Deutsche Kultur und Literatur I

Introduction to German-language culture and to the reading of German texts (fiction and non-fiction). The course is structured in two parts:

1. Exercises (first and second semesters): Reading exercises, linguistic, formal, and thematic analysis, and interpretation of German texts based on selected excerpts. Vocabulary and grammar work derived from the reading exercises. In the second semester, the exercises further develop and deepen the topics addressed in the main course.
2. Lecture course (second semester): Comparative introduction to German civilisation and German-language culture. Introduction to linguistic, formal, thematic, and literary analysis of texts. Through the interpretation of German-language texts and selected excerpts and their literary, historical, and socio-cultural contextualization, the course offers a cultural-historical and literary-historical introduction to the development of the German-speaking countries from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Introduction to German-language culture and literature. Reading comprehension of German texts; progressive acquisition of spoken and written German. Development of reading skills and comprehension up to CEFR level A2.

Lectures accompanied by exercises with grammatical and lexical explanations. Students are required to read the texts in full at home. The course is initially taught in French, then progressively in German.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Texts:

• The texts to be analyzed vary from year to year and will be made available on the course Virtual University page.

Dictionaries:

• PONS Wörterbuch Studienausgabe: Französisch–Deutsch / Deutsch–Französisch
• Langenscheidt Handwörterbuch: Französisch–Deutsch / Deutsch–Französisch
• Online dictionaries

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Contacts

Dr. Mathias Meert (Course titular; theory, second semester): mathias.meert@ulb.be
Office hours: Tuesday, 1:00–2:00 p.m., room AZ4.105, by appointment only.

Joan Mwangovya (exercises), joan.mwangovya@ulb.be
 

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• written examination
• Other

written examination

Other

Active participation in lectures and exercises. Two written exams.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Weighting of course components

1. Continuous evaluation (first and second semesters): active participation, preparation of assignments and homework, and scheduled in-class tests – 40%
2. Written examination in January (first semester) – 10%
3. Written examination in May/June (second semester) – 50%

The 10-credit course is taught across both semesters, with 3 credits allocated to the first semester and 7 credits to the second semester. Each semester is graded separately. The final annual grade is calculated as the weighted average of the semester grades: Semester 1 (30%), Semester 2 (70%).

2^nd exam session in August/September: Resit exam covering the tests and subjects of the exercises and/or the written exam-components if the grades are insufficient or if the student has not attended the respective course components.

Language(s) of evaluation

• German