10 Cultural Differences Between UK & Germany | Easy English 76

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Easy Languages is an international video project aiming at supporting people worldwide to learn languages through authentic street interviews and expose the street culture of participating partner countries abroad. Episodes are produced in local languages and contain subtitles in both the original language as well as in English.

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Producers of this episode: Mitchell Hargreaves, Isabell Hargreaves-Schmid

#learnenglish #easyenglish #easylanguages

[plerpplerp]

"Sorry" does NOT MEAN SORRY.
It's an involuntary noise that people make in the UK. It's a bit like burping or farting.

[isiteckaslike]

A great video, and some great insights by Isi, whose English is fantastic! Point 6. Apologies. The German method makes complete sense, but the British method does too, but in a way most non-natives don't understand at all. When we say sorry when someone bumps into us, it's not because we are apologising in the sense of admitting guilt for an act and then expressing remorse. It's purely saying that we are sorry that the event in question has happened at all, in the same way that we are sorry to hear that someone's watch was stolen - we aren't saying we're responsible for it, just that we're sorry that it happened. This immediately signifies to the person who bumped into us that we're acknowledging that what they did to us was an accident, and thus not cause for an argument or a punch up. They then recognise this fact and then admit that the fault for the accident was theirs (i.e. they make the actual apology for the incident). Both sides are signifying that what happened was an accident and that neither party thinks it's worth creating a fuss over. So, just with the one simple word said by each party confrontation can be avoided. It sounds complicated, but it's not at all and it's just an ingrained method of ensuring that real accidents are instantly recognised as such.

The worst thing in the UK, if someone bumps into you, is to just stare at them waiting for them to apologise. This is seen as [very] and may lead to things escalating. Part of the reason for this is that by not saying "sorry" and just staring you are saying to the other person that you believe what they did to you was a deliberate act.

[gobabawonan]

I am surprised to hear that Germany is not more arts-focused, because Germany has produced many incredible musical composers over the centuries! There are great German writers and artists/sculptors as well ♥️

[slominski]

This way of learning English words is the best for me. Good job and thanks for that. Y'alright!

[franciscojavierleal]

Nice video! Yes, it is true Germans keep carefully the social distances between other people. British use to be closer, but i think it doesn't mean that Germans are less friendly than British. It is something cultural but also, Germans give a lot of importance to their privacy and I think that's the key.

[dhruva]

"Y'alright!" is the "Ça va" of UK.

[hannofranz]

I'd say most Germans don't like being insincere. We feel this as false friendliness and hypocrisy and wish that friendliness really comes from the heart. The disadvantage: Germán society is extremely cold because there is too little effort to stimulate yourself to be kind and friendly to others.

[atarax]

Unfortunately I've never been to UK, but I love British people, british English, British history and traditions 😍

[kc]

Really pleased to hear that Isi, as a German speaker, has such a positive impression of the UK and one that goes against the reserved stereotype.

[mellowasahorse]

"Sorry" is more like a way of acknowledging the other person has done something, but you're letting them off (because you're British and thus super-nice), so you give them a "sorry". The only expectation is that there's a "sorry" in return. If not, there will be much tutting and muttering, and a cup of tea will have to be necked in order to calm down.

[jaimev]

I'm from Spain, living here in UK for a couple of years. You couldn't have explain it better, I agree with all those points haha

[elizabethward]

An excellent video! Honestly you are so spot on with all your observations and differences. I'm a native Brit (born and bred in London) currently living in Germany Heidelberg!

I love Germany - but I really miss the small talk, friendly customer service, causal pet names for strangers and Yorkshire tea bags. Along with sitting in a good ol' local pub with the very suspicions and almost scandalous "The Cock Inn" :/
Guinness

However I do love and adore about Germany (and never appreciated before until you pointed out) the mixed taps! The lack of carpet (much easier to clean!) Along with the (cliche) German miraculous windows. Plus, I have a new found love and appreciation for the humble, reliable and extremely versatile potato.

Huge fan of Easy German also! (and the podcasts) Keep up the fantastic work guys!

Have mug of Yorkshire tea for me! Take care xxx

[marikaserasini]

I loved this episode, as italian I like to know something else about other cultures and this is what happened😍 Thanks guys, good work!!👏👏💪

[ulrikehoffmann]

2 years late... German here: I use to live in England/London in the Eighties and I can fully agree to you, Isi! I felt the same, even this was 40 years ago.

[maiNmusica]

I'm half German, half Brit, so I feel this, but I love how apologetic we Brits are and I call everyone "love" when I speak English which confuses the heck out of everyone here in Germany. 😂 I've missed the UK so much. Bloody pandemic!

[sfopera]

Brits and Americans always say "sorry" but it's not an apology. It's just a way of acknowledging others. Also, I love endearments. They are also very common in the American South. By the way, the moderator's use of "Me and Isi" is not grammatical in standard English. It's "Isi and I."

[MMmk]

Wow, Easy, your accent has improved so much! You sound great!

[davidgray]

The use of names was partly linked to class, I was born in 1961, my generation of privately educated Brits referred to each other at school, and even in some companies where we worked, by our second names. To use first names was effete. I realise a lot of people won’t like that but it’s true. Remember that not long ago (in historic terms) people called their father “Sir”.

[jaimillo]

Hi guys! We as Peruvians are welcoming, polite and friendly. If you approach someone, they may say "oe" or "habla" (informal way of y'alright). And of course there are other cultural differences you can be shocked.

[ianconrey]

This is great. Points 1 and 3 remind me of us here in the south (U.S.). We act overly friendly and say "how-r-ya" as a statement like "hello." Not a question.