GER20280 Große Reden

Academic Year 2024/2025

Great speeches can capture hearts and minds and may resonate for many years after their delivery: from John F Kennedy's 'Ich bin ein Berliner' to Barack Obama's 'Yes We Can', the public imaginary is captivated by the art of well-crafted words. Language is power and the freedom and opportunity to speak publicly is also crucial to democratic societies: understanding how speeches are structured is therefore an important tool of critical citizenship, and being able to make your case convincingly and confidently is a valuable skillset in the workplace as in everyday life. In this module, designed for level 2 students of German (ca. B1+ of the CEFR) we will read, hear, and perform samples of important and influential speeches delivered in the German language in the post-war period. We will read and analyse transcripts and we will listen closely to/watch original recordings. Students will also practise speaking and will engage in writing and performing short speeches or components of speeches.

This module aims:
• to raise students’ awareness of spoken rhetoric, used to persuade or to move an audience
• to introduce a range of key political, social, and historical issues and speakers from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
• to sensitise students to the political and ethical and importance of language: not just what is said, but how it is expressed
• to improve students’ spoken German in practical speaking exercises (accuracy and confidence), supported by introductory phonetics and intonation training

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module students will be able to:
• Demonstrate an ability to clearly distinguish key sounds and to pronounce words in a familiar text with confidence and reasonable accuracy.
• Demonstrate an awareness of appropriate intonation.
• Demonstrate comprehension of the socio-historical context and thematic meaning of textual samples, using appropriate supporting tools (dictionaries, glossaries, online information).
• Demonstrate an understanding of key functions of speeches and apply this knowledge to identify the functions of sample speeches.
• Identify and critically analyse key strategies deployed in spoken texts.
• Apply this knowledge to create short independently produced text samples and to critically discuss known speeches
• Perform a short prepared sample, using appropriate supports.

Indicative Module Content:

This module develops practical oral skills and requires active classroom engagement. During the module students will engage in the following activities:
Read and prepare short sample texts at home with the help of appropriate support materials.
Watch and listen to sample speeches.
Listen to module co-ordinator short explanations of key concepts.
Engage in class and small group discussions about the function and meaning of sample texts.
Undertake practical classroom exercises in pronunciation and intonation.
Complete independent practise exercises in intonation and pronunciation using appropriate supports (video and guides, self-recordings etc.)
Take part in short creative exercises.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

26
Seminar (or Webinar)

24
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module involves active learning in the classroom in group discussions, individual and group pronunciation and intonation exercises, short talks by the module co-ordinator, short creative exercises. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Live oral exam (15 minutes) discussion in English of a selected speech, reading of a prepared speech, presentation of a short, independently produced piece. Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60

 No
Portfolio: Portfolio of written and spoken exercises undertaken during the module. Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

In this module students will receive oral group and personal feedback on practical in-class activities. Students will receive written feedback via Brightspace on homework submitted to Brightspace. Students will receive written feedback, via the VLE, following their final assessment.