The Wave is a movie based on real circumstances: A history teacher in the USA tried to answer the questions of his students: Why was it possible that the national socialists could move a whole nation to war? Why did the Germans not stop the killings in the concentration camps and why did most of them not know what was happening there? Is a dictatorship like the one of Hitler in Germany possible again in modern times?
To answer these questions the teacher made an experiment to show the students what a dictatorship is about. However the project went wrong and the story moved around the world. At first a movie was made in the 80’s in the USA for television, later a novel was written by Morton Rhue and last year a German movie was produced with Jürgen Vogel in the male main character role. The movies and the novel caused a lot of discussions about the National Socialism in Germany in the 1930’s and 40’s and about the possibility of autocracies in general. This movie shows what is needed to develop a dictatorship and how people change during this process.
In the USA German history is not taught very detailed, therefore many students have a lot of questions when it comes to the topic of the Second World War. As well as the students in the 80’s, students of today can not imagine how Hitler came to rule Germany and to kill so many people. Even German students often do not understand the fanaticism of the generations of their grandparents for that system. Hence there is a need for explanation in both countries. Therefore an e-mail project between a German class and a US class could help to answer the questions and to remove prejudices of both sides concerning the National Socialism.
This paper presents an idea for a Transatlantic E-mail exchange about the National Socialism on the example of the movie The Wave. Both classes use the movie as the basis for their discussions with the task to find out if a dictatorship like the one of Hitler is possible in our times. The project should last 6 weeks in which the students work with the e-mails twice a week and for each transaction with the other side have different tasks. At the end a reader should be produced with the discoveries the different groups made.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 THE STORY OF THE WAVE - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
3 DIDACTICS
3.1 MOVIE DIDACTICS
3.2 LEARNING NETWORKS
4 E-MAIL-PROJECT THE WAVE
5 CONCLUSION
6 LITERATURE
Objectives and Topics
The paper explores the implementation of a transatlantic e-mail exchange project between German and American students, utilizing the movie "The Wave" to facilitate critical discussions about National Socialism, autocracy, and the dangers of manipulation in modern society.
- Educational use of films in foreign language teaching
- Methodological framework for transatlantic e-mail projects
- Analysis of the historical and social background of "The Wave"
- Development of intercultural competence and media literacy
- Promotion of communicative and project-based learning
Excerpt from the Book
The story of The Wave - historical background
The movie The Wave was made in 2008 directed by Dennis Gansel. It is a remake of the TV-movie The third Wave by Alex Grasshoff from 1981, but with an alternative ending. The movie opens with the presentation of the school, a “Gymnasium” somewhere in Germany (no place named), and the main character Mr. Wenger, a young and teacher. His teaching style is rather unconventional, because his students call him by his first name and have a very smooth relationship. At this time in school he goes into the teacher’s room and gets to know that he has another topic for the project week at school with the 12th graders. This project week is concerned with different political systems, for example autocracy, anarchy or monarchy. Each topic is presented by a history or politics teacher and the students have to decide in which course they go to learn all about that political system. The overall aim of this project week is to show students the advantages of democracy. The first lesson starts with 30 to 35 students and Mr. Wenger is surprised that so many students came to his course. The students choose autocracy because the other teacher is very infamous because of his “boring teaching style” as well as for the many tasks he gives to the students. Mr. Wenger said that this is ok and that the students now should concentrate and tell him what autocracy means.
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the pedagogical motivation for the project, focusing on the need for transatlantic dialogue to address historical questions regarding National Socialism and dictatorship.
2 THE STORY OF THE WAVE - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Provides a synopsis of the movie "The Wave," detailing the fictional experiment conducted by a teacher that leads to unintended extremist consequences.
3 DIDACTICS: Examines the role of film in education and the benefits of digital learning networks for communicative language practice.
3.1 MOVIE DIDACTICS: Discusses how films can be integrated into English lessons to improve intercultural competence and analytical skills.
3.2 LEARNING NETWORKS: Explains the educational potential of school e-mail projects in fostering real-world communication and reducing stereotypes.
4 E-MAIL-PROJECT THE WAVE: Details the practical implementation of a six-week transatlantic exchange project involving group work and student-produced readers.
5 CONCLUSION: Evaluates the success of the project, acknowledging potential practical challenges while emphasizing the value of critical media engagement.
6 LITERATURE: Lists the academic sources used to support the pedagogical and historical arguments of the paper.
Keywords
The Wave, Autocracy, National Socialism, E-mail project, Transatlantic exchange, Media didactics, Foreign language teaching, Intercultural competence, Dictatorship, Project-based learning, Student collaboration, Historical education, Film analysis, Communication, Pedagogy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper primarily examines how a collaborative transatlantic e-mail project can be used in English language classrooms to discuss complex historical and political themes through the film "The Wave."
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The key themes include the pedagogical integration of film, the mechanics of autocracies and dictatorships, the influence of propaganda, and the development of intercultural communication skills among students.
What is the primary goal of the proposed project?
The goal is to foster a critical understanding of how dictatorships emerge and function, while simultaneously improving the participants' language skills, media literacy, and social cooperation.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a didactic framework for media analysis and communicative teaching, structured around six specific phases of project implementation as described by Andreas Müller-Hartmann.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main part details the preparation of a six-week exchange, including curriculum integration, group work, the analysis of plot and character development in the film, and the eventual creation of a student-led publication.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as "The Wave," "intercultural competence," "autocracy," "media didactics," and "project-based learning."
Why did the author choose "The Wave" for this exchange?
The movie is chosen because it effectively demonstrates the psychological processes of manipulation and group dynamics, providing a relatable basis for students to discuss historical atrocities in a modern context.
What is the role of the teacher in this project?
The teacher acts as a coordinator and facilitator who guides the students through the interpretive process and ensures that the communication remains constructive and focused on the learning objectives.
What are the potential risks identified in the study?
The author notes that technical failures, lack of motivation, poor group cooperation, or language-related misunderstandings can complicate the exchange process if not properly managed.
How does the project conclude?
The project concludes with students creating a final reader or journal, reflecting on their findings and evaluating the learning process, which is then exchanged between the partner schools.
- Quote paper
- Doreen Bärwolf (Author), 2008, "The Wave" as an exchange project, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/156445
