Themenliste:
America and American Culture
Typical Features of American culture and society, political system
The different concepts of “the American Dream”, the bright and the dark side of the dream, lives of immigrants, differences within the particular groups (immigrants, black people, …), American culture and Europe
Racial discrimination and segregation / Discrimination of minorities / Prejudice
The history of black people in America, the fight for equality (e. g. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and other leaders of the civil rights movement), human rights, forms and roots of prejudice, mixed marriages, immigrants’ lives (in America, in other countries)
Women in society
The fight for equal rights and opportunities, prejudices regarding women, role stereotypes, education and role patterns in history and now, differences between industrialised and developing countries
Violence and aggression
Forms and sources of violence, targets of violence, domestic violence, theories, violence in films/on TV/video, pros and cons of possessing guns
Advertising
The techniques and function of ads, psychological effects, pros and cons of advertising, examples of good and bad ads, sex in ads, the role of women in ads, consumers’ rights
The media
Role of the media, quality of information (newspapers, magazines, TV, …), how you keep informed
People with special needs
Learning disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, the position of people with disabilities in our society
Beauty / Fashion / Lifestyle
Beauty ideals (in history / at present), plastic surgery, fashion throughout history, the role of fashion, the beauty and fitness craze, food and eating habits, health food, eating disorders, cosmetic surgery
Drugs and addictions
Reasons of addictions, effects of drugs, legal and illegal drugs, the legalization debate, advertising and legal drugs (alcohol, smoking), the issue of happiness
Ireland
Historical and political background, the background of the Northern Ireland Conflict, the different regions, every day-life in Ireland, characteristics festivals, the Irish pre-school system
Schools / School system
School life in Britain, America and Austria, exams, school discipline, school uniforms
Books and reading habits
Personal reading habits, different types of books, how to read a book / play / short story, criteria for book reports, theory of interpretation, personal opinion
Dreams
Describing dreams, dreaming habits, function of dreams, interpretation of dreams, psychotherapy and dreams, daydreams
Cult Movies and Stars
Heroes vs. villains, the criteria of cult movies, personal likes and dislikes, describing particular films
Relationships
Likes and dislikes in people, describing people, relationships, generation conflicts, teenagers‘ lifestyles (now / in former times), different age and law, rules of living together
Family, marriage, other forms of living together
Children in different settings, single parents, educational issues
Pre-school education
Describing the system of pre-school education in Austria, comparing the Austrian system to that of other countries, specific vocabulary
Austria
Stereotypes and facts, characteristics of Austria, everyday-life and institutions, political system
Great Britain and the United Kingdom
National characteristics, stereotypes, political system, history, monarchy, aspects of tourism
Other English-speaking countries (e. g. Canada, Australia, South Africa, ….)
Characteristic areas, climate, sights, language, important aspects of history, national stereotypes
Literaturliste:
America and American Culture
Aldous Huxley: Brave New World
Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451
George Orwell: 1984, Animal Farm
William Golding: Lord of the Flies
Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird
Charles Dickens: Great Expectations
J. B. Priestley: An Inspector Calls
J. D. Sallinger: The Catcher in the Rye
John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, The Pearl
Arthur Miller: Death of a Salesman
John Howard Griffin: Black Like Me
John Briley: Cry Freedom
Alan Paton: Cry, the Beloved Country
Fay Weldon: The Life and Loves of a She Devil
Waris Dirie: Desert Flower
N. H. Kleinbaum: Dead Poets Society
Joan Lingard: The 12th Day of July, Across the Barricade
Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea
Frank McCourt: Angela’s Ashes
Christy Brown: My Left Foot
Helen Fielding: Bridget Jones’ Diary
Marlo Morgan: Mutant Message Down Under
Anonymous: Go Ask Alice
Maureen Dunbar: Catherine
Judy Blume: Tiger Eyes
S.E. Hinton: The Outsiders
Melvin Burgess: Junk
Caroline B. Cooney: The Face on the Milk Carton
Torey L. Hayden: One Child
Robert Swindells: Abomination, Stone Cold
Morton Rhue: The Outsiders
Roald Dahl: Matilda
