GERMAN INDUCTION WORK SUMMER 2016

GERMAN INDUCTION WORK SUMMER 2016
Action research
Your task is to engage in some specific research in English (or in German, if you’d prefer) which will give you
a head start when we come to study and discuss specific topic areas in German during the course.
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German history from the end of WW2 to the present day - how decisions and events have shaped
the Germany we know today. (Make a note of key memorable dates and events to help jog your
memory later– it isn’t helpful just to cut and paste web pages)!
Find out about key figures and groups such as the Rote Armee Fraktion, the Baader-Meinhof Gruppe
and Alex Springer.
Find out about Berlin – what is there in the way of museums, music and theatre? Why is the
population so ethnically diverse?
Architecture – key styles include Jugendstil and Bauhaus. Which prominent figures could you name?
Who are the key artists of the German speaking world? What can you find out about artists such as
Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Paul Klee, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Otto Dix? Does any of their
work appeal? What are their influences?
Festivals and traditions – surf the net and see what you can find out!
Do some research about the EU and keep up to date with current affairs. What role does Germany
play within Europe and the EU? Are Germans still happy to be a part of the EU?
Read in German
Surf the news and read about your interests in German.
• Read German newspapers and magazines on line e.g. www.welt.de www.spiegel.de www.stern.de
www.focusonline.de
• Read anything in German that appeals to you. Local libraries do have books in German and we can
lend you books for the summer. Read poems. Just read! E.g. Der Besuch der alten Dame, Andorra,
Die Verwandlung, Der Vorleser, Zonenkinder, Damals war es Friedrich.
Listen to German
Try music and the news on line.
• Deutsche Welle offers slowed down real news broadcasts: http://www.dw.com/en/learn-german/s2469
• Tune in to groups like Wir sind Helden, Fettes Brot, Silbermond, Die Ärzte, Rammstein
Watch German
• Crime series: Tatort. Watch films: Goodbye Lenin, Lola rennt, Alamanya, Das Leben der Anderen,
Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei, Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage.
Practise German Grammar
• Keep your skills current! Refresh and remind yourself of key grammar concepts. Do grammar
exercises on line. http://languagesonline.org.uk