I’m tired of my exchange student talking about how easy school is here and how dumb the American kids are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ILs had a German exchange student. He was really annoying.

He wanted to chew gum in a museum when it was not allowed. When asked to remove the gum, he said he thought it was a free country.

Why come if you’re going to be a jerk?

If Americans are so stupid, why watch our movies or TV shows or even visit?

America is big with dumb people and smart people.

I am the German/American who posts above.

There are plenty of negative stereotypes, which have truth to them for some people but of course not all. But not following the rules is NOT a German stereotype.

[Anonymous]

Do not take this personally! For a lot of Europeans, Americans ARE dumb! Understand that in many European countries only about 10% top students go to university. The rest go to trade schools or get other training. When I came here for grad school and had to teach a college level class, I was in shock at the low ability of students! My classes required math knowledge and it was almost non-existent, in fact laughable. We don't see those type of kids at the universities and high school in Germany is meant as a prep for university studies, not just a place to prolong childhood. That said, I'm surprised the kid is not taking any math/science classes as those at AP levels are actually reasonably good. Next time get yourself a female exchange student from South America to be more at your level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s not wrong.

But he's also from a system where only 31% of 16-year-olds would continue with formal academic education, as opposed to 100% of students here. So of course the general high school population seems skewed to him. Two-thirds of the students he's in class with here would have dropped out of academia by this age in Germany.

[Anonymous]

https://x.com/stats_feed/status/2002694681197506881?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not take this personally! For a lot of Europeans, Americans ARE dumb! Understand that in many European countries only about 10% top students go to university. The rest go to trade schools or get other training. When I came here for grad school and had to teach a college level class, I was in shock at the low ability of students! My classes required math knowledge and it was almost non-existent, in fact laughable. We don't see those type of kids at the universities and high school in Germany is meant as a prep for university studies, not just a place to prolong childhood. That said, I'm surprised the kid is not taking any math/science classes as those at AP levels are actually reasonably good. Next time get yourself a female exchange student from South America to be more at your level.

This post did more to confirm the stereotype that he’s rude than it did to justify his behavior as ok because of his culture.

[Anonymous]

If he is not in an honors or AP class then he is in classes that are not challenging and have the lowest level of students. I’m guessing he’s in the lowest level classes, so his flex is laughable. Let him keep believing he’s so smart while languishing with the bottom third

[Anonymous]

Part of this experience is an opportunity for you to learn about his culture, right? Well, I do think Germans are more direct. I also think, as an American, that he is absolutely right about the American public education system. It is sad, but true. Perhaps you could show an interest and learn what the German schools and parents are doing right, and perhaps we could learn to do better for our kids over here.

To the PP above who says AP levels are "actually reasonably good," sadly this is not true and it really depends on the school. At our local public school, anyone can take AP classes, there is no requirement for the school to demonstrate proficiency by making students sit for the exams. I believe this is why we now have college students who lack basic middle school math abilities, despite the fact that some of them have taken AP Calculus! A study in the UC system actually found this to be the case, and they have had to adapt and offer remedial basic math courses for college students.

[Anonymous]

Wow are you that offended by a child you’re hosting? I feel bad for him.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t Germany track students early on (10-11) where you need to test in order to be on the advanced degree track? If so, let him know he’s on the easy track

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s not wrong.

But he's also from a system where only 31% of 16-year-olds would continue with formal academic education, as opposed to 100% of students here. So of course the general high school population seems skewed to him. Two-thirds of the students he's in class with here would have dropped out of academia by this age in Germany.

While this is true, if you compare only the subset of kids who are college or university bound, the American system is showing a lot of problems right now, because kids are showing up to college here way more underprepared than they used to be.

[Anonymous]

First of all, this is true about Germans being very direct.

Secondly, what he says about American education is spot on. Remember what Alexis de Tocqueville said about the banality of American education.

My kids go to a public school, and my high schooler is taking many APs in the humanities. These courses are absolutely terrible and would have turned me off of writing and history altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of this experience is an opportunity for you to learn about his culture, right? Well, I do think Germans are more direct. I also think, as an American, that he is absolutely right about the American public education system. It is sad, but true. Perhaps you could show an interest and learn what the German schools and parents are doing right, and perhaps we could learn to do better for our kids over here.

To the PP above who says AP levels are "actually reasonably good," sadly this is not true and it really depends on the school. At our local public school, anyone can take AP classes, there is no requirement for the school to demonstrate proficiency by making students sit for the exams. I believe this is why we now have college students who lack basic middle school math abilities, despite the fact that some of them have taken AP Calculus! A study in the UC system actually found this to be the case, and they have had to adapt and offer remedial basic math courses for college students.

To be fair the kids at UCSD who test into elementary or middle school math were not reporting AP scores. They had As in Calculus at their high school.

[Anonymous]

I would ignore. He is German, so very direct, and probably a little bit homesick. Just redirect the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s from Germany. He 17 and has quite an ego. His English is formal, but excellent and he also speaks German and Spanish fluently.
He’s not taking any math or science classes while he’s here because he doesn’t like those subjects.
He comes home from school every day telling me how the Americans can’t read, don’t know geography, history etc. I’m really tired of hearing it.
Help me survive this until June!

He is right 1/3 of this country is stupid it is called the cult of MAGA stupids.

How do you not understand this?

We have a country of idiots singing confederacy songs still and NAZI criminals running the government.

Op where do you live and why are you on DCum?

[Anonymous]

So no one in the entire school is smarter than him? Is he only taking regular classes vs honors or AP? Ask him to tone it down.