The primary focus will be the Federal Republic of Germany present and past, but the course will also include the former German Democratic Republic, Austria and Switzerland. The German situation today will be approached via discussion of major social, political and cultural issues. At the same time, changes in everyday lifestyles, traditions and values (ecology, peace, the women's movement) will not be neglected. In using target-language materials, this course provides an invaluable complement to European Studies and IR.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:
    1.    analyse and critique German-speaking societies via written and visual texts.
    2.    have an understanding of current affairs in German-speaking societies, and of world events from a European perspective,
    3.    combine this acquired ‘insider' perspective with your own as an informed outsider.
    4.    further develop generic skills, e.g., critical thinking, written and oral communication, research, teamwork.

1) a 10-15 minutes' oral presentation, incl. a 300-word written summary (25%) [LOs 1,2,3,4];

2) an 1800-2000 word essay (40%) [LOs 1,2,3,4];

3) an in-class test (25%) [LOs 1,2,3,4]; 

4) culturally informed and linguistically engaged participation in seminars and tutorials (10%) [LOs 1,2,3,4]

2.5 hours/week of classes, for 13 weeks (weekly lecture, weekly tute, fortnightly seminar). Beyond this, students will be expected to spend 7 hours/week on independent study (written, web, and visual materials).

GERM3007, or equivalent

language competence at Advanced German level, GERM3007

Renate Luscher, Landeskunde Deutschland: Von der Wende bis heute (latest edition).

A reading brick.

internet access