GERM 314 is a three-credit UMGC course offering an overview of contemporary life and culture in the German-speaking world, taught entirely in German. The prerequisite is GERM 212 or an appropriate score on a placement test.
The catalog lists three objectives: demonstrating intercultural communication skills, recognizing aspects of German-speaking cultures and their significance to global society, and using strategies to improve language development and cultural awareness. Discussion covers the social, historical and political experience of German-speaking people.
The challenge is doing two things at once. You must understand abstract cultural topics and talk or write about them in German, so a gap in vocabulary affects both language and content marks.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | GERM 314 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisite | GERM 212 or appropriate placement test score |
| Language of instruction | German (stated in the catalog) |
| Subject area | German-speaking cultures |
What GERM 314 Covers
| Catalog objective | In practice |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate intercultural communication skills | Comparing communication norms, and explaining how your own assumptions shape interpretation |
| Recognize aspects of German-speaking cultures and their global significance | Describing social, historical and political features and why they matter beyond the region |
| Employ strategies for language development and cultural awareness | Learning habits such as reading authentic texts, note-taking and self-correction |
"German-speaking" is broad, so expect examples beyond one country. Your syllabus names the countries, periods and sources used in your section.
Key Ideas Explained
Intercultural Competence
Intercultural competence means describing another culture without judging it by your own norms first. In writing, describe an observation, offer an interpretation, then check it against a source.
Example: "In Deutschland wird Pünktlichkeit oft als Zeichen von Respekt verstanden. Aus amerikanischer Sicht kann das streng wirken, aber es zeigt eine andere Haltung zur gemeinsamen Zeit." The sentences observe, interpret and compare without ranking.
Cultural Analysis in a Second Language
Use simple, accurate structures for complex ideas. A clear sentence with "weil", "obwohl" or "dadurch" is better than an ambitious one with errors.
Historical Context
Social and political topics are shaped by history. Anchor any claim in a period, so the reader knows what you mean by "today" and what came earlier.
Planning a Culture Presentation or Essay
| Stage | Task |
|---|---|
| Choose | Narrow to one practice, institution or event |
| Research | Find two or three German-language sources and note key terms |
| Outline | Description, context, significance, comparison |
| Draft | Write in German with a short vocabulary list beside it |
| Check | Verb position, cases, spelling and consistency of register |
Working with German-Language Sources
Because the course is taught in German, your reading will largely be German too. Read a text twice: first for the main idea without a dictionary, then slowly, marking words that block understanding. Look up only the words that matter for the point you want to make.
Keep a short card for each source with the author or institution, the date, one sentence on its main claim and three useful phrases. When you write, paraphrase from the card instead of from the page, which protects you from copying and makes your German more natural.
Check dates carefully. A course on modern cultures expects you to separate what was true in a past decade from what is true now, and to say so. A phrase such as "seit den 1990er Jahren" or "in den letzten Jahren" shows the reader your time frame.
Example paragraph plan: (1) one sentence naming the practice, (2) two sentences of background in German, (3) one sentence on why it matters to people there, (4) one sentence comparing it with your own context, (5) a closing sentence stating what you learned. Five sentences, each with a single job.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
The catalog does not list assessments. Cultural language courses typically include these work types, so check your syllabus.
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion posts in German | Engagement with cultural topics | Refer to the reading, add a view, then ask a question |
| Short essays | Analysis and accuracy | One claim per paragraph with an example |
| Presentations | Clear spoken German | Slides with key words, not full sentences |
| Reflections | Intercultural awareness | Describe, interpret, evaluate |
Building the Vocabulary You Need
Cultural topics rely on abstract nouns that general conversation courses rarely teach. Collect them by theme as you read, and learn each with its article, plural and one example sentence.
| Theme | Example vocabulary type | Practice idea |
|---|---|---|
| Society | Gesellschaft, Gleichberechtigung, Zusammenhalt | Write a three-sentence summary of a news item |
| History | Epoche, Wende, Erinnerung | Build a timeline with one German sentence per event |
| Politics | Wahl, Verfassung, Bundesland | Explain one institution aloud in 60 seconds |
Words like these have noun gender and plural forms that are easy to forget. Say them in full phrases ("die Gesellschaft verändert sich") instead of in isolation, and reuse them within a day or two so they stick.
When you present or write, prepare a short list of ten target words for the topic and use at least eight of them. This keeps your language ambitious without leading you to improvize grammar you have not practiced.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Abstract vocabulary. Build topic lists for politics, society and history as you read.
- Stereotypes. Replace broad claims with specific, sourced examples.
- Source quality. Prefer reputable German-language news, institutions and academic material.
- Copying phrases. Paraphrase sources in your own German to avoid plagiarism.
Study Tips for GERM 314
- Read or listen to a short German news item each day and summarize it.
- Keep a glossary of cultural terms, such as institutions and historical events.
- Compare each topic to your own experience, then check it against a source.
- Ask for feedback early on one paragraph rather than the full draft.
How We Help with GERM 314
Send the prompt, rubric, readings and your draft. We help you plan, give feedback on cultural analysis and German accuracy, and explain corrections. For general research planning, see our research paper help guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
GERM 212 or an appropriate score on a placement test.
Yes, UMGC states it is taught entirely in German.
Contemporary life and culture in the German-speaking world, including social, historical and political experience.
Three, according to UMGC's catalog.
Expect to communicate in German; your syllabus lists the exact formats.
Yes. We review and explain corrections for you to learn from.