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Accessibility statement
This module follows on from an OU Level 2 German module. It further develops your knowledge and understanding of German-speaking societies and extends your language competence. The interactive online study materials are based around text, audio and video resources, including interviews and documentaries. You'll engage in critical analysis, develop academic writing, research and presentation skills, and be introduced to the concept of linguistic and cultural mediation. The six module themes provide both broad and focused coverage of historical and contemporary aspects of German-speaking societies, which you are encouraged to discuss with your fellow students in tutorials and forums.
All of the materials for this module are delivered online via the module website.
Each of the six units covers different aspects of the language and culture of the German-speaking world. The unit topics in detail are:
Unit 1: Nationale und regionale Identität
Unit 2: Forschung, Technologie und Innovation
Unit 3: Geschichte und Politik
Unit 4: Migration und Identität
Unit 5: Kunst im Kontext
Unit 6: Wirtschaft im Fokus
You will be working on text and audio-visual material through completing a wide range of online activities, which are designed to deepen your understanding of the module topics and develop your confidence in communicating in German. Throughout the module, you will progressively develop your academic skills, leading up to a small-scale project at the end. All materials are interactive and encourage your participation; they also allow you to evaluate your progress regularly and provide you with strategies to further develop your skills as an independent language learner. With your fellow students, you can engage jointly in forums, and in Unit 4, you will take part in an interactive cross-language discussion task.
This module is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level C1 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
This is an OU level 3 module for students who have successfully completed an OU level 2 German module or who already have an equivalent knowledge of German.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
If you have time before the module begins, we suggest that you continue to use your German in any way you can. You could do this by: redoing some of the activities in your OU level 2 German module; watching and listening to the audio and video materials from your OU level 2 module; reading a German newspaper; accessing resources such as online editions of newspapers and magazines, internet radio and television; or borrowing German books and films from the local library. Anything you can do to keep practising your German will help you to prepare yourself for the start of the module.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
One of the TMAs is an interactive speaking assignment which will be carried out by your tutor online.
You'll have access to a module website, which is the focal point of your study, and includes:
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials and to take part in your interactive assignment, you’ll need a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
You will also need to have access to a suitable German dictionary, either in print or online, for example
You will be working with the following grammar book, which you can access electronically through the library, or you may have a printed copy if you have previously studied L223.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying L333 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
German studies 3: language and culture of the German-speaking world (L333) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2034.
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