Aims

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

- Focus on developing the students' written communicative and oral communicative competences in the target language (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range, register and pronunciation);
- Facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with
speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken media. This includes students’ ability to use and understand authentic material and produce their own written and spoken output.
- Prepare students for the future study of the target language (including written and oral communicative skills, and intercultural awareness) and for their future learning experience (including independent learning and study skills; reflective skills and self-regulation);

This module is available to all students with an A-level or equivalent in the target language.

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics:
1. From the course book:
- Menschen in Deutschland
- Arbeit und Beruf
- Vergangenheit heute
- Der fast perfekte Mensch

2.
Current affairs

This course will be taught predominantly in GERMAN. This course will be assessed in GERMAN.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Synchronous language seminars, either on campus if possible or online in case it becomes necessary for the teaching format to change in light of the public health situation.

2. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on communication skills while the recorded lecture materials and drop-ins will focus on key study skills and the formal structures of the language. All four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking are fully integrated in the language seminars, associated guided work and preparation.

3. Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through the means of online grammar videos
and related activities, online guided tasks, pair and group work, assessment preparation and completion, and selfstudy, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Canvas and in the Language Resource Centre. Particular initiative is expected from students at this level, e.g. course participants will be asked to contribute their own materials to the classes and activities.

4. All students will be supported in their study of formal and informal aspects of the German language and their study skills via a weekly synchronous drop-in surgery.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The content of the 3-4 minute oral component (40%) will be based on 6-8minutes of video material. This oral component will test students’ ability to listen and understand video sources (excluding written text) and to respond appropriately by producing and present their own output orally in the form of a video. This assessment provides summative information to staff and student on students’ achievement in speaking and listening in the module.

- The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (60%) will test the students’ reading, grammar and written skills. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled. This formal examination provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in reading / grammar and writing in the target language in this module.