Texts and Contexts

Catalog description

In this course, you will explore themes of cultural and historical significance in contemporary German-speaking countries through literature and nonfiction, through film and current event media coverage. Whether you wish to dive deeply into historical or political contexts, explore untranslatable cultural phenomena or the aesthetic rhythm and semantic complexity of the German language, "Texts and Contexts" will inspire your imagination and deepen your understanding of German language, culture and literature. Students will develop intercultural competence and understandings that are fundamental to communicative competence, as well as appropriate levels of linguistic and discourse competencies necessary for cross-cultural and interactional communication in all modalities. By the end of the semester, you will be able to: - Gain insight into complexities of concepts of Heimat, Identity, and Belonging in relation to Black and Peoples of Color (BPoC) in the German context. - Develop analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to interpret and analyze a wide range of cultural practices, products, and perspectives within their socio-historical contexts. - Gain awareness of cross-cultural differences between your own society & German society, including social and political structure, and an understanding of how these differences inform concepts of Heimat, identity, and belonging. - Develop all four proficiencies (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in German to meet the standards of the advanced-mid level.