BSc German

Number of credits: 20

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This is the core language skills module for first-year students which provides a solid linguistic basis for the coming years of study. The module consists of three parts: a) grammar lecture, revising the major topics of German grammar; b) communication skills seminars, practising written and oral language skills with group work, whole-class work and individual study; and c) an e-learning component comprising listening skills, vocabulary and general knowledge of the German-speaking areas.

Method of learning and teaching: Seminar, group work, individual work, role-play, presentations, self-access learning

Assessment method: Exam (70%), class assignments (20%)

Number of credits: 20

Language of delivery: 20

Module content: The module provides students with knowledge of nineteenth- and twentieth-century history and area studies as an essential intellectual basis for the modules in the Second and Final years. Landeskunde lectures give students a basic knowledge of the German speaking countries, including geography, political systems, education systems, and aspects of the economy. In the second half of the module students are introduced to major events in German history from the late nineteenth century to the end of National Socialism, and their lasting effects on modern Germany are examined.

Method of learning and teaching: 

2 contact hours per week throughout the academic year.  

Students are taught through task-oriented work; seminar work; lectures; presentations; interpretation of pre-selected source texts; guidance for independent research and focussed academic study skills elements.

Assessment method: Exam (25%), oral presentation (25%), essay (50%), research skills portfolio (pass/fail).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German and English
 

Module content: This module provides a general introduction to film studies as an academic discipline for students of French, German and Spanish covering analytical aspects such as mise-en-scène, use of sound and montage as well as the history of film and European cinema. Bi-weekly lectures in English introduce students to film as a medium for both artistic expression and social critique. Bi-weekly seminars allow students to maintain a strong focus on working in their chosen foreign language.

Method of learning and teaching:  Bi-weekly lectures and seminars, complemented by self-study portfolio tasks in the target language. Students are provided with glossaries to familiarise them with film studies terminology in both English and the target language. At the end of the module students produce a 1500 word analysis of a chosen film in the foreign language. These projects are supervised in German and guidance for independent research is given.   

Assessment method: portfolio of 3 film analysis tasks (30%), essay (70%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: The topical content areas are determined by respective current events reported in the German news media. These serve as a platform to discuss wider issues in German politics, society, economy and culture. Examples can include elections, public debates, or major events. Students will also be made familiar with the nature and political affiliations of different newspapers and other media.

Method of learning and teaching: Two contact hours per week, to include lecture, seminar, structured discussions, group work, oral presentations, supervision of independent research. 

Assessment method: speech (25%); group discussion (25%; two letters to the editor (50%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: The course deals with the following topics: spoken and written language; standard language; the development of a German standard language; the difference between language and dialect; language policy and language planning; German minority languages and linguistic minorities in Germany; language contact: the example of English borrowings into German.

Assessment method: oral poster presentation (20%), exam (80%).

 

Number of credits: 10

Module content: This module introduces students to translation as a professional activity. They will be familiarised with key theoretical concepts of translation and their application in practice, so as to develop skills in translating. They will learn to produce translations into English that are appropriate for their specified purpose and readers, and learn to explain their own translation decisions.

 

Assessment method: group work (20%), coursework (40%) and examination (40%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: In this module, students are introduced to translation from German into English. It consists of two parts: a) textual skills with a focus on differences in grammar and word building in German and English; b) translation practice from German into English focusing on culture-specifics and text conventions.

Method of learning and teaching: Seminars, group work, individual work

Students are encouraged to watch German TV or listen to German radio on a regular basis. A list of the main newspapers, radio stations and TV-channels accessed via the Internet will be provided.  

Assessment method: Exam (100%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module introduces the major historical and current aspects of Germany’s capital throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students are familiarised with the methods and approaches of cultural studies and gain further insights into themes discussed in other modules (German History and Society; Post war Germany; German Politics and Society). The seminars cover Berlin as a political and cultural centre during Imperial Germany, the Weimar Republic, the National Socialist period, and post-war divided Germany, using both written sources and film, music and the visual arts.

Method of learning and teaching: 
2 contact hours per week.

Contact hour 1: seminar
Contact hour 2: flexible coursework supervision and feedback

Assessment method: oral presentation (20%), essay (80%).

Number of credits: 20

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module consolidates and develops the first-year work on all aspects of German language, using a variety of formats including class discussion, small-group or individual projects, and guided self-study. The module has two components: a) academic writing and communication skills in German; b) a set of independent learning tasks delivered by e-learning.

Method of learning and teaching: Seminars, group work, individual work, role-play, presentations, self-access learning (especially in the ILT component).

Students are encouraged to watch German TV or listen to German radio on a regular basis. A list of the main newspapers, radio stations and TV-channels accessed via the Internet will be provided.  

Assessment method: written examination (50%), oral presentation (25%), oral exam (25%), essay and portfolio of self-study materials (pass/fail).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module follows on from the Level One history course and provides students with solid knowledge and understanding of Germany from 1945 to the present day. The focus is on major events and themes of post-war history along with contemporary German politics, society, economy and culture. Topic areas include nationhood, division and reunification, the German political system and Germany’s place in Europe and the world.

Method of learning and teaching: Weekly two-hour lectures, to include structured discussion, buzz groups, team-work.

Assessment method: Group presentation (20%), written exam (80%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: The module concentrates on specific topic areas in German society, culture, politics, and economy since 1990 (‘Berlin Republic’). These include, for example, reunification problems, elections, and multiculturalism. The topic areas chosen in a given year are related to current affairs. Students are given the opportunity to apply the tools and knowledge-base acquired in Teaching Period 1 (Postwar Germany) to critically engage with, and keep informed about, German current affairs.

Method of learning and teaching: Weekly two-hour classes, to include lecture elements, seminars, structured discussions, group work, oral presentations.

Assessment method: Essay (75%), group-discussion (25%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module defines and introduces the students to significant developments in contemporary German cinema. The overarching theme is regularly adapted to new trends and has recently focused on the issue of migration in German cinema. Students are introduced to central aspects in cinema studies as well as key theoretical concepts in migration studies such as discussions of nationhood and Heimat, postcolonialism and basic principles of spatial theory. Seminars are complemented by independent watching of selected films.

Method of learning and teaching: Seminars; independent viewing of films under supervision; written reflection on the films watched.

Assessment method: 2-hour written, video based examination at the end of the Teaching Period (50%), 5 written tasks to be completed during teaching time, in weeks without seminars (10% each).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This seminar opens up perspectives on the second German-speaking country, with special reference to the similarities and dissimilarities between Austria and Germany. It thus develops the knowledge acquired in German History and Society (Level One) and Post war Germany (Level Two), and increases students’ awareness of the role of regional differences. Topics covered include Austrian political history, Austrian language and culture, and contemporary Austrian society.

Method of learning and teaching: Lecture, seminar, oral presentations, guided study of original documents and texts, supervised research, consultation for essay preparation

Assessment method: 2000-word essay in German (80%), class presentation with handout (20%).

Number of credits: 20

Language of delivery: German and English

Module content: In this module, students work on aspects of written and spoken German at an advanced level. The module has four components: a) translation from German into English; b) debates; c) genre-specific writing with a focus on accuracy and style; abstracting from German into English with a focus on accurate reading and the skills of linguistic mediation; d) independent learning using a structured set of advanced grammar exercises to improve accuracy in German.

Method of learning and teaching: Seminars, group-work, individual study. 

Assessment method: translation into English (25%), group debate (15%), written report in German (10%), three-hour examination (50%) and a portfolio of grammar work (pass/fail).

Number of credits: 20

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module runs through the whole of the final year and draws together the skills students have acquired throughout the programme. It involves choosing a research topic from the areas of German history, politics, economics, language or culture; researching this; and writing it up in an extended essay in academic German. The written project is complemented by an oral defence of the project in German. Students attend weekly seminars on research skills and individual supervision tutorials.

Method of learning and teaching: Plenary sessions will provide information on the expectations for an LTS dissertation and viva and will present objectives, methodology, and a timetable for the module. These sessions will be supplemented by individual and group meetings between supervisors and students. It is the responsibility of the student to comply with deadlines set by the supervisor.

Assessment method: research project (5,000-6,000 words) and viva.

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module develops students’ ability to analyse film in a socio-historical context. It aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of film as an art form and as a medium to express and reflect discourses on German history as well as current social developments in Germany. Currently, the module focuses on the cinematic portrayal of German division and unification. It touches on questions of memory politics and introduces students to relevant theoretical concepts in that area.

Method of learning and teaching: Four two-hour seminars will introduce the students to the topic, will provide further input in the shape of background information and a theoretical framework and will give students the opportunity to discuss the films they have watched independently. Students will watch films on a fortnightly basis and complete written assignments (set via Blackboard) applying their knowledge of both film theory and of contemporary German society. Students will also evaluate examples of film criticism from German newspapers and will produce their own film reviews.   

Assessment method: 2-hour written, video based examination at the end of the Teaching Period (50%), 5 written tasks to be completed during teaching time, in weeks without seminars (10% each).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module builds on the level 2 Post war Germany module as well as first-hand experience acquired during the Year Abroad. Students enhance their familiarity with the popular culture of Germany and Austria from a variety of perspectives: art, literature, music, media, society, politics, and philosophy.

Methods of learning and teaching: Weekly seminars, which will involve a variety of learning activities such as group work, individual work, guided study in preparation for the assessed essay.

Assessment method: Essay (100%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: This module follows on the themes introduced in ‘German Popular Culture’. Topic areas include the culture of the German Democratic Republic, film, the relationship of art and morality, tensions between art and politics, and the history of literature and poetry in the Federal Republic. Students will gain a deep understanding of the role of culture as a mediator between society and politics.

Methods of learning and teaching: Weely seminars.

Assessment method: Essay (100%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German

Module content: The module addresses the main areas of German-Jewish history, including the emergence of a distinct Jewish-German culture since the late Middle Ages, the Jewish struggle for civil rights in the German-speaking countries during the nineteenth century and developments in the twentieth century. By focusing on biographies of Jewish women and men who helped to shape German and Austrian societies the module will also analyse the way the German-Jewish community saw and sees itself.

Methods of learning and teaching: Two contact hours per week, to include lecture, seminar, structured discussions, group work, oral presentations, supervision of independent research.

Assessment method: 3000-word essay (75%), oral presentation (25%).

Number of credits: 10

Language of delivery: German and English

Methods of learning and teaching: Weekly seminars will involve discussion of genre-related translation problems, with defence of translation choices, for a different text type each week. Preparation for each class will involve background reading, text analysis and a draft translation. Use of IT tools will be expected. Students will also be required to give a presentation on the genre to be studied the following week.

Exercises carried out independently, coupled with in-class feedback and discussion, will prepare students for the demands of the real-life professional environment. Working from the foreign language into the mother tongue will allow students to concentrate on applied translation skills whilst encouraging a more pro-active investigation into how German language and culture are exploited by text producers to achieve specific communicative intentions for the reader. An additional outcome of interlingual and intercultural comparative analysis will be an enhanced command of various styles of written English and awareness of aspects of the home culture.

Texts for weekly practice will be from a range including the following: journalistic, legal, advertising, tourism, semi-specialised reports on scientific and/or technical subjects.

Assessment method: Assessment will be by means of a take-away paper. The paper consists of two German texts, each approximately 400-500 words long, for translation into English within a specified period in Week 25/26.In addition, students will have to submit a short commentary (500 words max.) to explain their overall approach, and strategies used to resolve problems raised by the texts. A list of links to 2 comparable and 2 parallel texts must also be included.