Ab initio German language & society

Aims

Aims

This module introduces some aspects of German society and culture. The emphasis will be on developing your communicative skills. The programme is intended to develop language proficiency, consolidate and expand written and oral skills in order for you to achieve accurate and idiomatic expression, as well as sound comprehension of aural material. This module will lay the groundwork to more advanced study of German at levels I and H.

Learning outcomes

After satisfactorily completing the course you should be able to demonstrate:

• Increased fluency and accuracy in spoken German  
• Increased accuracy and sophistication in the production of a variety of written German texts
• Improved aural language comprehension
• An insight into certain aspects of German Society and current issues.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Corequisite:

• Ab-initio German language skills

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

The module lasts for three terms, 3 contact hours per week per term.

Teaching programme

A focus early on in this module will be to facilitate and support the development of your time management and independent study skills. This will help you to manage fast pace and challenge of starting a new language ab initio. Methods of support will include:

• provision of self-access learning materials for independent study via the VLE
• peer support and mentoring
• small group teaching for a more personalised and differentiated methodology.

Teaching materials

Compulsory:

• 1) Textbook:
  • DaF kompakt A1 - B1. Kursbuch mit 3 Audio CDs. Klett 2011. ISBN 978-3-12-676180-2
  • DaF kompakt A1 - B1. Übungsbuch + 2 Audio-CDs. Klett 2011. ISBN 978-3-12-676181-9
• 2) Grammar book:
  • Dreyer Schmitt: Lehr und Übungsbuch der deutschen Grammatik AKTUELL - A Practice Grammar of German. Max Hueber Verlag (1 Sep 2010) ISBN: 978-3193272553
  • Lehr- und Übungsbuch Der Deutschen Grammatik - Aktuell: Lösungsschlüssel. Max Hueber Verlag (8 July 2009) ISBN: 978-3-19-407255-8

Recommended:

• A good bilingual dictionary, one of the following:
  • The Collins German Dictionary, 8th edition or later. (2013). Collins. Glasgow
  • The Oxford Duden German Dictionary. (2005). Oxford University Press. Oxford 

• A monolingual dictionary is strongly recommended, e.g.
  • Langenscheidt's Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache. (2015). Langenscheidt. Munich. 
  • Duden – Deutsches Universalwörterbuch. 8th edition.  (2015). Duden

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Formative work and feedback

• Formative exercises will be assigned on a weekly basis.
• Written comments and mark on the University scale given to individual students for practice essays, with opportunity for individual consultation.
• Model answers may be given for class exercises with class discussion of difficulties.
• Formative written work will be returned within two weeks.
• Oral commentary and dialogue within class on oral and written work. Given immediately both to individuals and to the group.
• Oral commentary and dialogue on seminar presentation, written feedback sheet given to the individual presenter following the seminar.

Summative Assessment and feedback

There are three components to the final assessment:

• Coursework, due in week 1 of Term 2
  • Weight: 30%
• Oral Presentation in Term 3
  • Weight: 30%
• A closed 3-hour exam, taken in Term 3
  • Weight: 40%
• Individuals will be given feedback sheet for oral examination, and will be allowed to see their exam paper with comments, under supervision, at an appointed date after the external examiner has reviewed the papers.