Specialised Course: Cultural Studies and Literature 

Specialised Course & Language Course                                                               

Period: 02.-22.09.2012

Target Group: Upper Levels (C1-C2), students of all disciplines, graduates of all disciplines. This course is for anyone who has an interest in German literature.

Requirements: German language skills level C1 or higher, otherwise no further requirements.

Literature as a medium, information conduit and playground of language provides access to the culture of a society. Particularly in Germany, "the country of poets and thinkers", a study of cultural values and traditions quite naturally leads to literary terrain. The specialised course intends to open intercultural and cultural comparison perspectives. 

Specialised Course: Cultural Studies and Literature

Overview of the course content:

• What is literature? What can it accomplish? What is the significance of cultural studies within intercultural language teaching?
• The relationship between Germans and literature and the tradition of conveying regional content via the medium literature will be discussed.
• Examples of literary history from romanticism to contemporary literature will illustrate the development of Germany's intellectual history.
• Twenty years after the fall of the wall, the category "East-West-Literature" is pertinent to the investigation of the role of literature in cultural discourse today.

Intercultural Language Course

The language course in the morning equips you with the necessary linguistic and regional background knowledge for the in-depth specialised course in the afternoon. 

Within each level, all courses deal with the following regional topics with varying degrees of difficulty:

• Germany Through Foreign Eyes
• Everyday Life in Germany
• Regional Variety
• Cultural Variety
• Germany in the World

"German as a foreign language" consists not only of vocabulary and correct sentence structure. Germans also structure their conversations in a particular way and adhere to a culture-specific set of values. This adherence to culture in communication is a particular focus. Therefore a connection between foreign language and foreign understanding is formed.

At the start of the summer university, you will be allocated to the course which is most suitable for you by means of an assessment. You strengthen your German language skills through dealing with stylistics, idiomology, and vocabulary relevant to the issue. Aspects of German literature, culture, and society will be analysed and discussed. You can also give your own presentation if you wish.  

This course consists of 28 hours per week: 

20 hours of language course in the morning from 9 am to 12:30 pm and  
8 hours of specialised course in the afternoon from 1:30 pm to 3 pm.

With regular attendance and a successfully passed final exam, you will receive ECTS credits for this course.

You may choose from the culture programme in the afternoon and evening according to your interests. 

Cost: Course fee 500 € + registration fee 100 € + accommodation