Intermediate German: Contemporary Life(Foreign Cultural Literacy)

Topics / Contexts / Cultural Products Topics should expand and deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of

life in German-speaking countries (e.g. family, leisure, work, education, environment), with more emphasis on the context of contemporary social issues (see below).

Topics should be dealt with in the context of important issues affecting German society today (e.g. reunification, multiculturalism, dealing with the past [Holocaust], Germany’s role in Europe, effects of globalization).

Continued exposure to major cultural products of general familiarity to German-speaking populations (art, architecture, music, poetry, film, TV, news-media, popular culture).

Texts Articles from popular newspapers / magazines; short stories and narratives with

gripping story lines that do not require an inordinate amount of cultural background and linguistic knowledge to comprehend; interviews; songs; talk shows, films.

At least one longer prose text or play (see “extensive reading”) at end of each semester (e.g. Die Ilse ist weg [Noestlinger]; Biedermann.. [Frisch]).

Two or three full-length films each semester. (Keep students’ background knowledge, linguistic abilities, and interests in mind!)