Face-to-face , first term, 30 hours of theory.

First term
Thursday from 13:30 to 15:30 at 109 Marais 610
Friday from 13:30 to 15:30 at 109 Marais 610

The course is taught in German.

The course aims to show how Germany has become a leading and powerful country in Europe through its history, economy, geography, and its political, social, and cultural structures. The course also describes other German-speaking countries and regions (Switzerland, Austria, Alsace, the German-speaking region of Belgium) and offers a general overview of the multiple facets of these countries' and regions' civilizations.

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The course is composed of thematic modules dealing with the history, the geography, the politics, social structures, and the culture of German-speaking countries and regions. These modules cover, for example: the peaceful revolution and reunification of West and East Germany, the German press, the federal political system and parties, the “Wirtschaftswunder” after the 2nd World War, great German inventions (the diesel engine, rockets,…) and renowned researchers or inventors (Einstein, Max Planck, Gutenberg,…), the unification of Germany by Luther through his translation of the Bible, great battles of Germanic history, the pictorial and fine arts as the reflection of an era (e.g. Caspar-David Friedrich, Klimt, Hundertwasser,…), German movies (e.g. by Schlöndorff, Fassbinder, Dörrie, Wenders, Lang,…),…

The course is centered on lectures accompanied by numerous discussions based on texts which the students will have read and analysed beforehand. The students are requested to make oral presentations on topics of their choice. These presentations will have to be made in German for students enrolled in the German language and literature programme; for all the others, the presentations may be held in the language of their choice (German, French or even English). The lecturer plans to schedule a visit to the “Haus der Geschichte” in Bonn.

The assessment is certificate-based and consists of a written exam about the topics dealt with during the term (40 % of the final mark) and an oral presentation on a cultural topic (40 % of the final mark). The last 20 % of the final mark consist of smaller assignments and active participation to the course. The assessment criteria for the oral presentation relate to the choice of the subject, the background research, the structure of the reasoning, the form of the presentation (German language, electronic and visual means used as support,…) as well as the links with the different parts of the course.

The following references are given as examples:
Bellan, Monika (2006).100 ans de cinéma allemand. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729803343;
Burnand, Caroline (2006). Deutschland Reise wert. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN: 2729887113;
Burnand, Caroline & Bellan, Monika (2006). Panorama de la culture allemande - Peinture, musique, cinéma. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729847138 ;
Collectif (2006). Kultur-Mosaik - Repères de culture générale en langue allemande. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729897054;
Collectif (2006). Kultur-Mosaik 2. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729879102;
Férec, Laurent & Ferret, Florence (2006) Dossiers de civilisation allemande. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729825800 ;
Fischer-Fabian, S. (1975). Die ersten Deutschen. München; Zürich: Droemer Knaur Verlag. ISBN : 3426035294
Marinier, Bernard, Comprendre l'Allemagne en 500 questions-réponses et améliorer ses connaissances. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729895698 ;
Nuss, B. (1995): Les Enfants de Faust Les Allemands entre ciel et enfer, Paris, Editions Autrement Série Monde HS n° 73. ISBN 2-86260-465-8 (urspr. 1992: Das Faust-Syndrom. Ein Versuch über die Mentalität der Deutschen, Bonn, Bouvier Verlag)
Riat, Evelyne & Gisselbrecht, Marlyse, Deutschland gestern und heute; Histoire - institutions - économie - littérature et actualité. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN : 2729848185;
Ries, Heinz-Gerd (2005). Schnellkurs Deutsche Geschichte. Köln: Dumont Literatur und Kunst Verlag. ISBN: 383217625X;
von Bardeleben, Michèle & Kostka, Alexandre, Das moderne Deutschland. Paris : Ellipse. ISBN: 272980546X;

The course lecturer provides students with a syllabus. It contains not only the presentation of the course but also a collection of texts. The syllabus is written in German. The lecturer also proposes different support materials to students, such as German newspapers, extracts from magazines or brochures (e.g. from the Bundestag), German films, DVDs ("Goodbye Lenin", "Sonnenallee", "Der Himmel über Berlin ", ...), ... This material is used as a basis for discussion or to explain certain cultural or political realities. The lecturer will answer questions from students by appointment or electronically at the following address: sabine.deknop@usaintlouis.be.