Language is the main vehicle of communication among the various members of a group: it registers, directly or indirectly, the events, the feelings, the prejudices, the behavioral modes of the entire community. To learn a language, therefore, means to penetrate and to understand better the cultural universe and the society represented by and with that language. In this course, we describe ‘culture’ as the wide set of social processes covered by two widespread current meanings of the word: a ‘narrow’ one of intellectual activities, arts and entertainments; and a ‘broad’ one which includes a more extensive range of practices characteristic of a given society, from its mode of material production to his eating habits, dress codes, celebrations and rituals.
This course on the language as well as on the culture, history and art of Germany and the German language area. The language part of the course aims to improve and to develop skills and strategies that enable you to handle various both oral and written tasks in an academic context and social situations you maybe confronted within daily life in a German language area. The cultural part of the course provides you with information that enables you to understand some cultural aspects of the German society. The focus will be on the cultural and historical developments in West and Eastern Germany after the Second World War.
Format
In the language classes the classroom language is German, though some explanations could be given in English when necessary. The main activity is the use of German in a variety of oral and written communication tasks performed in small groups, in pairs or with the whole class. The instructor supplies you with input, instruction and explanations concerning these tasks and helps you to prepare executing the tasks. Upon completion of these tasks, you analyze the strategy, grammar and vocabulary, with the help of the instructor. You are expected to come to class with your own questions and analyze your own learning problems and learning needs.
In the “culture” lectures issues are introduced and debated. Information about German culture, society, history and art is studied in German and in English translations. On occasion, students are to discuss specific aspects of particular themes, and review them from various angles. In doing so, argumentations and considerations behind the German approach to various matters in German culture can be explored. Creativity and originality (e.g. in terms of an intercultural approach) are highly esteemed in this section of the course.
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