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GERM-168 Citizenship, Religion, Belonging: The German-Jewish Case in Contemporary Germany
Spring only
Kugele, Jens
Goals
Especially after the fall of the Iron Curtain, migration, minority identities and religious diversity demand nuanced cultural as well as linguistic competence to understand the public discourse in the German-speaking world. In this context, German-Jewish culture provides a particularly interesting example. Raising questions about ethnicity, religion, culture, language and belonging and challenging the widespread homogeneous notions of a German nation, German-Jewish cultural history provides fascinating insight into the complex fabric of German identity.
This three-credit Level IV course aims to familiarize students with various forms of public discourse in post-1945 Germany with special emphasis on German-Jewish culture in post-wall Germany. Engaging in a variety of genres and media, students will gradually shift their language use from narrative to more abstract and complex forms of expression, while acquiring a set of literacy abilities that are critical for meaningful participation in public discussions as well as in the analysis of literary works. Texts used in class range from young contemporary German-Jewish writers such as Lena Gorelik to interviews and public speeches.
Approach
A variety of individual and group tasks are designed to enable students to familiarize themselves with public discourse genres and to help them to become competent, self-reflective and credible non-native users of German in public settings. Increasing accuracy, fluency, and complexity of language use, along with an expanded vocabulary range, are part of that desired level of ability.
Assessment
Class participation 30%
Essay writing 40%
Individual and group presentations/reports 15%
Final paper 10%
Reflective e-mail journals 5%
Prerequisites
Placement into Level IV via the German Department placement exam or completion of Level III (Advanced German) or its equivalent
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
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More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.
The academic department web site for this program may provide other details about this course.
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