What you will study
This module draws on a wide range of interactive audio-visual, web-based and printed material from German-speaking countries. The module is structured around themes, each covering a different aspect of life in German-speaking countries today. You will be working with print-based materials as well as practising listening and speaking with video footage and audio interviews from Berlin, Wuppertal, Jena, Zurich and Vienna. The materials also include a set film, ‘Good Bye, Lenin!’. A range of online activities gives you further access to authentic materials from German-speaking countries and fosters your ICT and communication skills.
The themes in detail are:
1. Lebenswelten: attitudes and views of different generations and their role in German-speaking societies; changing demographic and social patterns; issues that are relevant to people’s lives now and in the future.
2. Welt der Arbeit: jobs and training; the role of work in people’s lives; the changing world of work; different types of industry, including a closer look at the tourist industry in Switzerland; intercultural and business communication.
3. Medien: the role and use of the media in German-speaking countries, covering the press, TV, radio and internet; exploration of the impact on traditional media of increasing use of the internet; and consideration of issues surrounding media freedom such as the misrepresentation of information about people and events in the media.
4. Kunst und Kritik: the arts and their role in people's lives; emerging visual art forms in Germany; new German cinema and architecture; describing, discussing and reviewing works of art.
5. Weltanschauungen: issues of faith and personal beliefs; quests and pilgrimage today; what is happiness; and ethical and moral questions and debates.
6. Erlebte Geschichte – gemeinsame Zukunft: the recent history of German-speaking countries (with a particular focus on Germany since the fall of the Berlin Wall); language and identity; the future of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and their role in an expanded European Union.
The module is varied, with a wide range of mixed-media material that has been selected in order to build up your confidence in the different language skills. The structure of the materials allows you to evaluate your progress regularly and provides confidence-building strategies to improve your learning skills. The materials are interactive and encourage your participation.
This module is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level B2 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Residential school
A compulsory residential school takes place in Germany (or you can study an online alternative).
The one-week residential school provides excellent opportunities to enhance and develop the skills covered in the module, to practise your German in a variety of situations and learn more about the country. The residential school programme runs from approximately 09:00 until 21:00 most days but it allows for breaks and has flexible evening activities.
Online alternative
If you cannot attend the school for reasons beyond your control, an alternative learning experience (ALE), which runs in April, must be completed. This is provided online using a computer conferencing system which allows you to speak with your tutor and fellow students in real time. However, the residential school in Germany offers a wider range of learning opportunities than the ALE.
In order to successfully complete the module you have to participate satisfactorily in either the residential school or the ALE.
Entry
There are no formal entry requirements to study this module.
However, as this is an OU level 2 module, you’ll need an appropriate knowledge of German obtained through any of the following:
- German studies 1: language and culture of the German-speaking world (L113)
- Auftakt: intermediate German (L130) – now discontinued
- equivalent German knowledge
If you’re not sure you’re ready, talk to an adviser.
Preparatory work
Anything you can do to keep practising your German will be helpful, for example:
- redoing some of the activities in L113 (or L130)
- watching and listening to the L113 (or L130) audio and video materials
- listening to German radio broadcasts
- accessing authentic resources online
- borrowing German books and films from the local library
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You have a tutor to help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written and spoken tutor-marked assignments (TMAs). You can also ask your tutor for advice and guidance. This module usually includes a mix of face-to-face and online tutorials. Please note that depending on where you live, the mix will vary and in some places face-to-face tuition may be replaced by telephone conferencing. Although you are not obliged to attend any of these, you are strongly encouraged to take part as they will provide you with plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to German. How tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the module in your area.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
The TMAs test a range of skills, including writing and speaking. There is a Writing Test at the end of the module, which takes the form of a three-hour examination at a standard examination centre. You may have to travel some distance to the examination centre.