2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
GERM2075 Behind the Headlines: the German-speaking World in the 21st Century
20 creditsClass Size: 30
Module manager: Dr Ingo Cornils
Email: i.cornils@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
Pre-requisite qualifications
Successful completion of GERM1021 (or equivalent level of German to CEFR A2)This module is mutually exclusive with
| GERM2070 | Behind the Headlines: Germany in the 21st Century |
| GERM2071 | Behind the Headlines: Germany in the 21st Century |
| GERM2076 | Behind the Headlines: the German-speaking World in the 21st |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This module sets out to introduce students to selected current political, social, economic and cultural debates in German-speaking countries with equal emphasis on the acquisition of German language, media analysis, critical thinking and presentation skills.Objectives
This module aims to:- introduce students to the key debates which are shaping the identity, politics and culture in the German-speaking world today, and enable them to participate in these debates.
- engage students with a variety of authentic German-language media and cultural texts and enable students to analyse and critically reflect on them in order to develop their own positions.
- engage students with key debates in the German-speaking world by exploring selected case studies, identifying the ‘distinctiveness’ of politics, society, economy and culture and their representation in the media.
- develop students’ own interpretations based on an informed, critical understanding of the issues and their independent research.
- develop the skills to research, critically reflect on, and effectively participate in the German-language public spheres.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the module, students should be able to
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key debates which are shaping the identity, politics and culture in the German-speaking world today
2. Analyse a range of political and cultural texts by analysing intention, content, context, subtext and rhetorical devices
3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the medial and cultural representation of key political, social, economic and cultural debates in the German-speaking world today
4. Identify, critically engage with, and evaluate a range of different views and opinions in a range of primary and secondary sources in German and English
5. Present and defend their own reasoned position in German in a range of formats and contexts
Skills outcomes
• exposure to and practice of the German language
• opportunity to prepare for the Final Year Project through independent research
• development of critical source analysis skills through engaging with a a broad variety of authentic media and cultural texts reflecting the key debates in the German-speaking world today, including government sources and political speeches, a variety of traditional and social media as well as literary and filmic representations
Syllabus
The module will cover key issues and debates in contemporary politics, culture and society of the German-speaking world. The module will be structured around several learning units. Topics covered in the module will necessarily vary from year to year, which allows tutors to adjust the module to recent developments in German-speaking societies.
A typical outline of learning units might look like:
1. Media landscapes in the German-speaking world
2. Approaches to political analysis and political culture in German-speaking countries
3. Economic and social issues in German-speaking countries
4. German-speaking countries and the world
5. Cultural analysis and the role of culture in key debates in German-speaking societies
6. Coming to terms with the past and future
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Seminars | 20 | 1.50 | 30.00 |
| Private study hours | 170.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 30.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
- Preparation for seminars (80 hours)- Completion of assessments (70 hours)
- In addition, students are expected to keep abreast of developments in the German-speaking world (20 hours)
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
• Regular feedback on performance in seminar through informal feedback; short writing tasks; short presentations in class• Student groups will be given feedback on the proposal for, and script sample, of their video blog. Module tutors will also be on hand to help at the planning and production stage.
• Students will submit and be given feedback on a 1000-word literature review, on which the assessed essay is based.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 2250 Words | 70.00 |
| Group Project | Video Blog | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
If an individual student is unable to participate in the group assignment (video blog) in Semester 1, they may submit an individual video blog. The formative literature review is compulsory and designed to prepare students for the self-designed essay question as well as for the Final Year Project.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 14/11/2023
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD