| Popis: |
The confusion of Austria with Australia, though usually no more than a slip of the tongue, points to the American uneasiness with German and other foreign geographical terms, to a vagueness about their correct or appropiate spelling, and to a haziness about their significance and location. Is it Wien or Wein? Hamburg and Heidelberg? Aachen or Aix-la-Chapelle? And where in the world is der Bodensee or die Steiermark? Far from having the ambition to teach geography in a German course, I find a basic knowledge of the physical and political geography of Central Europe imperative for students of German culture. Even in a language course, the use of a map can serve as an entertaining and educational interlude whenever civilization or history is presented in the readings or when geographical names are introduced in the vocabulary. |
