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Module

GER1016 : Introduction to German history, culture and society

  • Offered for Year: 2025/26
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Richard McClelland
  • Lecturer: Dr Alya Legeyda
  • Owning School: Modern Languages
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML: to introduce students to German history, culture and society from the beginnings of the German Nation up to contemporary times and to develop their comprehension of spoken German as well as their presentation skills.

Outline Of Syllabus

The following items will be covered:
- Die Reichsgründung
- Industrialisierung
- Die Arbeiterbewegung
- Der Erste Weltkrieg
- Die Weimarer Republik
- Der Aufstieg der Nationalsozialisten
- Politik im Dritten Reich
- Juden im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland
- Widerstand gegen den Nationalsozialismus
- Kapitulation und Teilung Deutschlands
- Unterschiedliche Entwicklungen in West und Ost
- Wiedervereinigung
- Aktuelle Entwicklungen in Deutschland

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture121:0012:00Present-in-Person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching181:0018:00Present-in-Person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery31:003:00Present-in-Person
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1671:00167:00N/A
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
GER1116Introduction to German history, culture and society - Part 1
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures are used to impart facts, set out problems, and suggest solutions, as well as to allow students to practice their listening comprehension and widen their vocabulary. In particular they will outline the main developments, give insights into the major factors affecting German history, and give an indication of the problems which can be encountered in the use of the sources. The seminars will allow students to focus in detail on specific aspects of the module, to work in groups and to give presentations in German, so deepening their knowledge and understanding as well as practising key skills.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination902A5090 minutes, present in person
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1A502000 words
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will be asked to write a critical commentary that compares and contrasts two historical sources (one textual, one visual) that they have looked at in class. This should be situated in relation to broader historiographical scholarship. Sources will be provided in the original German, as appropriate.
This assessment develops students’ skills of critical analysis and writing skills. It encourages them to engage directly with historical sources and to engage with broader historiographical scholarship in a critical way. These skills will be developed further in semester 2 and required in the end of module exam.

The first section of the exam (30% of the exam grade) requires students to analyse an historical source that has been discussed in class in the second semester. This will be provided in the original German as appropriate, and may be either a short written extract or an image.
The second section of the exam (70% of the exam grade) includes questions that require essay-style responses. Students will answer one question. Questions will relate to materials and topics discussed in the module as a whole.

Reading Lists

Timetable