Special Courses Spring 2013

1. Current Affairs: Germany in the election year 2013, The players – the platforms – the issues

Level C1 and up

Tue. 6-8pm: Instructor: Erika Jakubassa

This year’s current affairs course concentrates on the issues, the players and the platforms before Germans as they prepare themselves to go to the polls in September 2013. 

Among the subjects discussed will be Europe’s economic situation, the South-North transfer of young and highly qualified workers, concepts regarding the support of families with children, sexism in Germany, rights pertaining to homosexual couples and more. The course will adjust its content according to hot-button issues of the moment.

 

This is a chance to use your language tools in a very current context. You will also be able to review verbal strategies in voicing opinions, expand your vocabulary and have grammatical problems addressed as they arise.

Be prepared for some highly interesting reading and lots of verbal discourse!

 

 

2. Literature / Meet the Author

Level C1 and up

Books discussed  from author: Rolf Lappert "Nach Hause schwimmen"

Wed. 6-8pm: Instructor Regula Ruegg

This course will focus on the literary works of the current writer in residence at Deutsches Haus, Rolf Lappert. We read and discuss  original german texts, his price awarded novel “Nach Hause schwimmen”, supplied with excerpts and poems from other authors about the same topics. In discussing, writing and speaking about the issues raised in these texts students develop their language skills. Upon request we will discuss also grammatical topics. The author will visit the class once, meet with the students and discuss their questions.

Die Geschichte: Rolf Lappert: Nach Hause schwimmen

Wilbur, gerade mal 1,50 Meter groß, ist wirklich kein Glückskind: Seine irische Mutter stirbt bei der Geburt, sein schwedischer Vater macht sich aus dem Staub, und sein erstes Zuhause ist der Brutkasten. Erst als seine Großeltern ihn nach Irland holen, erfährt er, was Heimat ist. Doch das Glück währt nicht lang: Sein bester Freund kommt in die Erziehungsanstalt, und seine Großmutter Orla stirbt bei einem Unfall. Auch wenn er gern so stark wäre wie Bruce Willis: Er ist und bleibt ein Verlierer. Erst die charmante Aimee bringt ihm etwas anderes bei: Wilbur muss endlich lernen zu leben - ob er will oder nicht. (Klappentext dtv-Verlag). Die Geschichte des vom Unglück gebeutelten, selbstmordgefährdeten Antihelden stellt den bisher grössten Erfolg in Lapperts Karriere dar, wurde von der deutschsprachigen Kritik gefeiert und dank des lakonischen Grundtons und skurriler Einfälle mit Werken von so bekannten amerikanischen Autoren wie John Irving verglichen. (R. Moritz in "Die Welt" 28. Juni 2008)

Rolf Lappert kam mit diesem Buch  2008 auf die Shortlist des Deutschen Buchpreises und gewann im selben Jahr den  Schweizerischen Buchpreis.

 

 

 

3. Conversation through German Film

Level B1 and up

Fri. 6-8pm: Instructor Heidi Ziegler

 

In this class, students will improve their conversational skills by exploring movies in German. We will watch and discuss German short films, all of which are award-winning productions. Specific exercises and questions will facilitate comprehension of the films and their cultural implications, as well as prepare students for classroom discussion. 

Textbook: Denk Mal! (Publisher: Vista Higher Learning). With the code of the textbook you will have access to all the short films and interactive materials. The textbook and code are required for the class and must be ordered in advance from the publisher directly.

This is class will help you improve your speaking and listening skills and brush up your vocabulary and grammar!