German Speaking Countries

German Speaking Countries

Read each slide and answer the questions that follow

Germany

Capital

Berlin

Population

83.3 million

Area

137,847 square miles

Currency

Euro​

Multiple Choice

What is the capital city of Germany?

• Hamburg

• Berlin

• Braunschweig

• Frankfurt

Multiple Choice

What is the approximate population of Germany?

• ~83 million

• ~8 million

• Only one guy. His name is Fritz.

​Germany

• ​Germany is about the same size as the state of Montana

• ​(Montana = red, Germany = blue)

• ​Winters are snowy in the south and rainy farther north;
  summers are warm.

• Spring and fall are typically pleasant weather.

Multiple Choice

Germany is similar in size to what U.S. state?

• Maryland

• Nebraska

• Texas

• Montana

Multiple Choice

Winter in Germany is...

• Extremely cold and harsh

• Snowy in the south and rainy in the north

• Very hot

Sports in Germany

• ​Soccer is the most popular sport in Germany

• ​Children participate in sports such as track and field, volleyball, basketball, handball, and swimming at school, but school teams are not common.

• ​Instead, kids go to after-school clubs to play sports.

Multiple Choice

Students often participate in team sports at school.

• True

• False

​Schools in Germany

• ​Children must start school by age 6.

• After four years of Grundschule (elementary school), students have three options:

  They can enter Gymnasium (like secondary school) to prepare for college, or they can go to Hauptschule or Realschule to prepare for jobs in industry or business.

Multiple Choice

What age do students need to start school by?

• 4

• 6

• 8

Multiple Choice

After completing Grundschule (elementary school), students...

• go to middle school and then high school, just like in the U.S.

• have three options: Gymnasium, Hauptschule, or Realschule

German Government

• Germany is a federal parliamentary republic and the leader of the government is called the chancellor. There is also a president, but he or she doesn’t have much political power.

• Germany has 16 states

• ​The voting age in Germany is 18.

Multiple Choice

Germany has...

• A chancellor and president

• A king and queen

Multiple Choice

How many states does Germany have?

• 5

• 12

• 16

• 30

Multiple Choice

What is the voting age in Germany?

• 18

• 21

• 30

​Austria

Capital

Vienna

Population

9.1 million

Area

32,383 square miles

Currency

Euro​

Multiple Choice

What is the capital city of Austria?

• Bern

• Vienna

• Berlin

• Stuttgart

Multiple Choice

What is the approximate population of Austria?

• 2 million

• 9.1 million

• 800,000

​Austrian Flag

• ​The current Austrian flag is based on a flag that dates back to 1230 and is one of the oldest flags in the world.

• According to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood spattered; upon removal of his wide belt, or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was adopted as his banner.

Multiple Choice

The Austrian flag is one of the oldest flags in the world.

• True

• False

​Austrian Landscape

• ​Austria, one of the smallest countries in the European Union (EU), is a land of beautiful mountains, clear lakes, and green valleys.

• Austria is slightly smaller than the state of Maine.

• ​The Alps mountain range covers nearly 2/3 of the country.

Multiple Choice

Which U.S. state is Austria slightly smaller than?

• Maine
• New York

• California

Multiple Choice

How much of Austria is covered by the Alps?

• 1/4

• 1/2

• 2/3

​Language

• The official language of Austria is German, but Austrians pronounce German words differently than Germans do.

• ​English is a required subject from fifth grade on, so many people speak it.

Multiple Choice

German spoken in Germany and German spoken in Austria has some different pronunciations.

• True.

• False.

Multiple Choice

What grade do Austrians start learning English?

• 1st

• 5th

• 8th

• They don't learn English in Austria.

​Sports

• ​Austrians like to hike, rock climb, cycle, boat, run, mountain bike, and swim.

• ​Most children learn to ski at a young age, and schools often organize annual ski trips.

• Snowboarding, ice-skating, and ice hockey are favorite winter sports as well.

Multiple Choice

What sport do Austrians typically learn at a young age?

• Soccer

• Skiing

• Basketball

​Austrian Schools

• ​All Austrians are required to go to school between ages 5 and 17.

• Most children walk, bike, or take public transportation to get to school.

• There are very few school buses.

Multiple Choice

What ages are children required to go to school in Austria?

• 4-14

• 6-18

• 5-17

Multiple Choice

Most Austrian children take a school bus to school.

• True.

• False.

​Austrian Government

• ​Austria’s national government is led by a president, a chancellor, and a cabinet (a group of high-ranking politicians).

• ​Austria is a federal republic

• ​The voting age in Austria is 16

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a part of Austria's government?

• President

• Queen

• Chancellor

• Cabinet

​Switzerland

Capital

Bern

Population

8.8 million

Area

15,937 square miles

Currency

Swiss Franc​

Multiple Choice

What is the capital of Switzerland?

• Berlin

• Bern

• Vienna

• Munich

Multiple Choice

What type of currency (money) does Switzerland use?

• Euro

• US dollars

• Swiss Franc

​Switzerland

• ​Switzerland is about twice the size of the state of New Jersey.

• The nation is sometimes called the "roof of Europe" because of its towering Alps, which cover more than half of the country, running east to west.

Multiple Choice

What nickname does Switzerland have?

• The Land of Music

• The Roof of Europe

• That Rocky Place

Multiple Choice

Why is Switzerland called "The Roof of Europe?"

• It is always cloudy there

• The houses have very large roofs

• Half of the country is covered in the Alps

​Population

• ​Switzerland has a variety of ethnic groups.

• People of German ancestry live mainly in the east and center of the country.

• People of French ancestry live in the west.

• In parts of the south, most people are of Italian descent.

• A small part of the population is Romansch, descendants of an ancient people who lived in the area. To this day, they still speak a Latin dialect (way of pronouncing or speaking).

Multiple Choice

Most of Switzerland speaks German, French, or Italian. What is the forth language that a small group of people still speak there?

• Romansch

• Greek

• Polish

​Popular Sports

• ​Hiking, skiing (both cross-country and downhill), mountain climbing, and other such activities are popular in Switzerland.

• Many people also like to play soccer and go cycling.

• Ice hockey is popular in the winter.

​Hornussen

• ​Hornussen is a sport that was invented in Switzerland.

• ​In this game, players hit a hornuss (a small rubber puck) into a field and the opposing team uses large wooden paddles, called schindels, to keep the puck from hitting the ground.

Multiple Choice

What sport was invented in Switzerland?

• Skiing

• Ice Hockey

• Bowling

• Hornussen

​Schools in Switzerland

• ​Children usually start school around the age of 5 and have to stay in school for 11 years.

• ​ Schools in Switzerland are structured similarly to schools in the U.S.: students attend elementary school, middle school, and high school.

Multiple Choice

How many years do children in Switzerland need to stay in school?

• 11

• 12

• 13

Multiple Choice

Swiss schools have a similar structure to American schools.

• True

• False

​Swiss Government

• ​The Swiss government has three main levels:

• ​1. The federal government, which makes federal laws.

• ​2. The 26 cantons (similar to states) that make their own laws, mostly about education, law enforcement, and welfare.

• ​3. City/Town governments that create and enforce local laws

Multiple Choice

How many cantons (states) are there?

• 12

• 26

• 4

​Liechtenstein

​Capital

Vaduz

Population

39,850

Area

62 square miles

Currency

Swiss Franc

Multiple Choice

What is the population of Liechtenstein?

• 45,000

• 39,850

• 80,000

Multiple Choice

What currency does Liechtenstein use?

• Swiss Franc

• Euro

• They pay for stuff with goats

​Liechtenstein

• ​Liechtenstein, one of Europe’s smallest countries, lies in central Europe along the Alps.

• It is slightly smaller than Washington, D.C.

• Its neighbors are Austria on the east and Switzerland on the west.

Multiple Choice

Liechtenstein is bigger than Washington D.C.

• True.

• False.

Multiple Select

Select the TWO countries that Liechtenstein is wedged between.

• Germany

• Switzerland

• Poland

• Austria

​Language

• ​German is the official language and is taught at school and used in writing.

• However, many Liechtensteiners speak their own dialect (way of speaking or pronouncing), called Alemannic, which has a unique accent and several different words. Alemannic sounds a little like Swiss German. It is often difficult for other German speakers to understand Alemannic.

• In school,
  children also learn to speak English and French.

Multiple Choice

What is the official language of Liechtenstein?

• German
• French

• Liechtensteinese

Multiple Choice

Why can't many Germans understand the German spoken by people in Liechtenstein?

• They speak their own dialect called Alemannic

• They mumble too much

• Their voices are too quiet