Students read books and watch films from the cultures involved in the project (parallel texts), which deal with similar topics, such as growing up, ethnicity or conflicts between the generations. Parallel texts deal with the same topic, but are in different languages. The parallel reading/viewing of texts facilitates the exchange of views and opinions of the international student teams.
Institution reporting the task:
Language of task instructions:
English
Target Group:
Foreign languages
Level:
| B1 |
|---|
| B2 |
References and acknowledgements:
None
Type:
Comparison & analysis
Estimated Duration:
3 sessions
Topic:
Discussing parallel texts
Tags:
| comparing texts |
|---|
| comparing films |
| collaborative reading/viewing |
| cultural comparison |
Acknowledgements:
None
Language Configurations:
Bilingual
Language(s) that the task can be used in:
Any
Dominant language production:
Speaking/listening synchronous
Target Competences:
| Language competence |
|---|
| Intercultural skills |
Specific pedagogical objectives:
Development of students interest in cultural similarities and differences
Suggested Communication Tools:
Real time conferencing
Suggested Resources:
Information about the texts you can find here:
American Beauty:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Beauty_%28film%29
Nach Fünf im Urwald:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nach_F%C3%BCnf_im_Urwald
Peter Härtling. Ben Liebt Anna. 1997:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_liebt_Anna (German)
Jacqueline Woodson. If you come softly. 1998:
http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/ya.shtml
Instructions:
During the next two weeks, we will read a German and an American young adult novel:
Peter Härtling (1997). Ben liebt Anna. 2nd ed. Basel: Beltz Verlag.
Jacqueline Woodson (1998). If you come softly. New York: Penguin.
We will also watch two films, a German and an American one.
Nach fünf im Urwald. Reg. Hans-Christian Schmid. Darst. Franka Potente, Axel Milberg, Dagmar Manzel, Sibylle Canonica, und Johann von Bülow. Senator Film, 1995.
American Beauty. Written by: Alan Ball. Director: Sam Mendes. Actors: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, and Mena Suvari. DreamWorks, 1999.
Afterwards we will discuss the novels and the films in two chat sessions with our partners. In this discussion we would like you to come up with a list of aspects which you think represent a) your own culture and b) that of the other culture in the respective films.
For the learners of German in the U.S. the task read in part:
Es gibt viele kulturelle Unterschiede zwischen den USA und Deutschland in Ben liebt Anna, wie z.B. Ben hat Pfingstferien.
Diskutieren Sie mit Ihrem Email Partner diese kulturellen Unterschiede im Detail indem Sie schreiben, an welcher Stelle im Buch der Unterschied vorkommt. Erklären Sie die Situation in den USA in Bezug auf diesen Unterschied und fragen Sie, wie die Situation in Deutschland ist.
Learner Texts:
None
Document related to the task:
Criteria for Completion:
Having read and watched the text or film, students should have engaged in a group discussion of the cultural meaning of the texts, negotiating similarities and differences as well as possible cultural stereotypes.
Comments and suggestions:
The discussion took place via voice chat on a First Class learning platform. Any text or voice chat can be used for this task.You might need more sessions depending on whether you watch the films in class or have students watch them at home.
Author/copyright:
Julie Belz (Indiana University), Andreas Müller-Hartmann (University of Education, Heidelberg)
