Ateneo - UPO

The course consists of the following modules:
(1) Spoken German: structure and usage – tools for linguistic analysis and applications to tourism communication
(6 CFU)
(2) Literature and cinema in the Weimar Republic (6 CFU)

Kesselheim, Wolfgang (2021), Ausstellungskommunikation: eine linguistische Untersuchung
multimodaler Wissenskommunikation im Raum, Berlin/Boston: de Gruyter.
Knöbl, Ralf et al. (2025), Pragmatische Marker mit sagen: Funktion - Verfestigung - Phonetik,
Tübingen: Narr Francke.
Proske, Nadine et al. (eds.) (2024), Gesprochenes Deutsch: Struktur, Variation, Interaktion,
Berlin/Boston: de Gruyter.
Wolfgang, Imo et al. (eds.) (2024), Sprechen und Gespräch in historischer Perspektive, Berlin: Metzler.
Erich Maria Remarque, Niente di nuovo sul fronte occidentale, Neri Pozza, 2021. I will quote from this edition, but if you have another one it’s ok as well.
Ernst Jünger, Nelle tempeste d‘acciaio, Guanda, 2019. Only pp. 3-83, 177-203, 231-249, 257-271, 311-329. It will be available on DIR.
Klaus Mann, La pia danza, Gammalibri, 1983. Only some chapters. It will be available on DIR.
Bertolt Brecht, Santa Giovanna dei macelli, Einaudi, 1966. It will be available on DIR. A different edition is available in the library.

The integrated course, at an advanced level of German language proficiency, aims to develop students’ knowledge, analytical skills, and critical competences relating to language, cultural production, and communicative practices in the German-speaking context. Particular attention is devoted, on the one hand, to the features of spoken German and to communication in the tourism sector and, on the other hand, to the development of literary and film production during the Weimar Republic.
For full-time students, the 12 CFU credits for the course are divided as follows: 6 CFU (150 hours) of lectures and interactive teaching (active student participation cannot be measured proportionally in advance); 6 CFU (150 hours) of self-study.

The essential prerequisite for admission to the course "Linguistica tedesca specialistica B" and takin the examination is passing
the integrated German Language III examination or, alternatively, achieving a level of proficiency
in German equivalent to or higher than B2.

Introduction to and theoretical explanation of the topics through lectures, followed by lessons
characterised by interactive teaching methods that encourage the active participation of students
in order to elicit meaningful observations and reflections through exercises, research and
personal in-depth analysis.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) or
Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and resources designed for them
by contacting the relevant office via the dedicated page on the University website:
https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-disabilità-e-dsa. Students
with disabilities, SLDs or SEN, once they have made contact with the University staff, may
contact the course lecturer regarding the arrangements for the examination,
in relation to teaching aspects.

The assessment of learning consists of a written examination for the German Linguistics module and an oral examination for the German Literature module, designed to ascertain whether the learning objectives of the two modules have been achieved and, in particular, whether the linguistic, literary and cultural knowledge and skills set out in the learning outcomes have been acquired.

The written examination, lasting a total of 2 hours, is divided into two parts. The first part generally consists of 6–7 open-ended theoretical questions, designed to assess knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the course, as well as the ability to use specialist terminology appropriately. The second part comprises an exercise analysing authentic spoken texts, including those relating to tourism, through which students’ ability to identify, describe and interpret the characteristic features of spoken German, and to read and understand transcriptions of spoken language, is assessed. The assessment takes into account the correctness and comprehensiveness of knowledge, terminological accuracy, the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to the analysis of the materials provided, and the ability to elaborate on and explore answers in depth.

The oral examination, conducted in Italian and German in accordance with the procedures laid down for the various groups of students, is designed to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the course content – including through reference to the specified critical bibliography – as well as their independent judgement, learning abilities and communication skills. The examination comprises questions relating to the historical and cultural context of the Weimar Republic, the authors and works covered during the course and the critical bibliography, as well as tasks involving the analysis and interpretation of literary texts and the film on the syllabus. Students’ ability to develop an independent and well-reasoned critical discourse on individual texts and themes, relating them to the main issues addressed in the course, is also assessed. For students on the LCT programme or those studying German as part of their curriculum, the oral examination also includes a section in German and an assessment of their ability to translate into Italian one of the German-language texts studied and translated during the lectures.

The assessment grades are defined as follows: excellent (30 with distinction–28): in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter, full command of specialist terminology, excellent ability to analyse, interpret and apply knowledge; good/satisfactory (27–22): good knowledge of the subject matter, appropriate use of terminology and good ability to analyse and apply knowledge; satisfactory (21–18): essential knowledge of the topics, sufficiently appropriate use of terminology and limited but adequate ability to analyse and apply knowledge; unsatisfactory (below 18): significant gaps in theoretical knowledge and/or analytical and linguistic skills, and inadequate use of specific terminology.

Students with disabilities, specific learning difficulties (SLD) and special educational needs (SEN) are guaranteed, when sitting examinations, the compensatory tools and measures provided for by current legislation and the University’s regulations.

The integrated course explores, from complementary perspectives, aspects of the German language and culture, with particular attention to forms of oral communication and to German cultural and artistic production during the Weimar Republic and the years preceding the rise of National Socialism.

Upon completion of the integrated course, students will have acquired advanced knowledge and skills in German language and culture, with particular reference to the features of spoken German, communicative strategies in tourism communication, and the literary and film production of the Weimar Republic.

Knowledge and understanding: students will be able to:

demonstrate thorough knowledge of the main features of spoken German, with particular attention to communicative strategies and genres in tourism communication;

understand and use the specialist terminology required to describe and analyse linguistic phenomena related to spoken language;

read and understand transcripts of authentic spoken-language texts;

demonstrate knowledge of German literature and cinema during the Weimar Republic, with particular reference to the movements, authors, works, and texts addressed during the course;

understand and relate literary and film productions to their historical, social, cultural, and, where relevant, biographical contexts.

Applying knowledge and understanding: students will be able to:

identify and describe the characteristic features of spoken German in authentic texts, with particular reference to texts belonging to the tourism sector;

apply theoretical knowledge of spoken language to the analysis of authentic interactions and spoken-language productions;

analyse literary texts and films using the methodological tools acquired during the course;

relate the analysis of works to their historical, social, cultural, and literary contexts;

translate into Italian, at an appropriate level of accuracy, German-language texts addressed during the course.

Making judgements: students will be able to:

formulate well-supported judgements concerning the use and frequency of characteristic features of spoken German;

critically assess communicative strategies and linguistic features in different forms of spoken production, including tourism communication;

develop independent interpretations and critical judgements concerning the literary works and films addressed during the course;

relate the linguistic phenomena and cultural productions analysed to their respective contexts and support their interpretations with relevant arguments.

Communication skills: students will be able to:

use specialist terminology accurately and consistently to describe and discuss features of spoken German;

present the topics addressed during the course clearly and effectively, using appropriate critical vocabulary;

develop a structured and well-argued discussion of literary texts, films, and cultural phenomena;

communicate appropriately in Italian and, where required by the programme of study, in German;

translate and comment on German-language texts using appropriate linguistic strategies.

Learning skills: students will be able to:

combine theoretical knowledge of spoken German with its practical application to the description of authentic interactions;

independently apply the methodological tools acquired to the analysis of new linguistic, literary, and film materials;

independently explore the topics addressed through the consultation of critical bibliography and additional materials;

select, process, and relate information from different sources;

further develop their linguistic, analytical, and cultural competences through independent study and further investigation.