Introduction to German Culture: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Abstract

of contemporary culture, politics, and social problems in the Germanspeaking countries. But interest in these topics is by no means limited to language students. Students who have visited or who plan to visit a German-speaking country sometimes look for a culture course which will prepare them to be well-informed, knowledgeable travelers. This article describes a course entitled Introduction to German Culture, designed at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to meet the needs of all these students. Unlike culture courses offered in the past, it draws upon the talents and expertise of the entire German faculty, from teaching assistants to professors, as well as of colleagues in other departments. In these times of low enrollment in German, this course has not only increased enrollment in our elementary language classes but has also brought a number of new majors to the department. Introduction to German Culture is a lower division undergraduate course. Taught in English, its primary purpose is to introduce students who have little or no knowledge of German to essential aspects of presentday culture in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A course of this nature requires an instructor who is knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas. Even though it could be taught by a single instructor, it was decided that in order to provide students with the most in-depth, up-to-date information available and to make the course as lively and interesting as possible, one person would assume the main responsibility of organizing and teaching it while guest speakers would be invited to deliver lectures and lead discussions in their areas pf expertise. As principal instructor and coordinator, I am responsible for inviting and scheduling guest speakers, preparing the syllabus, and advertising the course. Advertisement is important, especially before the course is offered for the first time. In order to reach as many students as possible, I place advertisements in the student newspaper and design and order posters for distribution throughout the campus. I also personally visit each elementary and intermediate language class just prior to pre-registration week to tell students about the course and answer any questions. It is my responsibility to choose textbooks and films, assign homework, grade papers and exams, and assign final course grades. In addition, I teach approximately half the classes, while the remaining ones are taught by guest speakers. The use of guest speakers works extraordinarily well. Students look forward to hearing guest lectures because of the speakers' expertise and