German Language and Cultures: Beginner - LFA00247L

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Module summary

This course is aimed at students who have no or little previous knowledge of German. The module aims to take students rapidly to about A1-level standard of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), in the understanding and use of written and spoken German.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2024-25
B	Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

This module will steadily build the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to communicate and interact in German over the course of a semester. It will focus on developing a communicative competence at beginner level, to about A1-level standard of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Students will engage, individually and in groups, in communicative activities and tasks emphasising three modes of communication:

• reception activities (oral, audio-video, and reading comprehension),

• production activities (oral and written production),

• interaction activities (oral, written, and online interaction).

The mediums of instruction are English and German.

Module learning outcomes

• Ability to understand everyday expressions and short, simple informational material and texts (e.g., lifestyle, hobbies, sports, travel).

• Ability to produce short simple phrases about people and places and about themselves (e.g., name, address, family, nationality), to describe themselves as well as simple aspects of their everyday life in a series of simple sentences prepared in advance.

• Ability to interact in a simple way and to ask and answer simple questions about themselves and their daily routines.

• Ability to recognise basic cultural differences (e.g., differing ways of numbering, measuring distance, telling the time, etc.) and to establish basic social contact by using the simplest everyday polite forms of greetings, farewells, and introductions.

Module content

Topics may include:

• Introducing oneself (family, friends, study, or work) in simple terms and understanding when others tell you about themselves.

• Describing people, places, objects, and situations.

• Telling the time and date.

• Ordering food and drinks, booking a table, and understanding menus.

• Asking the way and understanding directions.

• Making travel arrangements, buying tickets, and checking travel options.

• Talking about past events.

• Finding out social etiquette in various situations that might differ from other countries.

• Feeling confident about pronouncing German correctly.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)	60
Oral presentation/seminar/exam	40

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)	60
Oral presentation/seminar/exam	40

Module feedback

Students’ performance will be monitored through formative work throughout the semester and assessed via end-of-semester exams. Students will be given written feedback and marks for their work within the University mandated schedule.

Indicative reading

Course materials and guided readings will be provided by the module convenors via the VLE at the start of the semester.