internationality

Target group / prerequisites:
This profile is aimed at students who, on the basis of their previously acquired good English skills, would like to engage with how people around the world organize or redesign their cohabitation. They should enjoy communicating, presenting something to others (or be willing to learn to do so) and be curious about new things. In addition, working with and in texts as well as an interest in social, historical and philosophical questions are expected. The additionally credited third weekly session for the seminar as well as for drama relieve the students for their participation in Model United Nations conferences as well as drama rehearsal days, which take place partly on weekends. The bilingual courses in English are not regular English courses, i.e. language performance is not directly graded but content and its presentation are in the foreground. However, at least satisfactory to good English language skills as well as the constant effort to improve these skills are required.

Contents:
In the profile’s subject History (History in English) it is examined how political and social conditions and structures have developed, especially in the last two centuries, which conflicts (e.g. revolutions, wars) and solution models there were and how these have shaped our world today. In accordance with the profile’s title, the focus should not be primarily on Germany but rather on internationally significant developments. Thus, in the first semester the founding and rise of the USA is in focus, and in the third semester the Soviet Union, which in the last semester leads to the emergence and effects of the Cold War.

In addition to the basic exercise in scientific work and career orientation, the S seminar subject MUN is in focus. The letters stand for “Model United Nations,” a role-play in which youths from various countries participate and imitate the work of the United Nations (UN). In English, in various commissions (e.g. the Human Rights Commission), the Security Council or the General Assembly, current matters of global political importance are debated and solutions found. Each participant adopts the viewpoint of a assigned country, thereby sharpening not only awareness of current international conflicts and political frameworks but also the ability to perspective-take and tolerance toward other cultures. The lessons thus deal with fundamental aspects of the UN, e.g. the UN Charter, methodological aspects of research, presentation and debating as well as preparation for attending foreign MUN conferences – e.g. in Hamburg, Lübeck and Denmark. In addition to preparation for the country and topics to be argued as well as actual debating, meeting and networking with students from other countries is also an important component of this project.

Drama is theatre in English. In this subject, by selecting and handling English-language plays, the perspective of artists on the society of their time is examined and also playfully experienced through the performance of a play. This can be done using modern as well as classical plays. For example, in previous cohorts F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” or Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” were studied.

In the subject Philosophy – the only course in German in this profile – it is examined how thinkers of different periods have tried to explain the developments, ideally with reference to the historically treated topics.

The aim of the profile journey is usually London in line with the profile’s topic. In which city in the world do the profile’s themes (English, historical significance of the city and the British Empire, workplace of significant artists such as Shakespeare, etc.) come together so well as here? The Hague offers, however, a welcome alternative, since it is home to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.