German advanced: Deutsche Weihnachtsstädte

What is the course about?

This course is the first part of the new series “Wanderlust” which will explore a variety of thematic routes and destinations in Germany. In this first course, we will be travelling to different German cities that have particularly interesting Christmas traditions. We will discuss the origins, cultural and social aspects as well as the economic impact of different Christmas traditions.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

We will be visiting a number of destinations, from North to South and East to West. In the Erzgebirge town of Seiffen,we will meet the makers of Nutcracker figurines. In Dresden, it is baking a “Stollen” and in Leipzig, we will be enjoying Bach’s glorious Weihnachtsoratorium. Schmidt’s Lebkuchen in Nürnberg are another “must” as well as a visit to Nürnberg’s Christkindlmarkt. Other questions along the way are for example: who invented the Adventskalender and the Adventskranz, where did the first Christmas tree come from and who is St Nikolaus?

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Learn about the history, culture and economic impact of German Christmas traditions.
- Increase your vocabulary and improve your confidence by speaking about specific aspects of German culture
- Share your own experiences having visited German speaking countries.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

For students with a very good knowledge of German in all areas and a fairly wide range of vocabulary. B2/C1
For further details of the specific foreign language skills required for this level, please see the languages self-assessment chart at the start of the languages section of our course guide or on our website.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The class is taught entirely in German.There will be group and pair work. You will be required to do some reading in preparation for each session.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Materials are provided by the tutor online in Google classroom.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Any other part of the “Wanderlust” series - if there is enough demand- or other German level 4/5 or 5 courses. Please enrol early to avoid disappointment. Please enrol early to avoid disappointment.