Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

This module is a continuation from GER1065 (HE Entry Level) German I, and students are expected to have the basic understanding and knowledge of German. Students with a GCSE or equivalent in German could take this module.
Students whose first language is German, and received secondary education taught in German, cannot take this module.

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degree offered in SML this module will:

- Focus on developing the students' communicative competence in the foreign language (including fluency, grammar and lexical accuracy, range and pronunciation);
- Prepare students for the future study of the language (written communicative and oral / aural skills);
- Facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken output.
- Develop independent language learning strategies.

This is a post-beginners German module suitable for students who have completed who have completed GER1065 or who have an intermediate level in the language. This is a general language class offering students the opportunity to study and practise German(speaking, reading, writing and listening skills) for four weekly contact hours.

Outline Of Syllabus

Examples of themes and communication skills addressed in the module include:

- Talking (including listening) and writing about city life.
- Asking for/ giving directions: finding your way in a city.
- Expressing reactions and opinions in speaking and writing.
- Making requests formally and informally.
- Referring to past and future events (including plans and intentions, in speaking and writing).
- Writing informal letters, descriptions, simple reports and narratives.
- Talking (including listening) and writing about the environment.
- Talking (including listening) and writing about key aspects of the culture of German-speaking countries.
- Talking (including listening) and writing about cultural diversity.
- Talking (including listening) and writing about hypothetical situations, predictions and probabilities.
- Talking (including listening) and writing about likes and preferences.
- Talking (including listening) and writing about jobs and careers.

Please note that tasks concerning talking involve both speaking and listening.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module, students will have had the opportunity to acquire:

- A body of vocabulary sufficient to allow the learner to communicate orally and in writing with confidence at an independent user level;
- An understanding of key traditional grammatical concepts and sufficient grasp of the functioning of the language to be able to interact with confidence and some flexibility at the level described above and enough knowledge of metalanguage to prepare for more complex discussion of traditional grammatical concepts;
- Sufficient familiarity with exponents of functional and notional syllabus to allow the learner to communicate his or her language needs clearly at independent user level;
- Further knowledge of the cultures of German-speaking countries.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

- communicate his or her needs and opinions simply and clearly in speech or in writing with some regard to appropriateness of register;
- understand the gist of authentic written and spoken text and have sufficient linguistic tools to be able to use this information for his or her own purposes;
- deal with most situations which occur whilst travelling in the countries where German is spoken;
- relate in speech or in writing events that took place in the past;
- discuss or write about future and hypothetical events;
- discuss in speech or writing simple opinions about topical issues;
- work as a team member to solve a problem;
- describe a simple process using the present tense and the imperfect of the passive voice;
- make a simple oral presentation on a topic of interest.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Rationale:

- Linguistic knowledge and the ability to use language effectively (i.e. linguistic skills) are intrinsically linked.
- Teaching and learning these outcomes (knowledge and skills) effectively implies presenting, practising and consolidating them via language classes, structured guided learning and guided independent study as indicated above.

Relationship of Teaching and Learning Methods to Learning Outcomes:

- The integration of linguistic knowledge i.e. vocabulary, grammar, functions, notions and knowledge of the cultures in German-speaking countries and the key skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening is appropriately served by the language classes through suitable presentations and plenty of practice through individual, pair and group work.
- In common with other foreign languages, German requires substantial ’structured guided learning’ and ‘guided independent study’. Through this study:
(1) the knowledge introduced and practised in the classes is previewed, revised, consolidated and expanded.
(2) students are also given opportunities to practise further reading, writing and listening skills.
(3) students learn to evaluate their own performance and develop a range of strategies for language learning.

- To ensure the learning of the above outcomes is effective, formative feedback is given in two ways:
(1) indirectly through self-assessment e.g. through internet and commercially available answer keys and
(2) directly by the teacher e.g. in the writing skills exercises which students carry out on a regular basis.

THIS COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED IN GERMAN AND ENGLISH

If necessary, all teaching can be delivered online.

* (Continued from above) Includes ‘readings from published work authored for this purpose covering key concepts and content; a curated set of external resources or activities; student tasks to support and reinforce understanding of key concepts’

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge outcomes will be assessed by each of the modes of assessment defined above.

- Reading, grammar and writing – written examination. The written examination will test students’ ability to read and understand texts in the target language, and to write in the target language. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check/grammar check has been disabled.

-Listening – aural examination. This assessment will test students’ ability to listen and to understand audio sources and to respond appropriately in written form.

- Speaking – oral examination. This assessment will test students’ ability to produce and present their own output orally.

These assessment methods are commonly used in language testing and are appropriate to the individual skills being assessed.

General Notes

N/A