My OpenLearn Profile
- Personalise your OpenLearn profile
- Save your favourite content
- Get recognition for your learning
This page was published over five years ago. Please be aware that due to the passage of time, the information provided on this page may be out of date or otherwise inaccurate, and any views or opinions expressed may no longer be relevant. Some technical elements such as audio-visual and interactive media may no longer work. For more detail, see our Archive and Deletion Policy.
This course extends language skills and cultural knowledge. By working with authentic material from German-speaking countries, you will learn how to communicate in a wide range of situations: expressing opinions; reporting other people’s comments; explaining processes and trends; electronic communications; structured notes and texts. Cultural themes explored include changing demographic and social patterns; jobs and the role of work; German media and arts; issues of faith and personal beliefs; and issues in recent Germany history. There is an integrated residential school which takes place in Germany. . This material is taken from The Open University Course L203 Motive: Upper Intermediate German.
Track 1: Child care in Germany
Problems faced by German parents in balancing work and child care.
© The Open University 2008
- Read a transcript of this track - you'll need a PDF viewer, such as Adobe's free Adobe Reader
- Download this track from iTunes U - you'll need Apple's free iTunes software
- See details of the Open University course this album comes from
- Discover more from The Open University and iTunesU at open.edu/itunes
Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child care in Germany | Problems faced by German parents in balancing work and child care. Play now Child care in Germany |
About the author
Tags, Ratings and Social Bookmarking
Ratings
Other content you may like
free course icon
Level
Languages
German studies 1 (intermediate)
This module takes you to an intermediate level of linguistic competence in German, which is equivalent to B1 level of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). You will develop your confidence in listening, reading, writing, speaking and interacting in German, as well as your knowledge and understanding of German-speaking societies and cultures. In addition, the module is designed to expand your academic, digital and employability skills in German contexts. You will have the option to study most activities in a book or as interactive online activities on the module website. Some activities are only available online. The website uses authentic online resources in support of independent and collaborative learning.
free course icon
Level
Languages
Variationen: advanced German
This module follows on from an OU Level 2 German module. It continues to develop your knowledge and understanding of the society and culture of contemporary Germany and German-speaking countries, and to extend the practical skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The study resources include online authentic audio and video, comprising interviews, documentaries and reportages, and illustrated printed materials. You will also develop your academic writing, critical and analytical skills, and intercultural competence. The module has six themes that give both broad and focused coverage of different aspects of historical and contemporary Germany and German-speaking countries.
free course icon
Level
Languages
Getting started with German 1
Almost 100 million people speak German as their main language. Most of them live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, making German one of the most widely-used languages in Europe. Although now associated with economic success and advances in science and technology, German has a long-standing reputation as the language of poets and thinkers, die Sprache der Dichter und Denker. The German speaking countries are also a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a great variety of landscapes - from the sandy beaches in the North to the majestic alps in the South, not to forget hills, lakes, rivers, vineyards and the historic and buzzing cities of Berlin, Zürich and Vienna. In this 2-week course you will go on a journey through Germany, Austria and Switzerland and introduce you to the language skills you need to start understanding and using German. You will start from the basics - simple greetings, introducing yourself and using numbers. Progressing towards being able to join conversations in German and to understand and use the language in a variety of scenarios. This OpenLearn course is an extract from the beginning of the Open Centre for Languages and Cultures short course, LXG001 Beginners German 1: fang an! After completing this free course, you may wish to register for the full course to continue your learning!
article icon
Languages
The Great Fall: A personal perspective, before and after
A personal take on experiences before and after the Berlin Wall fell from an Open University lecturer in Classical Studies.
free course icon
Level
Languages
Intermediate German: The world of work
This free course, Intermediate German: The world of work, concentrates on developing cultural knowledge and practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and interacting in a variety of situations. The course will be of interest to anyone who wants to improve their language skills in order to communicate more easily and effectively in German. It focuses on talking about and reflecting on work and the development of professional lives in the future.
free course icon
Level
Languages
Intermediate German: Understanding spoken German
This free course, Intermediate German: Understanding spoken German, is aimed at intermediate learners of German with an interest in language and culture. The six-hour-course is designed to develop your understanding of spoken German through video portraits of people in the German cities of Hamburg and Passau. It introduces you to naturally spoken language, and gives clear advice on how to use video resources as a useful and enjoyable learning tool. Through completing varied activities you will improve your understanding and active use of the language, and develop the confidence to access further resources and take your German studies to a higher level.
article icon
History & The Arts
Hitler's rise and fall: Timeline
Track the key events in Adolf Hitler's life, including his childhood in Austria, his decisions as Fuehrer of Germany, his leadership in the Second World War, and his eventual suicide.
article icon
History & The Arts
Erzberger: Negotiating the Armistice for Germany
Professor Annika Mombauer discusses the fate of Matthias Erzberger, the most hated man in post-war Germany.
article icon
History & The Arts
Trümmerfrauen: contested memories of Germany’s ‘rubble women’
What role did German women play in rubble clearing after the Second World War?
©1999-2020. All rights reserved. The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.
Be the first to post a comment
We invite you to discuss this subject, but remember this is a public forum.
Please be polite, and avoid your passions turning into contempt for others. We may delete posts that are rude or aggressive, or edit posts containing contact details or links to other websites.