Unit 1 (AP German): Families in Different Societies — Family Structures and Values

Familienrollen

The roles people have in a family (e.g., parent, child, sibling) and the responsibilities/expectations tied to those roles.

Beziehungen

The emotional and social connections between family members, including communication, support, and shared decision-making.

die Kernfamilie

A nuclear family: parents/guardians and children living together as one household.

die Großfamilie / Mehrgenerationenfamilie

An extended or multi-generational family with several generations closely connected, sometimes living together or nearby.

die Patchworkfamilie

A blended family formed after separation/divorce where partners bring children from earlier relationships.

die Alleinerziehenden

Single-parent households (a parent raising children without a co-parent in the home).

die Pflegefamilie

A foster family that temporarily cares for a child who is not their biological child.

die Adoptivfamilie

An adoptive family formed through legal adoption of a child.

die Regenbogenfamilie

A family in which LGBTQ+ parents raise children.

Fürsorgearbeit

Care work in the family (e.g., cooking, cleaning, caring for younger children or elderly relatives).

Gleichberechtigung

Equality (often discussed as equal rights and equal division of gender roles/responsibilities).

Beruf und Familie

The challenge of balancing work/career demands with family life and responsibilities.

Selbstständigkeit

Independence; the value of encouraging teens to manage their own schedules and responsibilities.

Zusammenhalt

Family cohesion/solidarity; prioritizing closeness, shared time, and mutual support.

Privatsphäre

Privacy; respecting personal space, boundaries, and individual plans within the family.

Pflichtgefühl/Verantwortung

A sense of duty/responsibility (e.g., siblings helping with childcare, adult children supporting aging parents).

sich duzen / „Wir können uns duzen.“

To use “du” with someone; an invitation to switch to informal address (often after initial formality).

soziale Familie

“Social/chosen family”: people who function like family through support and shared life, without biological/legal ties.

Bräuche

Customs: repeated actions in a family/community that express meaning such as belonging or identity.

Traditionen

Traditions: practices repeated over time that communicate values and provide continuity (they can also evolve).

Feiern und Zeremonien

Celebrations and ceremonies that mark transitions (e.g., starting school, coming of age, marriage, remembrance).

Zugehörigkeit

Belonging; the feeling of being part of a group, often created through shared rituals/traditions.

Wertevermittlung

Transmission of values (e.g., manners, gratitude, faith, generosity) through family practices and traditions.

Einschulung

The event of starting school, often celebrated as an important milestone in German-speaking contexts.

die Schultüte

A decorated cone of treats/supplies given to children on the first day of school to celebrate and reduce stress.