Grade 12 Understanding Culture and Society

It is expected that students will:

• discuss contemporary issues in German-speaking countries and in Canada
• discuss how people are influenced by cultural and societal experiences
• evaluate cultural content in German-language resources

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Understanding Culture and Society in other grades click on an icon below.

Students should now be able to use the German language to write about and discuss contemporary cultural and societal issues. Their sensitivity toward other cultures will be enhanced by studying German-speaking cultures and comparing them with their own.

• As a class, discuss the development of German-speaking countries in postwar Europe, highlighting relevant factors such as Gastarbeiter, Flüchtlinge, the Berlin Wall, and Wirtschaftswunder.
• Throughout the year, invite German speakers to the class to share their experiences in Canada and in their countries of origin.
• Show students a video or film set in a German-speaking country. As they watch, ask them to identify elements other than language (e.g., greetings, including handshakes) and note images related to specific themes. Then have them work with partners to prepare tables comparing and contrasting what they have observed with what they would expect to see in a Canadian film. When students have completed their tables, ask pairs to exchange and compare their findings.
• Group students in pairs and have each pair research and report on a contemporary issue of their choice (e.g., careers, the environment, the impact of technology on society, the economy, global issues, multiculturalism, gender equity). Students' reports could include visual displays and specific questions to be answered by their peers.
• Form pairs and ask each pair to prepare a written report and a poster on an environmental issue of their choice. Display the posters in the classroom and ask students to present their information to the class.
• Have students in small groups prepare multimedia presentations on the impact of technology on contemporary society. Students' presentations could include responses from interviews or class discussions to questions such as:
• How is daily life affected and influenced by technology?
• What differences and similarities are there in the way technology affects different generations (e.g., young people, their parents, their grandparents)?
• How does technology affect different groups within society?

Students should demonstrate sensitivity to cultural issues, not only in activities that focus specifically on cultural understanding but also in their daily interactions. At this level, students should be expected to rely increasingly on oral and written language to demonstrate these outcomes.

• When students discuss the development of German-speaking countries in postwar Europe, look for evidence that they:
  • are open to a variety of points of view
  • seek information to help develop understanding
  • respond appropriately to points made by others
  • offer reasons, examples, and details to support views
  • avoid stereotyping or overgeneralizing
  • are able to draw tentative conclusions and develop questions for further study
  • make connections to Canadian experiences during this time
• When students research and report on contemporary issues of their choice, discuss assessment criteria before they begin their projects. Encourage students to use German as much as possible in their research and reporting, recognizing that most students will need to use English for some of the more complex parts of their work. Assess the extent to which students have:
  • included thorough, relevant, and accurate information
  • included relevant details and examples to add interest and illustrate key points
  • made effective use of all resources, including multimedia and personal contacts
  • drawn conclusions and made generalizations logically, based on the information presented
  • offered some insight and thoughtful speculation
  • taken open and objective stances that demonstrate respect for diversity
• During their presentations and discussions about the impact of technology, look for evidence that students are:
  • able to accept a variety of perspectives
  • sensitive to how change impacts differently on different individuals and groups in a society
  • able to identify similarities and differences among the reactions of various groups

Print Materials

• Active German
• Das Max und Moritz Buch
• Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
• German Crossword Puzzles - Blackline Masters
• German For Leisure and Tourism Studies
• Lies Doch Mal!
• Lies Doch Weiter!
• Mitlesen - Mitteilen, Second Edition
• Von Helden und Schelmen
• Von Weisen und Narren

• Germany: Past and Present
• Jung in Deutschland
• A Love Divided: Berlin
• The New Germany: Coming Out
• The Reunification of Germany

• Deutsch Aktuell 3
• Deutsch Aktuell (Levels 1-2)
• Deutsch Heute Neue 1, 2, 3 (Neue Ausgabe)
• German Today - Einfach Toll!
• Heute Hier, Morgen Dort - Lieder, Chansons und Rockmusik im Deutsch-Unterricht
• Lernexpress
• Neue Welle Deutschland

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