Courses

Course outline

Project Law

Based on case studies, fundamental rights will be discussed and compared across cultures. Furthermore, relevant norms of the German Civil Code (BGB) will be reviewed. Independent work on practical, true-to life cases completes the programme. The aim of the project is to expand language proficiency in the area of Law.

Project Economics

The Economics project deals with both economic and business topics. The focus is on the management, control and organization of companies, the German tax system and socially relevant topics such as the shortage of skilled workers. In addition, principles of business and professions in business are addressed. Special attention is paid to the use of authentic specialized texts. The project lessons are related to the real world and include extracurricular places of learning; thus, in addition to the lessons, excursions relevant to the respective subject also take place.

Project Mechatronics

The field of mechatronics includes all areas of technology in which components of electronics, mechanics and informatics interact. Apart from refreshing grammar by using relevant technical terminology, the teaching project encompasses the analysis of graphics/diagrams, evaluation of podcasts on topics from engineering science as well as practicing reading comprehension by using popular science texts and technical resources.

Project Society and Politics

The course focuses on current events in German politics and society as well as important themes from German history. Addressing German culture on a communicative basis and from an intercultural perspective takes precedence over learning bare facts.

Project Academic German

Reading and writing academic texts are key study skills. However, many specialized and scientific texts demand complex skills. The project refers to participants who would like to improve their reading and writing skills in the area of Academic German. Apart from refreshing relevant grammar for Academic German, the course also covers typical vocabulary as well as adequate formulation. Through practical exercises and tips, the course helps students to adopt reading and writing strategies competently.

Project Literature

The project 'Literature' deals with contemporary German literature in a European context. From a historical and systematic perspective, we examine literary texts as media objects, in their aesthetic forms, poetic processes and cultural framework conditions. Further topics include the reflection of genre-specific questions as well as the relationship between literary and non-literary reality, such as the discussion of literary texts in the context of socio-historical, social, political, cultural and intellectual-historical discourses. One focus of the project is on the topic of belonging of various kinds in an increasingly interconnected and at the same time fragmented world. Literature is an important archive for reflecting on questions of belonging in the age of globalization (transnational literary relations, world literature, multilingualism). How can belonging be defined in literary-aesthetic terms? What different functions do imagination and fiction have in processes of globalization and belonging? Which historical constellations become observable through the analysis of literary texts? To what extent does literature not only represent such processes, but also reflect, model, criticize and help shape them? Such questions will be reflected upon in the project.