International Business Seminars

If you are interested in learning more about German life and history in the early modern period: ca. 1400-1800, check out this series of books that focus on various topics under this large umbrella. These titles (all in English – some translated from the original German), span many topics that are not usually taught in schools. Read about the history of witchcraft and how the culture of drinking came to be. Immerse yourself in the stories of powerful German merchant families and learn how Germans were reacting to major historical events such as the “discovery” of America. Find books on all this and more at this link.

“In Germany, the liberal economic model that replaced the centralized, war-oriented economy of the Third Reich, based on the principles of the ‘social market economy’ and ‘social partnership’ has led to widely shared prosperity and broad support for democratic values” (Remington., 2019). This article gives an overview of the German economic model. This model leans heavily on the existence of the free market and so focuses on investing in the capacities of their workforce and disseminating information to workers in contrast to the labor-management relations we see in the United States. Read through this article to learn more. 

German culture prioritizes preparing individuals for the workforce by providing lots of support and resources. An example of this is that many individuals who do not attend university will go through a Vocational Training program. Public and private companies offer paid vocational training which combines education and actual business practice with hands-on experience.  Go to this article to learn more about it! 

This article provides an example of what a private vocational training program looks like. Click to learn more! 

“The Federal Republic of Germany is organized as a federal and parliamentary democracy. The Basic Law sets down that all state authority derives from the people. The people confer this power to the federal and state parliaments for one legislative period.
State authority is divided between the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch, which is responsible for the administration for justice.” These are a couple of the basic tenets of the German governmental structure. Click here and read through the quoted article for more information.

Did you know that Germany has both a President and a Chancellor? What is the difference? Watch this short video for a summary on how the German government works and who does what.

Although very structured, the German government is known for its high levels of bureaucracy which can cause unwanted delays. This article provides a little more insight by sharing the lived experiences of a German funeral director who often struggles to get the proper documentation back in a timely manner. These processes cause economic stagnation and impacts businesses in the way that the German economic model specifically tries to avoid. Read more about this story and the topic here.

Germany has five distinct geographical areas and widely varying landscapes. There are the flat north German lowlands, the hills and the low mountains of the Mittelgebirge, the west and south German plateaus and mountains (including the Black Forest, the Schwarzwald), the south German Alpine foothills and lake country, and the Bavarian Alps with the Zugspitze (Germany’s highest mountain, 9717 ft.) near Garmisch. Check out this website for a topical overview of German geographical statistics. 

The Black Forest region in southwest Germany is beloved by many and attracts a steady stream of tourists all year. The multitude of cultural activities and sights to be seen means that there is something engaging for all ages and interests. There are more modern parts of the region that offer nightlife and entertainment while still providing access to the southern Black Forest. Alternatively, the small mountain towns offer cultural attractions and insight into traditional German culture. Visit this website for the rest of this overview and for tips on how to get there.

This majestic, 800-mile long river is one of the most well-known German rivers. It flows deep into a scenic green gorge and along hillside vineyards, castles, and picturesque small towns. One of the best ways to experience this river is to cruise downstream, but if you can’t do this, hiking or biking alongside the river is also sure to be an unforgettable experience. Read through Rick Steve’s article detailing his trip down the Rhine and his advice for visiting. 

Did you know beer was not invented in Germany? It is Middle Eastern in origin; however, as drinking beer was safer than water in the year 1000, Germans became very skilled in its production. Once the Beer Purity Law was introduced in 1516, it became even more solidly infused into German culture. The Beer Purity Law mandates that all beer in Bavaria must be made only from barley, hops and clean water. This law is still in effect today. Check out this article covering German beer culture and some of the most popular types of German beers.

Learn more about common German etiquette and things to keep in mind on your visit! Click here. 

Folklore and mythology are an important part of Germanic history. These stories were passed down orally for centuries before being written down and standardized. Even after that, many stories varied from region to region. Read through this article for a deeper dive into German myths and fairytales.

Although Germany has been predominantly Christian for many many years, this has not always been the case. The early Germanic tribes were Christianized and subsequently the area became part of the Holy Roman Empire. Having also been the site of many European Wars of Religion, there is no denying the impact that religion has left on the country. For an overview of the history of religion in Germany, click here.

Did you know Germany is one of the only countries in the world to levy a church tax? Separation of state and religion is important to German culture and the German state has committed in its constitution to treat religions and worldviews neutrally. Learn more about it here.

“At the beginning of the 16th century, many countries in Europe began to establish centralized power and gradually formed independent sovereign states. They tried to escape the control of the Holy See, effectively limiting the flow of wealth from their countries to Rome. The exception was Germany, which was still in the feudalism of “Holy Roman Empire”. The “Holy Roman Empire” was not a unified political entity, but was made up of several vassal states. Therefore, it was difficult for Germany to form a strong                    force against the Holy See, and it had to be subjected to the corrupt Catholic Church. It was at that time that Martin Luther protested against the Holy See and began to advocate the Reformation.”(Guo, 2023). For the full article and more information, click here.

There is quite a bit of variation in German traditional dress. The Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western regions will all have degrees of variation. Click here for a full gallery of different traditional German clothing and some background on each one!

Today, typical German dress is very Western. In business, men and women both wear dark, clean suits and shirts.  In the day-to-day, Germans wear clothing that suits their lifestyles and social lives. Read through this article to learn more about how Germany’s recent history has affected German fashion sensibilities. 

In the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin became a hub for free-spirited creativity and cultural experimentation. Since then, Berlin has fostered one of the most progressive and exciting art scenes around. Click here to read more about how Berlin got to be how it is today. 

There are many places in Germany that are set up for your needs, such as museums and shopping areas. However with historic buildings it is often the case that construction began before accessibility was a consideration. There are often side entrances and ramps however that may be found in such circumstances. If you are uncertain whether this will be available, it is perfectly acceptable to call ahead and ask if there are accommodations available – most places are more than happy to comply. Click here for a guide on traveling through Germany that covers additional accessibility concerns.

Over the decades, Germany has been enacting more laws that protect the right of LGBTQ+ people to live openly and indiscriminately. Discrimination protections have been put into place and enforced and antiquated laws have been rolled back. Click here to learn more detail.

Germany is a great place to travel internationally with children. Germany is very safe and orderly and culturally is patient and understanding towards children. Public transport offers significant discounts for children and is easy to use. It is always a good idea to check with places in advance if you want to be absolutely certain that they can accommodate you, but you will usually not have anything to worry about. Click here to read more in detail!

Although many in Germany also know English, learning German is the best way to settle in quickly and make new acquaintances. In some cases, your job may require you to know a certain level of German in order to qualify for a visa. Click here to learn what the steps are to obtain German language recognition and who is required to seek recognition.

Did you know there is such as High German and Low German? Which one should you learn? These dialects are classified as either Low or High depending on the region in Central Europe from which they derive. Dialects from the North are called Low duo to the flat landscape in that area, and dialects from the South are called High as they originate from high up in the Alps. High German, or Hochdeutsch, also refers to the standard written and spoken German used in schools in the media. If you are planning to be in Germany for awhile, focus on your Hochdeutsch, or High German. Click here for a more in-depth overview of German dialects

If you know any German or have studied it at all, you might have realized that German has some words that are highly descriptive and specific to certain situations. In fact, many German words are formed by combining two or m ore words – what we in English call “compound nouns”. In this case, the meanings of the individual words have a direct bearing on what the compound noun means. German is a very descriptive language! Click here for some examples and to learn more about this language phenomenon.

Check out this video from the National Museum of American Diplomacy explaining the difference between each organization and how they function together to protect US citizens traveling abroad. LINK

Germany’s US Embassy is located in Berlin with five Consulates in other large secondary cities spread throughout the country, allowing for easier access for US citizens to receive services. To access Embassy and Consulate services or to stay up to date on any travel advisories for US citizens, check out the official US Embassy and Consulates in Germany government website. LINK