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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: GER1046 Module Title: INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN SPEAKING CULTURES AND SOCIETIES
Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies Short Name: GER1046
Level: HE1 Module Co-ordinator: DIPPOLD D Dr (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 10 Number of ECTS credits: 5
 
Module Availability

All year
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
Written assignment of 800 words, end of Semester 1
20%
Portfolio of coursework
20%
Two hour unseen examination, end of Semester 2
60%
Qualifying Condition(s) 
A weighted aggregate of 40% is required to pass the module

Module Overview

This is a Level 1 module for German. It is taught in the target language, over Autumn and Spring semesters, one contact hour per teaching week. Attendance is compulsory.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
A level German or equivalent
Module Aims

The module aims to provide an overview of key contemporary cultural, economical and socio-political events within the German-speaking world. It focuses on current affairs, using different types of media, which will enable students to gain a better understanding of the German-speaking countries today as well as to develop their language skills and their ability to distinguish and discuss different types of news coverage.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students
 
  • will be able to follow and take notes from lectures delivered in German;
  • will have gained an understanding of the main cultural, social and political differences between the German-speaking countries and societies;
  • will be able to recognise and analyse some important issues in modern German-speaking cultures and societies;
  • will have acquired the necessary skills to read and understand authentic source material on a variety of topics related to contemporary German-speaking countries and societies;
  • will have acquired basic and specialised vocabulary related to social, cultural, political, and economic issues;
  • will be able to follow, comment on and discuss a range of contemporary issues;
  • will have gained an understanding of the contemporary media in the German-speaking countries;
  • will be able to write critically on cultural and social issues in German
Module Content
The following topics will be discussed:
  • Socio-political and economic aspects of contemporary Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (developments in the job market, the welfare state, social justice)
  • The education system (e.g. the debate around the Hauptschule, the impact of the Bologna process on universities, educational reforms)
  • Immigration and the integration of immigrants
  • The church in the German speaking countries
  • Economies of the German-speaking countries and the world of business (selection of country-specific topics and concepts such as the Austrian Sozialpartnerschaft)
  • German-speaking media (public vs. private TV channels, the Rundfunkstaatsvertrag, newspapers, the internet)
  • Recent new policies affecting families (Elterngeld, Erziehungsgeld) and the debate on women and their careers as well as the education of children
  • German identity and Vergangenheitsbewältigung

other current affairs as they arise
Methods of Teaching/Learning

Classes will be organised by the module tutor into lecture and discussion sessions. Students will be expected to read on each of the weekly topics, follow the news regularly, and participate actively in class discussion.
Selected Texts/Journals
A variety of materials from authentic print and media sources will be used.
 
Essential reading
Kara, Y. (2004). Salem Berlin. Diogenes..
Lewis, D. (2001). Contemporary Germany: A Handbook. Hodder Arnold
Rai, E. (2004). Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei. Aufbau Tb.
Tatsachen über Deutschland (online at http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/de/)
 
Recommended reading
Baumert, A. (2005). Mit der Muttersprache auf Talfahrt. Die Frage nach der deutschen Identität. lfB Verlag.
Becker (2010).Sozialstaat Deutschland: Geschichte und Gegenwart. Dietz-
Bommes, Michael, Schiffauer, Werner (Hg) Migrationsreport 2006. Fakten - Analysen - Perspektiven. Frankfurt am Main: Campus.
Braun, S. (2005). Das Staat-Religionen-Verhältnis in seiner historischen Entwicklung. Band 1: Deutschland. Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Berlin.
Brenner, Peter. Schule in Deutschland: Ein Zwischenzeugnis. Kohlhammer, 2006.
Empter, S. (2007). Soziale Gerechtigkeit – eine Bestandsaufnahme. Bertelsmann Stiftung.
Gerlach, I. (2009). Familienpolitik. Vs Verlag.
Goldberg, Andreas (2005) Die deutschen Türken. Münster: Lit-Verlag.
Koppensteiner, J (2007). Österreich. Ein landeskundliches Lesebuch. Praesens.
Lüscher, R. (2008). Landeskunde Deutschland: Von der Wende bis heute. Verlag für Deutsch.
Müller von Eichborn, H. (2006). Wirtschaftsfaktor Patriotismus: Vaterlandsliebe in Zeiten der Globalisierung. Eichborn.
Reichel, P. (2007). Vergangenheitsbewältigung in Deutschland: Die Auseinandersetzung mit der NS-Diktatur von 1945 bis heute. C.H.Beck.
Sandford, J (1999). Encyclopedia of Contemporary German culture. Routledge
Schmidt, Manfred (2007). Der Wohlfahrtsstaat: Eine Einführung in den historischen und internationalen Vergleich. Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Schrag, W. (2007). Medienlandschaft Deutschland. UVK Verlagsgesellschaft.
Siebert, H. (2005). The German Economy: Beyond the Social Market. Princeton University.
 
Selected websites
Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung: www.bpb.de
Goethe Institut: www.goethe.de/ges
„Deutschland“ Magazin: www.magazine-deutschland.de
Süddeutsche Zeitung: www.sueddeutsche.de
Die Zeit: www.zeit.de
Deutsche Welle: www.dw-world.de
Deutschlandradio: www.dradio.de

ZDF: www.zdf.de

Last Updated

24.5.10