German 6

Students will further consolidate their ability to communicate in German in oral and written discourse and develop cultural literacy by engaging with the theme of “Heimat” (home or belonging) in modern German-speaking societies. The seminar covers a wide range of materials, from contemporary media about Germany’s Nazi past to migratory comments on present-day politics. Students will develop more advanced language skills through reading short literary and journalistic texts and analysing audio-visual and digital media. Engaging with diverse perspectives, the students learn to critically reflect on the cultural and social implications of Heimat discourses in the German speaking world. Students will also gain an understanding of the principles of organising language as well as developing proficiency in the use of the appropriate linguistic tools for the formation of situation-appropriate vocabulary, sentence and text structures. Students will be introduced to a variety of specialised terminology and should develop analytical skills relevant to the topic area.

• 1Comprehend more formal spoken discourse of a moderate complexity on a range of topics to do with life in German- speaking societies.
• 2Use a greater range of vocabulary relating to German societies including specialised terminology in relation to literary, linguistic, or cultural topics.
• 3Understand written texts of a moderate complexity on cultural and literary topics.
• 4Express themselves accurately and appropriately in formal and informal settings through seminar discussion.
• 5Utilise the linguistic skills to write personal essays about cultures and societies both past and present and to express opinions.