Engineers from China would like to know what social networks we use here in Germany. For several years, social networks play an important role in Germany - as in many other countries.
Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of the population (73.3%) online. 43% of German internet users have created a profile on a social network. The numbers are way out of the current ARD-ZDF online study, so a study was commissioned by the public broadcasters in order.
The most popular network in Germany is currently Facebook. It was different. For in Germany there are some networks that do not exist in other countries. For example, StudiVZ. VZ stands for directory, and there are a whole group of such directories. StudiVZ is a social network for students, SchülerVZ is a network for students, and who is neither students nor student can register with MeinVZ. Another German network is "Who knows who?". And for those who want to network professionally, there are Twitter - America is in a similar network LinkedIn.
Young people have also used like MySpace, but now it is less than normal network than as a music network where bands can present themselves. And Twitter also plays a big role! For example, if a program running on television, which is of interest to teens. These are usually items such as "Germany seeks the superstar" (in "American Idol"), "Germany's Next Top Model" or similar. Then sit teenagers and young adults watching TV, have their laptop on their knees or a smart phone in hand and twitter. It's fun to read these tweets!
By the way, we are using mostly the English terms when it comes to social networks. So we say "followers" on Twitter for the other readers, and not "followers". We also say that we have some "posted" on Facebook. So this is the English word "to post" Germanized. Some words we use in German, for example, we here at Facebook "friends", and we click on the "Like" button, which is called the 'Like'.
A bit more about the language that is related to social networks. Those who first visited a social network like Facebook, which must first register. It defines a user name and password. And he usually needs a valid e-mail address to sign up. If the application goes well, then he can create his profile. He feeds with Facebook so information about his person. He can give his date of birth and current place of residence, his hobbies and his favorite movies, what music he listens to and what other Facebook pages please him. And he can upload photos or videos. It is important that the account settings and be respected above all the privacy settings. In Germany Facebook is heavily criticized because the Germans place great emphasis on privacy and Facebook often contravenes.
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Engineers from China would like to know what social networks we use here in Germany. For several years, social networks play an important role in Germany - as in many other ...
Trina from California has many ideas for new episodes of Slow German. You want to know more about, for example, like zoos. Zoo is short for zoological garden. We also say zoo or animal park this - including you can imagine something, right? People have kept various animals in zoos, and for different reasons. For example, people over 100 years ago are still not much traveled, they also have no TV, so they did not look like a lion or tiger in the wild. At the zoo, these people look at exotic animals. The animals were examined by scientists and monitored. And still another thought is often linked to Zoos: Rare animals are protected from harm and bred here. Zoos are also the type-preserving, that is, they ensure that no rare species extinction.
In Germany there are some very famous animal parks. For example, Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg. It was founded by Carl Hagenbeck 1896th This man had an unusual idea: a zoo without bars. He did not confine animals in cages. By ditches or steep rock enclosures were built, from which the animals can not escape, where they are but should not feel confined. Most zoos keep the grid today without animal husbandry. Wilhelma in Stuttgart is well known, in Munich, there is the Tierpark Zoo. The Zoologischer Garten Berlin is even the most diverse zoo in the world, especially living here so many different animals.
Every major city in Germany has a zoo. Most of the zoos extend over large areas, they look like large parks where animals are kept. Many families go on the weekend together in the zoo, there are also restaurants and often playgrounds for the children. So you can easily spend a whole day there.
As nice as the idea of a zoo is also - there are always critics who call for their abolition. Animal rights activists point out that many animals can be kept in appropriate conditions. Wild animals such as tigers have a great freedom in the territory, which extends over several hundred kilometers. In the zoo they have to live on a very small area. In addition, often for keeping wild animals in zoos are captive.
In Germany, most zoos are trying to treat the animals as well as possible and give them plenty of space. Very popular are regular broadcasts on television, where you can look behind the scenes at a zoo. In these mailings zookeepers are shown in their work, or how it is when the vet examined an elephant.
There are major headlines in the newspapers again and again, if an animal is born at the zoo. For example, in Munich, just a small elephant born. Even more famous was a young polar bear who was born in Berlin: Knut. He was raised by a man and all went to the zoo to see Knut the cute. There was even merchandising of Knut, little polar bear material for the children, for example. Unfortunately, Knut is now dead
What do you think about zoos? Does your home even zoos? Likes to write in the comment function on www.slowgerman.com or on Facebook. Until next time, your Annik.
Trina from California has many ideas for new episodes of Slow German. You want to know more about, for example, like zoos. Zoo is short for zoological garden. We say ...
Thu Thuy has required a difficult issue, and that he wants to know about insurance. Every person in Germany has any insurance. I say this now simply. Most people have such a health insurance. This means they pay money every month, and her employer also pays money. If you get sick then again, the insurance pays the medical bill, for example, or a hospital stay or surgery.
Many people also have a pension. It works like this: employees, so the works of man, and the employer, ie the company where you work, pay money every month. If the person then goes into retirement, no longer works, he still gets money every month from this insurance. Even with a life insurance policy you pay a monthly money - after a certain age to get this money back then, so to speak. Or, if you die too early to get the members, for example, the wife and children, money. This is a voluntary coverage.
Every person who has a car in Germany, must also complete an insurance policy. This is usually paid once a year. For example, if I cause an accident then the insurance pays for the damage. I have to explain more precisely, I'm afraid. Suppose I drive my car, brake, for example at traffic lights too late. Then I damage the car in front of me. The insurance pays the other driver then the damage to his car. There are different types of auto insurance. If I have a new car, then I'm usually a fully comprehensive insurance. The insurance will pay almost all the damage to my car. This insurance is very expensive. With an older car it's not worth it. Then it usually has a comprehensive insurance. This means that if I pay a claim as a car owner a part of themselves, the rest is done by the insurance. Part of my talk is deductible.
What else is there for insurance? A lot! For example, a liability insurance policy. If I cause an injury, because I've poured as a friend a glass of water on the laptop or a vase has fallen to me, then pay the liability insurance. There is also a home insurance - these assured everything is in my apartment or my house. If I have very expensive furniture or large electronics equipment, then such a worthwhile insurance. If then break as thieves into my apartment and steal everything, then the insurance pays. Or if it burns.
In a legal expenses insurance helps the insured, if you need a lawyer and is on trial. You already notice, I can not explain all the insurance companies - but they all work on the same principle. You pay a price that you get back then in certain cases - usually you pay a little and then gets more money if you really need it. At least in theory. In practice, it is true that many German insurance companies have entered too many and they never need. So every month you pay a lot of money for insurance.
That's it for this episode of Slow German - as always, more information slowgerman.com, there are learning materials and all the old episodes and of course the links to Twitter and Facebook.
Episode download . Text as a PDF download .
Thu Thuy has required a difficult issue, and that he wants to know about insurance. Every person in Germany has any insurance. I say this now simply. The ...
Monica from the United States has asked me what nicknames we use in Germany. For this I must first explain what a term of endearment. When people are very happy to have or make love, they often use different names for each other. This is called nicknames.
The most common nickname in Germany's treasure. A treasure is something very valuable. In stories about pirates, it's usually a treasure box, which is a box full of gold or money which was hidden somewhere. A treasure is something that a person is very important. No wonder then that both men call their women like treasure, and their wives.
Often used as animal lovers name as a nickname. A rather thick, fluffy man is called, for example, like "bear", or men with beards, for example. While women are "rabbit" or "mouse" called. Or sparrow, which is a small bird. It likes to use the diminutive form, ie rabbit or mouse. Or snip. Difficult to pronounce, right?
Women by their husbands also often called angel, an angel is indeed usually a divine being, with blond hair and wings.
Or just sweetness. Just as in America, "Sweetie" is.
Or shine - but that only works on women happy, right?
It is said also like sweetheart or my love for the woman he loves. English or "baby".
For men it is the male form, or sweet darling. Or they say to each other darling. A very nice pet name is "sweetheart". This is actually a little flower.
And of course, not only lovers give themselves nicknames. Also, particularly parents for their children's various nicknames. Or simply use your own pet nicknames. My cat is actually called Tiger, but I call it as many chips. Or mice. Funny, is not it?
Monica from the United States has asked me what nicknames we use in Germany. For this I must first explain what a term of endearment. When people are very happy to have or be ...
