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What is German? Myths and Fairytales

This is a Languages Subject Spotlight with Dr Jeff Bowersox from UCL. An interactive, cinematic course taster experience to allow students to gain insights into what it's like to study Languages.

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Join Associate Professor at UCL, Jeff Bowersox, as he explores the German language with a keen focus on history and literature. Jeff will then consider the development of Germans across history, including an insight into their geography and culture, before taking a look into the foundations of German fairytales, and how the stories of The Brothers Grimm have shaped what we know as ‘Germany’. Jeff ends this Subject Spotlight with an exciting activity, which allows you to explore passages from Rapunzel and identify changes throughout the generations.

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About UCL

UCL is located right in the heart of central London and prides itself on being a global hub of education in the capital, attracting students from over 150 countries. UCL has a lot to offer with 440 undergraduate programmes in which integration of research and teaching is prioritised. UCL has a unique history, founded in 1826 inspired by the ethos of Jeremy Bentham's belief in opening up education for the many and not to discriminate on who can receive a higher education. UCL strives to continue the tradition of being change-makers today, remaining committed to accessibility and using research to tackle real-world problems.

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Meet the academics

Dr Jeff Bowersox

Jeff Bowersox is an Associate Professor of German history at University College London, and he teaches and researches on Germans’ connections with the wider world. The author of Raising Germans in the Age of Empire: Youth and Colonial Culture, 1871–1914 (Oxford UP, 2013), he is now studying African-American entertainers touring in the German lands before the jazz age. He is also the managing editor of blackcentraleurope.com, an online resource exploring histories and experiences of Blackness in the German lands since the Middle Ages.

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Remarkable & relatable academics

Learn from some of the UK's finest and most decorated academics as they give you a genuine, insightful, and engaging experience of studying their courses at their universities.

Interactive quizzes and activities

Have a go at fascinating interactive quizzes and activities, then get meaningful and intuitive feedback from the academics to see how you've done.

Content to enhance students university applications

Hear direct from the academics what's expected of you in your university application, and the things you can do to improve your chances of getting on the course you most desire!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Subject Spotlight?

Subject Spotlights fuse education and entertainment to bring you the new way of researching your university options.

Entirely free and available on-demand, you can choose to engage with the content in the way that best suits you - whether that's in bite-sized chunks or in binge-sessions!

Why should I check out Subject Spotlights?

Get a real, representative impression of what pursuing a subject at university is actually like, so that you can make the right decision for you.

Stand out from the competition by completing a Subject Spotlight to gain the most relevant references and evidence for your personal statement.

Who is this Spotlight for?

This subject spotlight is made for students aged 16 and above, that are considering applying to University, particularly to study the subject in the title, or similar areas.

How should I talk about completing a Subject Spotlight on my UCAS application?

Completing a Subject Spotlight shows the university you're applying to that you've taken time outside of school to engage with relevant content.

The easiest way to include it would be to briefly mention one or two things you learned from it and how/why those learnings have furthered your desire to study the subject. We don't want to prescribe an answer because it's your personal statement but this is a good starting point!