German for Art Historians Level 1 - course content
Weeks 2-9 in Terms 1 and 2; Weeks 2-4 and 7 in Term 3.
Aims
To enable ab-initio students of German, as well as students with some knowledge of the language, to develop reading skills particularly relevant to the needs of art historians.
Objectives
By the end of the course students should have acquired:
- an ability to understand simple extracts from German travel guides, websites, museum guides, catalogue entries and passages related to the relevant periods of art history
- an understanding of German vocabulary used in artists' biographies and descriptions of art works
- an ability to describe works of art in a basic fashion
- a familiarity with grammatical structures found in texts
- an ability to apply wide-ranging skills that go beyond a specific text, such as dictionary skills, the ability to recognise cognates, to extract key information from texts in German and to cope successfully with longer or more complext passages in the foreign language
- basic communicative skills, especially in speaking and listening that will enhance study trips to German-speaking countries.
Organisation
Teaching will be by two-hour weekly seminars, supplemented by independent study (see below).
Description
This course has been requested by the History of Art Department to enable its students to carry out research in German, as well as to maximise the benefits of field trips and study visits to German-speaking countries. The course is aimed at students with no previous knowledge of the language, as well as students who may have some previous experience, which by now may be somewhat hazy.
You will become familiar with the basics of the language, such as grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary and you will develop specialist reading skills along with basic communication skills. There may be an opportunity to build on this course in a Level 2 class.
Attendance
Regular attendance is important and you should inform your tutor, preferably in advance, if you have to miss a class due to illness.
Independent study and homework
To get the best out of this course, it is essential that you spend at least two or three hours a week working independently. This may entail revision, homework or preparation for the next class. Your tutor will set weekly homework and will recommend appropriate activities supported by the VLE.
Assessment
There will be five continuous assessments throughout the year (40%), plus an end of year written examination (60%) in term 3. If you complete the course successfully you will be able to reclaim 50% of your fees from your department.
In line with History of Art policy, assessments handed in late will incur a penalty.
Materials recommended for the course
To be advised by the tutor.