Englisch B2.2

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness” from: Charles Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities Well? Which one is it Mr Dickens? You have to make a pick. It can’t be both. Or can it? In this course, we will look at different big picture assessments of the present: Wars are waging, inequality is rising and the climate catastrophe is upon us – Does this mean that we are failing future generations by not changing our ways? Poverty is declining, life expectancy is rising, millions of people live better and longer than generations of kings before them – Does this mean that progress is still marching strong? Which one seems more accurate? Is there a way of combining appreciation for the past with a critique of the present? Possible authors to read for this class: Simon Sinek, Malcom Gladwell, Steven Pinkert, David Graeber. This class prepares students for the HS exam.

What makes a hero? How do we portray them in fiction and history? And do we even need them? From war heroes to civil rights activist; from heroes of myth to modern superheroes - is there a common thread to what is considered heroism? By taking on these and similar questions this course will improve reading and listening comprehension as well as argumentative essay writing in preparation for the HS exam.

What makes a hero? How do we portray them in fiction and history? And do we even need them? From war heroes to civil rights activist; from heroes of myth to modern superheroes - is there a common thread to what is considered heroism? By taking on these and similar questions this course will improve reading and listening comprehension as well as argumentative essay writing in preparation for the HS exam.

You can find here a summary of what UNIcert II means and the skills and competences that UNIcert II demonstrates.

REMINDER: You must register for the course on viaCampus first. Students that have a place on viaCampus will be given  the Moodle enrolment password in the first lesson. We will study the language of Human Rights case law and learn to read judgement summaries, extracts from Conventions  and other legal sources. This course will allow students to develop practical and academic English language skills in the context of European and international human rights law. It will be of particular interest to law students (e.g. Deutsches Rechtsstudium) and students on the BA Recht und Politik  Unlike normal Oberstufe courses, it does not directly prepare you for the HF exam. Therefore, students wanting to take the HF exam are advised to take a second Oberstufe course for more direct examination preparation.  The course will, if passed, count as a Zusatzqualifikation for German law students.

This course will be taking a look at issues connected with freedom of speech. Skills such as reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing and discussion needed for the HF exam will be practiced. 

This course will focus on the topic of freedom of speech. During the course we will also focus on reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing and discussion to prepare for the HF exam.

This course will look at geopolitical borders and some of the issues involved with them . It will focus on reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing and discussion in preparation for the HF exam.

This course will look at the issue of geopolitical borders. It will focus on reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing and discussion in preparation for the HF exam.

Famous Women: In this class, students will read the autobiographical accounts of a number of women, famous in various fields and in previous times, before it was common for women to make a name for themselves. We will compare their own writings with objective criticism about each of them, which students will actively participate in providing. How is each of these women seen today? How was each seen during her life? The specific issues which concerned each of them and the perspectives each incited in her respected society will inform our various topics of debate. Students will learn to develop and support a particular perspective above the others in the written form of an argumentative essay. In addition to this reading material, we will listen to dialogues as well as critques about these women and their work to strengthen both our reading and listening comprehension skills. This practice will prepare students for the HF exam.

Famous Women: In this class, students will read the autobiographical accounts of a number of women, famous in various fields and in previous times, before it was common for women to make a name for themselves. We will compare their own writings with objective criticism about each of them, which students will actively participate in providing. How is each of these women seen today? How was each seen during her life? The specific issues which concerned each of them and the perspectives each incited in her respected society will inform our various topics of debate. Students will learn to develop and support a particular perspective above the others in the written form of an argumentative essay. In addition to this reading material, we will listen to dialogues as well as critques about these women and their work to strengthen both our reading and listening comprehension skills. This practice will prepare students for the HF exam.

Conspiracy theories are everywhere! In this course we will look at a wide variety of political and non-political conspiracy theories. They will be used to practice your argumentative skills, using debates where two students argue opposing sides how believable a chosen theory is. This will be a spring-board into argumentative essays in which you will develop an argument and challenge the opposing side’s position.