%206740%20autonews> or in this WWW server.
<http://klinfo.unix-ag.uni-kl.de:1962/klinfo.unix-ag.uni-
kl.de/9000/6740.html> 1995-3
Quite a lot of information about German schools
<http://www.wiso.gwdg.de/ifbg/go2d.htm> you find at the DINO
<http://www.wiso.gwdg.de/ifbg/go.htm> pages of the IFBG of the U
Goettingen. 1995-11
16.1.1. The structure of the German school system
The public schools are subject to state laws, not federal, which is
why there are considerable differences between states. The basic
scheme of grammar school (years 1-4), secondary schools, level 1
(years 5-10), secondary schools, level 2 (years 11-13) is used
throughout the country.
The basic law gives people the right to self-fulfillment and the right
to choose their occupation or profession, place of work, study or
training according to their individual abilities. That is, every
student can choose which school to attend (if she or he is fit to
attend.) In Germany school attendance is compulsory for children of
ages 7 to 18. At least nine years of this period they must attend a
full-time school and then they choose either to continue the full-time
schooling (Gymnasium) or attend a vocational school (Berufschule)
parttime.
Attendance at public schools is free of charge; textbooks and other
supplies are usually provided for loan during the school year. By far
the great majority of students choose public school training. There
are private schools (notably the Waldorf schools), too. However, their
number is very small. 1999-11
In 1995 there were just below 10 million students in Germany -- taught
by 670,000 teachers in 43,200 schools. 1997-06
School type early 1950-ies late 1980-ies
Hauptschule 80 32
Realschule 7 26
Gymnasium 12 32
Gesamtschule N/A 9
Attendance in major German school branches (Percent)
1997-06
16.1.2. Vacations
Find an overview at FU Berlin. <http://userpage.chemie.fu-
berlin.de/diverse/doc/ferien.html> 1996-04
16.1.3. International Schools in Germany
John-F-Kennedy-Schule
Teltower Damm 87-93 14167 Berlin tel (030)8072710 fax
(030)8073377
International School of Duesseldorf e.V.
Leuchtenberger Kirchweg 2 40489 Duessseldorf tel (0211)407056
fax (0211)4080774
Frankfurt International School
An der Waldlust 15 61440 Oberursel tel (0617I)202-0 fax
(06171)202-384
Hamburg International School
Internationale Schule Hamburg Holmbrook 20 20605 Hamburg tel
(040)8830010 fax (040)8811405
Europaeische Schule Karlsruhe
Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 1 76139 Karlsruhe-Waldtstadt tel
(0721)683001 fax (0721)687233
Europaeische Schule Muenchen
Elise-Aulinger-Strasse 21 81739 Muenchen tel (089)6372611 fax
(089)6378418
Munich International School
Percha-Schloss Buchhof 82319 Starnherg tel (08151)2606-0 fax
(08151)2606-49
1995-10
16.1.4. German Schools Abroad
The first German school abroad was founded in Osorno, Chile, in 1854;
more than 100 years old are also the schools in Lima, Athens, Buenos
Aires and Madrid.
The number of German schools abroad is growing over recent years.
Currently (1996) there are a total 139 schools with 1172 foreign-
service teachers and 83,275 pupils. These schools may be broadly
classified into three categories: German-language, bilingual and
local-language. They are supported with approx. 1/3 of the federal
cultural budget for foreign countries...some 330 million DM.
The syllabusses of German foreign schools are at least partially
identical to those in Germany, thus providing a qualification which
is recognized in Germany. Children of German parents, who live
temporarily abroad, can return to Germany and start a vocational
training program or college without further difficulties. The
bilingual character and bi-cultural educational objectives is of
growing importance, too. The diplomas issued by German schools abroad
are recognized in both countries.
Schools Teachers Pupils
Africa 4 24 520
America 5 46 1996
Asia/Australia 20 92 3230
Europe 13 116 3252
German-language: German educational objective
16.1.5. Summer Schools for German Abroad
(Actually only in the US, so far...)
German Institute of German Language and Culture
Summer Sessions, Dept. GH, University of California, Santa
Barbara, CA 93106-2010 USA, tel +1(805)893-7053
Schools Teachers Pupils
Africa 7 135 5757
America 16 237 22615
Asia/Australia - - -
Europe 27 412 8195
Bilingual: integrated teaching program;
bi-cultural education objective
Schools Teachers Pupils
Africa 1 2 204
America 20 75 15193
Asia/Australia 2 - 428
Europe 24 33 11915
Local-language: additional German teaching;
leads to German Diploma of Conference of Culture Ministers
Yale Summer Institute fuer Sprachen
Yale Summer Language Institute, P.O.Box 2145, Yale Station, New
Haven, CT 06520 USA, tel +1(203)432-2430, fax +1(203)432-2434
Deutsche Sommerschule im Suedosten
263 Duaer Hall, University of Florida, Gainesviiie, FL 32611
USA, tel +1(904)392-2101
Sommerschule in the Nation's Capital
Dept. of Germanic and Slavic Languages, University of Maryland,
College Park, MD 20742 USA, tel +1(301)405-4091
Waldsee German Village
Concordia Language Villages, Moorhead, MN 56560 USA, tel
+1(218)299-4544, fax +1(218)299-3807, www
http://www.cord.edu/dept/clv/Waldsee.html
<http://www.cord.edu/dept/clv/Waldsee.html> 1996-11
Deutsche Sommerschule Taos
University of New Mexico, Ortega Hall, Room 437-B, Albuquerque,
NM 87131 USA, tel +1(505)277-5335, fax +1(505)277-9138
Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik
Portland State University, P.O.Box 751, Portland, OR 97207 USA,
tel +1(503)7254183, fax +1(503)725-4840
Deutsche Sommerschule an der Millersville University
Department of Foreign Languages, Millersville University,
Millersville, PA 17551 USA, tel +1(717)872-3526, fax
+1(717)871-2003
Deutsche Sommerschule am Atlantik
Department of Languages, University of Rhode Island, Building
129, Independence Hall, Kingston, RI 02881 USA, tel
+1(401)7925911, fax +1(401)7924694
Deutsche Sommerschule in Middlebury
206 Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury Gollege, Middlebury,
VT 05753 USA, tel +1(802)3883711, fax +1(802)388-1253
1995-10
16.2. Universities
16.2.1. Statistics
Total number of students in the Federal Republic of
Germany" in 1993: 1,875,200
Where students live. (Percentages, 1993 values)
In their own apartments 40
With their parents, other relatives 21
In appartments with other students 20
In student halls of residence 13
In lodgings 6
1997-06
Most frequently chosen academic majors
Business studies 127,641
Law 93,341
Medicine 88,000
Mechanical Engineering 85,889
Electrical engineering 79,678
Economics 67,748
German 66,543
Computer science 45,900
Civil engineering 43,176
Biology 41,380
Values are for 1993
Number of institutions of higher education
Universities / Technical Universities 80
Theological Colleges 17
Polytechnic Universities 8
Teachers Colleges 8
Art Colleges/Music Colleges 45
Polytechnic Colleges 127
Civil Service Training Colleges 30
Values are for 1993
The largest student populations
Berlin 150,000
Munich 105,000
Cologne 82,000
Values are for 1993
16.2.2. Listings, Rankings
16.2.2.1. Listings
The most accessible listing of the many German universities is
probably found in The World of Learning, which should be in the
reference section of the libraries of most universities in the English
speaking world. It lists Universities, faculties, departments,
affiliated organizations, as well as academic staff with respective
general areas of specialization (e.g. structural mechanics). 1994-3
16.2.2.2. Rankings
There are no rankings for German universities in the American sense of
the word, with widely accepted institutionalized reference listings.
Some news magazines have picked up the habit of running annual surveys
(you figure out their models;-) The two most typically employed
methods are inqueries on faculty level about the best other-than-your-
own unversity (in their field of expertise) and on students level
about the quality of their school as they perceive it. 1996-03
16.2.3. Studying at a German University; Exchange Programs
Foreign students from a large number of countries who want to study
after high school at a German university or Fachhochschule need to
attend the Studienkolleg for two semesters and pass an examination.
Tuition at a Studienkolleg is free. Information about Studienkollegs
in Germany: Guenther Miklitz, Studienkolleg fuer auslaendische
Studierende, an der Universitaet Bonn, email usa000@ibm.rhrz.uni-
bonn.de 1994-11
Although the German educational system is quite different from the US
system (no degree until a masters equivalent etc.,) it's still
possible to obtain a German degree with non-German background. The
place to contact is the Auslandsamt (foreign office) of the involved
universities.
Usually it is easier to just go with an organized program. Especially
since these programs usually guarantee some sort of credit transfer
which is (depending on your home university) hard to impossible to get
otherwise. Some programs also include special classes (sometimes in
English, sometimes German classes for foreigners...) which will
otherwise not be offered -- German students are supposed to find their
own way through the university jungle...
The big advantage of going alone is the financial aspect. Education
in Germany is basically free i.e. university students pay a nominal
tuition of typically approximately US$30 a semester for their
education (plus books, living expenses and the usual public
transportation -- all of which amounts to an (estimated) US$600-900 a
month, less in the eastern part of Germany.) Students in Germany
typically live in (shared) apartments, dorm rooms are only available
for about 3-8% of the students (these numbers being higher in the
east). Getting a dorm room is often included in organized programs, I
suppose it will be hard to find one, if you're on your own, but your
can always try. (Getting a dorm room will probably save about
US$100/month.) 1995-3
16.2.3.1. Exchange programs and organizations
For students of subjects related to economy the AIESEC organization
may be a valuable pointer! In Germany you can try, e.g.,
Deutsches Komitee der AIESEC e.V. Subbelrather Str. 247
50825 Koeln tel +49(221)551056
and most universities should be able to help locate local branches.
For more information on the Ontario/Baden-Wuerttemberg Exchange
<http://info.queensu.ca/exchange/index.html> program send an email to
ontbw@post.queensu.ca to
Ontario/Baden-Wuerttemberg University Student Exchange
Kingston Hall, Room 400 A, Queen's University, Kingston,
Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada; tel: +1-613-545-6924 fax:
+1-613-545-6930
1996-02
A good general collection on the topics (also interesting for German
students who want to study abroad) can be found at the gopher of U
Kaiserslautern <gopher://klinfo.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/> 1996-04
16.2.4. Finding the Right One... (On-Line)
There are several other files available:
o Martin Schwartz <mailto:schwartz@cs.tu-berlin.de> maintains a
list of all German universities, Fachhochschulen, Berufsakademien
and other institutions of higher learning at this website
<http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~schwartz/hochschulen.html> 1999-04
o Felix Holderied <http://www.holderied.de/> maintains a similar,
more compact list
<http://www.holderied.de/DeutscheHochschulen.html> 1999-04
o The virtual library <http://www.rz.uni-
karlsruhe.de/Outerspace/VirtualLibrary/> at U Karlsruhe offers an
impressive collection of pointers sorted by subject. Most of these
point to university sources.1995-6
o This list <http://www.mit.edu/people/cdemello/de.html> of
universities and the like, which by now is a bit dated, might also
be quite useful to some folks.
1999-04 ok
Also you should check the Zentralvergabestelle fuer Studienplaetze
(ZVS)
ZVS, Sonnenstrasse 171, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
1996-02
16.3. Volkshochschulen
The Volkshochschulen <http://www.vhs.de/> are evening schools open to
everybody. For a modest fee of some amount (from around DM 20 to maybe
DM 200; depends much on the type of course you choose) they offer
courses to further your professional background, to prepare for taking
the Abitur examination, or for plain pleasure and hobby interests.
Most Volkshochschulen also offer "Deutsch fuer Auslaender" (German for
foreigners). 1999-11
16.4. Education-Relevant Addresses
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft <http://www.dfg.de/>
Similar to the NSF in the USA.
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD
<http://www.daad.de>
1999-04
The addresses of the branch offices of the DAAD
<http://www.daad.de> can be found at this website
<http://www2.daad.de/allgemein/en/aussenstellen/index.html>.
The DAAD is
o an organisation of the institutions of higher education and
student bodies in the Federal Republic of Germany, founded in
1925, refounded in 1950
o an institution for the promotion of international academic
exchanges
o an intermediary for the implementation of foreign cultural and
academic policy as well as for the educational co-operation with
developing countries
o the national agency for the EU programmes ERASMUS and LINGUA and
German information service for COMETT and TEMPUS
o the IAESTE National Committee for the exchange of student
trainees
(The above is an excerpt from http://www.geist.de/daad/info-
E.html. ) 1996-09
Very important for foreign students who want to study in Germany
and also for German students who want to study in another
country. They also have an office in New York
<http://www.daad.org> 1999-04
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes <http://www.studiens-
tiftung.de/>
Mirbachstr. 7, 53173 Bonn 1, tel +49(228)354091
An important source of scholarships for German students abroad
and in Germany, essentially a national honors society.
Membership is by invitation only. 1999-04 An older,
inofficial website <http://www.rz.tu-ilmenau.de/~stusti/> with
inofficial materials. 1997-01
Fulbright-Kommission
Theaterplatz 1a, PF 200555, 53177 Bonn (Bad Godesberg), Germany
tel +49(228)363130 1995-4
Konferenz der Kultusminister
Postfach 22 40, 53012 Bonn
This is the place where they decide about transferability of
foreign academic degrees. Maybe they answer questions. Any
experience how helpful this address is?
Representative of German Industry and Trade
One Farragut Square South, Washington, DC. 20006, tel
+1(202)347-0247
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17. Economy; Industry; Working in Germany
The prospering of the economy is most closely intertwined
with the fate of our democratic state.
Ludwig Erhard (1897-1977)
17.1.
News, Overviews, Briefs, Stock Data and other Databases
17.1.1. On-Line
o Frankfurt Stock Quotes <http://www.deutsche-bank.de/cgi/aktien>
(via Deutsche Bank) 1996-04
o Rainer Schulzes German Financial Pointers <http://elib.zib-
berlin.de:88/~mail/finanz/German/finanz.html> 1996-04
o Teleserv's German Stock Quotes
<http://www.teleserv.co.uk/stock/german/todate/index.htm> (from
1995 on) 1996-04
o The best databases
<http://www.wirtschaftswoche.co.at/wirtschaftswoche/business.html>
(by Wirtschaftswoche Oesterreich) 1996-02
o Library databases <http://www.laum.uni-
hannover.de/iln/bibliotheken/wirtschaft.html> 1995-11
o Top 500 German companies <http://www-dw.gmd.de:80/cgi-
bin/listfolder/faz/t500.html> 1996-02
o U Frankfurt server <http://www.wiwi.uni-
frankfurt.de/AG/JWGI/data.htm> has a good collection of several
pointers
o Deutsche Aktienkurse <http://www.wiwi.uni-
frankfurt.de/AG/JWGI/JWGIvt.html> 1995-11
o German Brief (FAZ) <http://www-dw.gmd.de/cgi-
bin/listfolder/faz/gb9502.html> 1995-11
o DINO Wirtschaftsseite <http://www.dino-online.de/wirt.html>
1995-11
o BR - Geld <http://www.br-online.de/geld/> 1996-02
17.1.2. Other
Wer gehoert wem?, a publication of Commerzbank describing most major
German companies (i.e. nearly all AG's). Available at local branches
of the Commerzbank for about DM 10. 1996-03
17.2. DIN, ISO
For more on the work on standards by the Deutsches Institut fuer
Normen check out their website <http://www.din.de>.
To find out about the International Organisation for Standards have a
look at ISO Online <http://www.iso.ch/>. A few ISO standards are
available from this ftp-server <ftp://ftp.std.com/obi/Standards/ISO/>
17.3. Economy Research Institutes
o DIW <http://www.diw-berlin.de/> Deutsches Institut fuer
Wirtschaftsforschung 1996-02
o HWWA <http://www.hwwa.uni-hamburg.de/> Institut fuer
Wirtschaftsforschung 1996-02
17.4.
Bundesstelle fuer Aussenhandelsinformation (BfAI)
Agrippastrasse 87-93 50676 Koeln, Postfach 100522, 50445 Koeln Tel.:
(0221)2057-0 Fax: (0221)2057-212 1997-06
17.5. Looking for Individual Jobs
For temporary stays it might be best to apply with one of the exchange
programs. Contact the nearest `German consulate,' ask about the
`DAAD' (German Academic Exchange Service).
For academic positions, the traditional paper to consult is `Die
Zeit' 1996-10
17.5.1. Some Addresses
Zentralstelle fuer Arbeitsvermittlung
Feuerbachstrasse 42-46, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, tel +49(69)71110,
fax +49(69)7111555
This is an important address for people who want to work
in Germany.
Association for International Practical Training (AIPT)
217 American City Building, Columbia, MD 21044-3492, tel
+1(301)997-2200
PUMA <http://www.bwl.uni-mannheim.de/Praktikum/>
requests and offers of Practical training U Mannheim1996-02
Link collections
The physics department at the U Bielefeld
<http://www.physik.uni-bielefeld.de/links/jobs.html> and at the
U Wuerzburg <http://cip.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de/jobs.html>
maintain pages with links.
17.6. Chambers of Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer)
The Chambers of Commerce maintain a list of the German companies in
the respective countries along with their addresses which you can
purchase. The price varies according to how detailed a list you wish
to have.
The German-American Chamber of Commerce
465 California Street, Suite 910, San Francisco, CA 94104, tel
+1(415)392-2262
German-American Chamber of Commerce
104 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60603-5978, tel
+1(312)782-8557; +1(312)641-6673
German-American Chamber of Commerce
909 Fannin Suite 3750, Suite 3418, Houston, TX 77010, tel
+1(713)658-8230
German-American Chamber of Commerce
5220 Pacific Concourse Drive, Suite 280 Los Angeles, CA 90045,
USA; tel +1(310)297-7979 telephone, fax +1(310)297-7966 telefax
1996-09
German-American Chamber of Commerce
666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10103, tel +1(212)974-8830;
+1(213)582-7788
German-American Chamber of Commerce
Peachtree Center Harris Tower, 233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite
2701, Atlanta, GA 30303, tel +1(404)577-7228
Camera de Comercio Uruguayo-Alemana
Zamala 1379 Piso 4, CC 1499, Montevideo, tel 405813
Deutsch-Paraguayanische Industrie- und Handelskammer
Camera de la Industria y del Comercio, Juan O'Leary 409,
Estrella Ed. Parapito Piso 2 Oficina 201, CC 201, Asuncion, tel
446594
Deutsch-Argentinische Industrie- und Handelskammer
Camera de la Industria y del Comercio, Florida 547, Buenos
Aires, tel 3939006, 3939007
17.7. What is the minimum wage in Germany ?
There is no such thing as an overall minimum wage defined by law.
There are special regulations and agreements with certain sectors,
i.e., construction companies are obliged to pay their workers a
minimum hourly wage per an agreement between unions and employers.
The position of trade unions is stronger than in most other countries.
Every industrial sector has its wage agreements and most companies pay
accordingly. Wages for certain kind of work are described with much
detail, this involves of course a minimum for the wage.
Although there are no state-mandated minimum wages one can say that
something similar exists. Everyone has a right to Sozialhilfe (social
welfare) which is defined very well. No matter whether you are
employed or not, you always have the right to a (very limited) income.
If you work for less, you will get the rest from the local Sozialamt,
the social welfare administration, run by the city or county
government.
Sozialhilfe for a family of four is rumored to be a little less than
2000 DM per month, excluding rent. The rent for a reasonable (and
often subsidized) apartment is payed by the government on top of this.
17.7.1. Page comments
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