Everybody, who has ever been confronted with typical American students, whether it
was in real life or on television can tell, that there is something special about them.
Somewhere along the way, American college life even attained cult status with movies
and books about “the college experience”, like “The Animal House” or “American Pie
2” etc., which are popular all over the world.
A student lifestyle, no matter where it is, consists of an assortment of expectations,
rules, traditions, relationships and communicative strategies employed by prior
education and fellow culture members. The average student is in his early twenties, has
not left parents’ home for too long and is basically adapting to a new life. This new
phase is filled with the ambition to learn as much as possible to enlarge his personal
sphere of knowledge in order to ensure a high future earning potential, whilst never
forgetting the “fun factor”, which is also characteristic for a typical student.
Although students all over the world have these similar lifestyles in common, there are
also significant differences. The author, who herself is a student too, wants to identify
and explain major between the American and German student lifestyles.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Higher education
2.1. Structure
2.2. Tuition
2.3. Schedule
2.4. Supervision
3. Lifestyle
3.1. Time & Money
3.2. Eating habits
3.3. Drinking habits
3.4. Sports
3.5. Volunteering
4. Conclusion
5. Sources
Objectives and Research Themes
This assignment aims to identify and analyze the significant differences between the lifestyles of American and German students, focusing on how institutional structures and cultural factors shape daily student life and habits.
- Comparison of higher education systems and institutional structures
- Financial aspects and academic pressure in student life
- Cultural differences in daily habits such as eating, drinking, and sports
- The role of volunteering as an extracurricular engagement
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. Eating habits
Firstly a few statistics to set the scene: In 1970, Americans spent $6 billion on fast food; in 2000 they spent more than $110 billion, which is more than the entire expenditure on the higher education system. Three hundred thousand Americans die a year from illness caused or worsened by obesity, a statistic that may soon over take tobacco as the chief cause of preventable deaths. Steps to fight obesity include physical education for every student, more healthy food on offer in schools and universities, reasonable portions at fast food restaurants etc.
American students become accustomed to fast food in their early childhood. Franchises like McDonalds advertise on school buses, locate their restaurants close to high schools or even inside high schools and with more and more women in the workforce, young school children eat out more often than ever. Today about half of the money used to buy food is spent at restaurants, mainly at fast food restaurants.
These habits follow students into their university life. They are already accustomed to fast food, and there are almost exclusively fast food options on and around campus. So many students have already made their choice: “It’s quick and it’s cheap!" which is what students mainly want. Due to fluctuating schedules and little money, it is inevitable that students are going to snack or eat fast food. Cost, convenience and a lack of time all contribute to the bad eating habits of students, and that is exactly what fast food franchises target when they open their restaurants on campus.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the topic by highlighting the cultural status of the "college experience" and setting the stage for a comparative study between American and German student lifestyles.
2. Higher education: Analyzes the structural, financial, and organizational differences between the US and German university systems, focusing on tuition, study schedules, and student supervision.
3. Lifestyle: Examines specific daily life behaviors of students in both countries, covering time management, dietary habits, alcohol consumption, collegiate sports, and volunteer work.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, noting that while there are shared similarities, the primary differences stem from institutional identification and the cultural background of each nation.
5. Sources: Lists the references and data sources utilized throughout the assignment.
Keywords
Student lifestyle, American higher education, German universities, inter-cultural comparison, academic pressure, tuition fees, fast food habits, binge drinking, college sports, volunteering, civic engagement, cultural identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this assignment?
The work examines and compares the diverse lifestyles of American and German students, looking at how different educational and cultural environments influence their daily routines.
Which central topics are covered in the text?
The analysis covers higher education structures, costs of living, academic schedules, eating and drinking habits, the influence of college sports, and the tradition of volunteering.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The author, herself an international student, aims to identify and explain the major differences between the student cultures in the United States and Germany.
What research methods were used?
The author utilizes personal experience and observation, combined with existing research and statistics, to conduct a comparative analysis of both student systems.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body breaks down the university environment—including class structure, tuition, and supervision—before detailing specific lifestyle behaviors such as diet, alcohol use, and involvement in sports and community service.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include student lifestyle, academic pressure, intercultural comparison, college sports, and higher education systems.
How do US and German university schedules differ according to the text?
US universities generally operate on a trimester system with constant performance pressure, whereas German universities use a semester system that allows for more flexible time allocation until the end of the term.
What role does the drinking age play in US student culture?
The text suggests that the high drinking age of 21 creates an "attraction to the forbidden," leading to social drinking behaviors that differ significantly from the more relaxed, early integration of alcohol seen in Europe.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Mirja Bächle (Autor:in), 2003, Significant differences in Lifestyle between American and German Students, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/15314
