GERM 2225 - Contemporary Germany

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

Taught through the Department of European Languages, and Linguistics, this course provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary Germany through the prisms of history, politics, society, and culture. It is designed to contribute to your understanding of how a modern German citizen thinks and feels in the twentieth-first century. Taught in German at the intermediate level, the course provides opportunities for students to improve their language skills in the areas of speaking, writing, listening and reading. Through this course you will develop: 1) an understanding of some of the most important issues currently facing Germany 2) an awareness of Germany?s place in the world, and 3) an appreciation of Germany?s diverse and dynamic culture. For students enrolling through German Studies, Contemporary Germany will focus on various aspects of the society and culture that are distinctively German. These include constructions of regional and national identities, questions of German citizenship and immigration, educational and political 最新糖心Vlog in contemporary Germany. The range of topics also includes the social market economy and welfare state underpinning contemporary German society, as well as present environmental debates. We will also focus on the capital city Berlin as a symbol of Germany?s broader transformation since reunification. Frequently located at the symbolic centre of the European Union, Germany is often regarded as the epitome of the successful modern European State. We examine that success (or otherwise) as a function of Germany?s ability to work through its twentieth-century traumas. Workshops and Seminars will be in German.

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Course Details

Course Code	GERM 2225
Course	Contemporary Germany
Coordinating Unit	European Languages, and Linguistics
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	GERM 2203
Assessment	Quizzes/Comprehension tests, Oral presentation, Abstract for mini-conference, Essay

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Stefan Hajduk

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will have:

1) an in-depth knowledge of some of the issues central to an understanding of contemporary German society, culture and language

2) the ability to locate, organise and evaluate primary and secondary sources of information pertaining to the study of those issues

3) the ability to work independently and cooperatively to further their understanding of German society, culture and language

4) the ability to communicate information, ideas and arguments about aspects of contemporary Germany cogently and coherently

5) a greater awarenness of cultural difference/s and its/their impact on German society, but also on their own

6) the capacity to understand the complex nature of contemporary German society and of the cultural productions that represent or criticise it

最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 5, 6
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2, 3, 6
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	3, 4
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1-6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	5
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	2, 3, 4
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	4, 5

Learning & Teaching Modes

The modes of teaching and learning employed in the course are largely classroom-based and face-to-face, but do also include e-learning forms such as discussion boards, blogs, or journals:

1) a lecture “Contemporary Germany“ which is designed to contribute to students’ understanding of contemporary Germany by focusing on aspects of the culture and society that are distinctively German and to provide a context for the study of individual aspects of contemporary German culture treated in language workshops and elsewhere throughout the course.

2) a seminar based on issues discussed in the lecture which will give students the opportunity to study topics in more detail and more depth. Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their learning through:

- independent personal study
- independent computer-based learning
- online access to lecture materials, recordings and other resources such as discussion boards, blogs, journals or external web-links.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Below are the hours per week and per semester students are expected to devote to their German studies in “Contemporary Germany”.

Hours per week	Total hours
1 X 1-hour lecture	12 hours per semester
1 X 2-hour seminar	24 hours per semester
3 hours preparation for contact hours	36 hours per semester
2 hours reading (or as required)	24 hours per semester
5 hours rsearch for presentation & assignments	60 hours per semester

Total = 156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

This course is designed to contribute to students’ understanding of contemporary Germany. It does not aim to be comprehensive, but will focus on various aspects of the society and culture that are distinctively German. These include constructions of identity and the concept of “Heimat”, the cultural regions and the federal states, questions of German citizenship and immigration, traditions of German “Bildung” and the dual system of education, changes of the “Zeitgeist” and their reflection in the German language, the social market economy and welfare state, environmentalism and the energy transition to sustainability, questions of historical guilt and memorial politics, and the development of the new/old capital Berlin and the changed role of Germany within Europe.
Students will work both individually and in small groups on a variety of topics related to contemporary Germany.
The learning activities will include exercises, discussions as well as oral presentations and written assignments.
In the seminar students will be given the opportunity to work independently and cooperatively to explore topics and issues that particularly interest them and to embark on their own quest to discover more about contemporary Germany.
Students will be provided with a detailed course outline at the beginning of the semester.

The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Written responses/homework, seminar presentation, minor research project, major research project (including blogs or 'journals' on MyUni). Assignment will include:
- some written responses/homework
- an oral presentation,
- a minor research project,
- a major research assignment

Assessment Related Requirements

Lecture
The 1 hour prerecorded lecture on Echo 360 is recommended for a first listening before the weekly Seminar session and a repeated listening at the student's suitable pace for improving listening comprehension. By exposing students to an immersive experience students will improve their listening skills in an authentically academic situation.

Seminar
Attendance is compulsory. Students who are obliged to miss the seminar must provide a reason and it is students’ responsibility to contact their lecturer or course coordinator about their absence and to ensure that they get any material that may have been handed out in the seminar missed.
Students who require alternative arrangements for assessment or extensions for assignments must notify staff before the due date and
must provide evidence that they have legitimate medical or compassionate grounds for their request.

Assessment Detail

The oral presentation gives students the opportunity to explore a topic they are interested in and also to practise presenting material in a different format. The presentation should be approx. 10 minutes long and directly related to the themes of the seminar. Material should be provided in a way that makes it accessible and interesting to other members of the seminar.

Like the oral presentation, the minor research assignment/Seminararbeit gives the students the opportunity to explore a topic in more detail, practise presenting the material in a written format. It should be correctly referenced, have a clear structure and be presented in an appropriate register. Individual blogs or journals as well as discussion boards of discovery groups can be part of the assessment.

Written responses/homework give students the opportunity to respond to issues raised in the seminar and develop their language skills in German. Participation is based on preparation of the week’s material including online resources (discussion boards, blogs, journals or wikis) and participation i.e. active contribution and engagement with other members of the group.

The major research assignment is the major summative assessment for this course. It is designed to enable students to explore a particular topic in more depth. Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the topic, their critical engagement with secondary sources on the topic and their ability to develop and express their own point of view.

Submission

Information on submission will be provided in the detailed CourseOutline that students receive at the beginning of the semester.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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