Teacher Training
Current Issues of American Culture in the EFL-Classroom 2018
Organized by Dr. Julia Nitz (MLU Halle-Wittenberg)
November 22-24, 2018, Lutherstadt Wittenberg
This is the seventeenth time teachers from across Germany will meet in Wittenberg for a seminar consisting of lectures and discussion periods with the aim of promoting the presence of American Studies in the EFL classroom.
This year’s topics are African American activism, U.S. politics and humor, mockumentaries, Native American literature, and Creative Writing. Please find the program enclosed.
The group consists not only of teacher coordinators but also of advanced teacher students and students who want to become teachers. They are also involved in the organization phase, so that the contents and aims of the seminar are aligned with the needs of teachers and teaching practitioners in general, and also by those who are new to the profession. Thus, the seminar is not only an event for continuing education in the field of American culture and history, but also a platform where teaching practitioners from different areas and at different levels can network and share their experience in teaching America relevant topics.
LISA: WT 2018-400-72
Thillm accredited
Please find the details for registration and fees under contact. The program can be viewed below.
Abstracts and biographical information on our speakers, are also available to download.
Sponsored by:
![]() |
![]() |
Program
Thursday, November 22 | 15:00 | Arrival and Check in |
16:30 |
Welcome and IntroductionRepresentative of the Consulate General Leipzig |
|
17:00 |
Opening Lecture “Beyond the Mask: Paul Laurence Dunbar“Joseph Slade (Ohio University Athens) |
|
19:00 | Dinner Buffet (Leucorea Library) | |
20:00 |
Reading: “The Homestead, a Novel-in Progress”Rebecca Rukeyser (Berlin Senate Fellow) |
|
Friday, November 23 | 8:00 | Breakfast (Leucorea) |
9:00 |
Lecture: “Brother Jonathan Runs for President: Vernacular Values and Spoof Campaigns”Judith Yaross Lee (Ohio University Athens) |
|
10:00 |
Lecture: “When Government Was Good”David Goldfield (UNC Charlotte) |
|
11:00 | Coffee Break | |
11:30 | Conversation groups with lecturers (David Goldfield, Judith Yaross Lee, and Joseph Slade) | |
13:00 | Off time | |
15:00 |
Workshop I: “Mockumentary Sitcoms in the EFL-Classroom”Marie Schönherr (MLU Halle-Wittenberg) |
|
16:30 | Coffee break | |
17:00 |
Workshop II: “’The Importance of Being First’– Analysing Civil Rights, Black Womanhood and the Era Obama in the Feature Film Hidden Figures”Charlott Falkenhagen (University Jena) |
|
19:00 | Thanksgiving Session at Best Western Stadtpalais Wittenberg “Discussion of Cultural Varieties of the Thanksgiving Tradition” Moderator: Julia Nitz (MLU Halle-Wittenberg) |
|
Saturday, November 24 | 8:00 | Breakfast (Leucorea) |
9:00 | Welcoming Remarks by Martina Kohl (U.S. Embassy, Berlin)
Workshop III: “Integrating Creative Writing in the EFL-Classroom”Rebecca Rukeyser (Berlin Senate Fellow) |
|
10:30 | Coffee break | |
11:00 |
Workshop IV: “Nanabozho! Representations of an Indigenous Trickster Figure”Therese-Marie Meyer (MLU Halle-Wittenberg) |
|
12:30 | Feedback and Farewell | |
14:00 | Tour of Wittenberg |
Venue
![](https://muhlenbergcenter.uni-halle.de/files/2016/03/TeaserLeucoreaVenue.jpg)
Leucorea
The conference will be held at the Leucorea Foundation in the city of Wittenberg.
Situated in the heart of Wittenberg, the Leucorea Foundation represents an ideal conference venue providing ample space for conference sessions as well as for lodging and board for all participants.
For further information please visit the Leucorea Foundation’s website.
The address of the Leucorea Foundation is:
Stiftung Leucorea
Collegienstraße 62
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Accommodation
![](https://muhlenbergcenter.uni-halle.de/files/2016/03/TeaserLeocreaAccomodation.jpg)
Leucorea
Situated in the heart of Wittenberg, the Leucorea Foundation represents an ideal conference venue providing ample space for conference sessions as well as for lodging and board for all participants.
With direct access to Wittenberg’s central pedestrian area, the Leucorea is located in close proximity to the Luther House, in which Martin Luther spent most of his active life, and St. Mary’s Church with the famous altar designed by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
You will be lodging at the Leucorea in single rooms (unless booked otherwise). The rooms at the Leucorea are fully equipped with en-suite bathrooms, television, telephone, and internet access. Catering service will supply us with breakfast and coffee/tea during breaks.
Rates for additional nights (single room) and double rooms are:
single room: 35,00 EUR/night
double room (for two persons): 45 EUR/night
*These rates do not include breakfast.
For further information please visit the Leucorea Foundation’s website.
Directions
By train
Take a train to Lutherstadt Wittenberg Hauptbahnhof (main station).
You can check timetables and book a ticket on the website of the Deutsche Bahn AG.
The walking distance from the train station to the Leucorea is approx. 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi.
By car
The address of the Leucorea, Collegienstraße, is a pedestrian area only. Therefore, please enter ‘Wallstraße’ into your GPS. This street will lead you to the Leucorea’s (rather limited) parking area and also offers further public parking areas.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Erik RedlingManaging Director Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg |
Dr. Julia NitzOrganizer Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg |
Please register at aglaya.weidner@student.uni-halle.de (Algaya Weidner).
Deadline: September 30, 2018
Payment details
Fees:
Teachers: 120€
Teacher students (Referendare): 60€
Students: 30€ (funded by ZLB Sachsen-Anhalt)
You will receive payment details when the registration period is expired.
Lehrerfortbildung, Kursnummer:
WT 2018-400-72
Thillm accredited