An interview with Ruth Higgins




Parts of the interview can be heard.
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Questions: P (pupils)
Answers: R (Ruth)


P : Where are you from?
R : From England, no, from Brighton south-east England.


P: How old are you?
R: Guess! What would you say.
P: 23?
R: Yes, 23.


P: Why did you prefer studying in Germany?
R: I learnd German at home and studied it at university and I didnīt know what to do after I finished my studies, so I went to Germany.

P: Where in Germany did you study? R: I didnīt actually study in Germany, I studied in England. But, two years ago Iwas in Bamberg as a language assistant in schools.

P: Are you glad that you have chosen Bamberg? R: Yes, itīs not too big and not too smooth. So itīs quite easy to get to know places and people.
P: What did your English friends and family members think about your decision to live in Germany?


R: Iīm not sure how long Iīm gonna be in Germany, so I think my parents are still thinking sheīs only gonna be there for a few months. I donīt know I think they expected I wouldnīt stay in England Iīm too restless.
P: What kind of job do you have here?

R: Good question. I teach a bit of English in the language institute in Hainstraße and thereīs a new language school, that has just opened and I do some private tuition lessons just to get enough money to pay the rent.
P: What do you think are the differences between Germans and British people?
R: Which differences?
P: In lifestyle, society.
R: There isnīt much difference. Germans are more organized.
P: More organized?

R: More organized, more clean and I remember when I was washing up with a German friend and everything had to be washed very thoroughly which may be not when you watch my student house in England. With washing up we would wait for four weeks but that might be British students as opposed to British people.

P: And society? What are the differences between British and German society?
R: Not much. No, I mean the stereotypes ... like to register here in Germany you have to battle through all the paper.
P: Do you like the Queen?

R: Iīve never met her, so I donīt know what sheīs like as a woman, but she seems o.k. Smiles every once.
P: Queen Mum?
R: People say the Queen Mum is quite funny, more interesting than the Queen.

P: What would you like to change in British or German society?
R: What would you like to change in German society?
P: I would change the social system.

R: OK. I would change the public transport in England. Everything is so expensive and I canīt drive so I always have to travel by train or bus and itīs very expensive.


P: Is it difficult for you to live in Germany?
R: No. What should be difficult ?
P: I donīt know. I just thought it could be a problem.
R: No. Everyone speaks English. No, itīs fine.
P: What about racism, have you ever be affected by this?
R: Racism? No, not in Bamberg.
P: What school system do you prefer? The German or the English?

R: These are difficult questions! The German school system seems better for the A-levels - Abitur - because we learn 3 subjects and many forget about everything else, so I have no general knowledge. I did English, Maths and German... The German system, thatīs better but I went to a boarding school which is quite interesting.

P: Do you like German food?
R: Some of it.
P: What?
R: I donīt like Sauerkraut, I donīt like Weißwurst, I donīt like (Eisbein). I like cakes and chocolate; chocolateīs a lot cheeper here.
P: What kinds of music do you like?
R: Lotīs of different types, things like Crowded House and Phat Morrison. Those kinds. What kind of music do you like?
P: Limp Biskit.
R: Is that a German group?
P: No, itīs an American group.
R: Right!
P: And Eminem a little bit.
R: I donīt like the typical Britpop, like Oasis...
P: Itīs not bad.
R: Are there any good German groups?
P: Liquido! They donīt sing in German but itīs a German group.


 

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