Module Code - Title:
GE4147
-
GERMAN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 5:GERMANY EUROPE AND BEYON
Year Last Offered:
2026/7
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
GE4146
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module is set at B2+ on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
To examine Germany's role in present day Europe and explore the interrelatedness of German social and cultural developments with those of its neighbours.
To develop inter-cultural awareness and communication skills. To continue the study of more complex literary texts in German.
To develop translation skills and enhance students' presentation skills in the foreign language.
Syllabus:
This syllabus is set at B2+ on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Lecture: Germany and its neighbours; Germany and the Third World; German economic and cultural activities abroad; national images and their origins; the image of Germany abroad and the German self-image; German/Irish relations.
Tutorials: a) discussion of texts connected with the lecture; contrastive cultural studies including students' presentations in the foreign language; b. grammatical exercises c) graded translation exercises focussing on German/English translations.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
* recognize and evaluate the cultural interdependence of Germany with other European countries
* debate the consequences of globalisation on present-day Germany
* describe aspects of Irish-German connections over the centuries
* evaluate the role of national stereotypes in media discourse
* identify the characteristics of travel writing in German
* analyse the characteristics of present-day journalistic German and develop strategies to translate such texts into English
* demonstrate a high level of accuracy and fluency in speaking and writing German, using more complex structures and a wide range of registers.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
* engage critically with issues and debates discussed during the semester, demonstrating an appropriate level of intercultural awareness and competence.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
Not applicable.
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
A common one-hour lecture will be supported by a tutorial in which texts and materials related to the lecture will be discussed. Two further classroom hours will be devoted to advanced language work, discussion and analysis of literary texts and written work, again pickung up themes from the lecture. Students will be engaged in active learning both inside and outside the classroom and will be encouraged to develop their self-directed learning skills within the broader framework of the module.
Prime Texts:
H Böll (1997)
Irisches Tagebuch
, dtv
(2005)
Concise Oxford Duden German-English Dictionary
, OUP
H Dreyer and R Schmitt (1994)
A Practice Grammar of German
, Verlag für Deutsch
H Hamilton (2007)
Die redselige Insel
, Luchterhand
Other Relevant Texts:
P O'Neill (1985)
Ireland and Germany: A Study in Literary Relations
, Lang
(2002)
Krauts - Fritz - Piefke: Deutschland von Außen
, Bouvier
P Mog (1992)
Die Deutschen in ihrer Welt
, Langenscheidt
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BACHELOR OF ARTS
BACHELOR OF ARTS (PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS)
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY DANCE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE AND EUROPEAN STUDIES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN IRISH DANCE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN IRISH MUSIC
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN VOICE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN WORLD MUSIC
BACHELOR OF ARTS INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED ACCESS
BACHELOR OF LAWS (LAW PLUS)
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
Michaela.SchrageFrueh@ul.ie