Introductory German 11 Understanding Culture and Society

It is expected that students will:

• identify similarities and differences between German-speaking cultures and their own or other cultures
• identify cultural content in German-language resources

Although the cultural interests of students at this level will exceed their abilities to express them in German, students should be encouraged to use as much German as possible.

• Show a video set in a German-speaking country and ask students to identify elements other than language (e.g., greetings, including handshakes) that suggest that the film is set in a German-language area.
• Suggest that students compare characteristics of winter celebrations in Canada and in Germany (e.g., Fasching, Quebec's Carnaval, west coast First Nations winter celebrations), including clothing, cuisine, and outdoor and indoor activities. This exploration could culminate in a multicultural Winter Wonderland in the Classroom.
• Invite students to compare and contrast elements of folk tales from German-speaking countries with those of the First Nations (e.g., similarities between the witch in "Hänsel und Gretel" and the First Nations character Tsonaqua). Have students in small groups use a variety of resources in their research and present their findings in formats of their choice (e.g., puppet plays, posters, skits).
• Ask students in groups to collect information from a variety of sources (e.g., newspapers, videos, the Internet) about businesses or organizations in the local German-speaking community. Have students share their information, create a class chart, and discuss the types of organizations and businesses in operation.
• Suggest that students examine German-language resources (e.g., video excerpts, newspaper flyers, schedules, brochures) to identify elements of cultural interest. Ask them to each identify a major category (e.g., social interaction, housing, education, employment) and list several interesting aspects. Invite students to compare these aspects of life with their counterparts in their own community.
• Have students research famous German-speaking people in science, technology, philosophy, the fine arts, and literature. Ask them to report on and share their findings with classmates.

In their first year of German, students will frequently use visual representations and English to convey their cultural understanding. As their abilities to communicate in German increase, students should be encouraged to incorporate as much German language into their assignments as possible. Assessment activities should encourage them to reflect on their own customs as well as demonstrate their understanding of German cultures.

• After students watch a video set in a German-speaking country, have them write short letters home during imaginary trips to that country. Note the extent to which they include accurate information about the cultural elements shown in the film.
• When students develop cultural comparisons, look for evidence that they:
  • respect and value diversity
  • are interested in cultures other than their own
  • recognize similarities and differences
  • go beyond surface features to deal with subtle and complex aspects of culture
  • avoid stereotyping or overgeneralizing
  • develop questions for further research
• When students collect information about businesses and organizations in the local German-speaking community, look for evidence that they are able to:
  • identify unique features of the organizations
  • describe features that the organizations share with others in the community
  • identify contributions made by the organizations to the local community
  • draw logical conclusions or generalizations from the information they present
• Provide prompts such as the following to encourage student reflection:
  • Three features that seem common to many cultures are _____________ .
  • Something that often varies among different cultures is _____________ .
  • Two views I have that are strongly influenced by my culture are ____________ .

• Active German
• Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
• Pack's An

• Germany: Past and Present

• Deutsch Aktuell (Levels 1-2)
• Deutsch Heute Neue 1, 2, 3 (Neue Ausgabe)
• Heute Hier, Morgen Dort - Lieder, Chansons und Rockmusik im Deutsch-Unterricht
• Lernexpress

Previous Page Next Page

  BC Ministry of Education Home Page