Intermediate German: Contemporary Life (Foreign Cultural Literacy)

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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, Germanys 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!)