Ab initio German language and society Ib

Aims

Aims

This module is intended to develop your language proficiency; to consolidate and expand your written and oral skills in order to achieve accurate and idiomatic expression, and sound comprehension of oral/aural material. You will also be introduced to aspects of German society and culture. This module will also lay the groundwork for the more advanced study of German in Year 2.

Learning outcomes

After satisfactorily completing the module you should be able to:

• understand and discuss contemporary written and aural authentic materials and have some understanding of the social, cultural and institutional references they contain;
• present and defend a point of view in accurate and idiomatic German in the context of exposés and debates;
• achieve a good degree of accuracy in the production of written assignments in German.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

• Ab initio German Grammar
• Ab initio German Language and Society Ia

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

Six hours per week.

Teaching programme

German is used as the medium of instruction and learning in all classes wherever possible.

Teaching materials

• Moeller, J., Adolph, W., Hoecherl-Alden, G., Berger, S., & Huth, T. (2011) Deutsch Heute. International Edition. 10th Edition. Heinle Cengage Learning.

(Registered students should contact the German instructor for a discount code for this book.)

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Formative assessment

Students will be expected to complete and submit exercises and other written assignments regularly and to present some of this work in seminars.  In addition, reading and other preparation for the seminars will be required.

• Written Formative work:
  • Written comments on the work, mark on University mark scale
  • Oral/written feedback in class
  • Discussions on major issues and mistakes/content/structure
  • Individual feedback during office hours, when necessary
• Oral Formative work:
  • Feedback on oral presentations and class discussions
  • Direct oral feedback in class discussions
  • Written Feedback form for oral presentations
  • Feedback includes mark on university marking scale
  • Comments on different aspects of the presentation, i.e. content, argumentation, logic, register etc.
  • Individual feedback during office hours, when necessary

Written feedback will usually be given within 1 or 2 weeks.

Summative assessment

• Coursework
  • Due: Summer Term, Week 1. Work will be assigned in Spring Term, Week 10.
  • Weight: 30%
  • Feedback: An opportunity to view marked coursework with comments will be offered at an appointed date during Summer Term.
• Oral presentation
  • Summer Term, Weeks 3-4.
  • Weight: 30%
  • Feedback: Written feedback within Summer Term.
• A 3-hour closed examination
  • Summer Term, Weeks 5-7.
  • Weight: 40%
  • Feedback: An opportunity to view marked exam papers with comments will be offered at an appointed date during Summer Term.