Learning German 2 (LL118)
Summary
Level:
This module will be offered to undergraduates with some prior knowledge of German (i.e. 2-3 years evening course or rusty O or GCSE level or equivalent) or who have successfully completed Learning German 1.
Main Objectives:
This is the second in a series of German modules at different levels to be offered as part of the University's commitment to a foreign language entitlement. The objectives of the module are to enable the students to develop competence in a range of language tasks performed in familiar work and social contexts, to extend skills in reading and listening comprehension and to consolidate and extend the knowledge and use of German grammar and syntax.
Assessment Scheme:
3 exams and an oral test. Students requiring 30 CREDITS are required to do an additional exam.
Weighting:
24 CREDITS or, with additional assessed work: 30 CREDITS
Teaching:
One seminar per week of 2 hours' duration over 23 weeks plus 2 hours independent learning per week
Availability/Location of module within courses:
This module is available as an approved option in undergraduate programmes for departments in the Faculties of Arts, Sciences and Social Studies, commencing Week 2, Term 1. It is available as a day-time or an evening module.
Course Description:
It will give the students the chance to spend some time learning and reinforcing the basics of the German language. The module will lead on naturally to the next stage of learning through Learning German 3 but will also offer an opportunity for students not specialising in foreign languages to improve their communicative competence in German as a supplement to their studies in other spheres. For those students intending to travel to Germany either for study or on work placements, this module can work as a refresher, and could be essential in confidence-building for communicating with native speakers abroad.
Information regarding contemporary German society and customs will be provided through the audio-visual and written supports used for the course. There will also be a guided reading programme which will include texts of a wide range of registers.
Communicative skills
- Asking and giving information;
- likes and dislikes;
- describing and comparing people and places;
- inviting people;
- discussing plans and data;
- describing professional activities and needs;
- discussing;
- convincing;
- interviewing;
- reporting events.
- Understanding and analysing a text;
- retrieving information and summarising;
- writing messages, invitation and letters.
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Topical content
- Telephone language;
- work;
- holidays;
- looking for a flat;
- describing rooms/houses;
- sport and leisure;
- job applications;
- family and relationships;
- recent German history;
- health;
- education;
- festivals and customs.
Grammar
This will include:
- Compound nouns;
- modal verbs comparatives and superlatives;
- word order;
- adjectives and adjectival endings;
- separable verbs;
- perfect tense;
- subordinate clauses;
- future tense;
- cases.
Course Texts:
- "Passwort Deutsch 2", U. Albrecht at al. Ernst Klett International, Stuttgart
- "English Grammar for Students of German", C. Zorach and C. Melin, Olivia and Hill Press
- Dictionary, The Collins German/English, English-German Dictionary
Teaching:
One seminar per week of 2 hours' duration over 3 Terms - 25 weeks
This class contact time should be supplemented by at least 2 hours' structured and monitored independent learning in the Language Centre's Open-Access Suite.
Assessment:
Students will be required to complete 3 assessment tests, one per term. In addition students requiring 30 CATS will do an extra piece of assessed work. The assessment tests will constitute 40% of the overall marks and the examination will constitute the remaining 60% of the final mark. The assessment tests will cover a range of skills including listening and reading comprehension, letter-writing and translation, and oral work.
Examination
The 2 hour examination will consist of a reading comprehension with multiple tasks which may include translation and a short composition/letter- writing task.
The use of a recommended bilingual (German/English) dictionary is allowed in the examination.