| Unit name | German Language post ab initio |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GERM20032 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Mr. Langner |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
GERM19003 German ab initio |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of German |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will practise and develop students’ oral, aural, reading, writing and translation skills in the language specified as a follow on to the ab initio language unit taken in Year 1. The unit will further develop students’ understanding of grammar and cultural background of the language specified.
Students will:
1. be able to communicate orally in the target language with a good degree of accuracy and fluency
2. be able to communicate in writing in the target language with a good degree of accuracy and fluency.
3. be able to work at an upper intermediate level with authentic material and retrieve necessary information.
4. have acquired knowledge and awareness of the general social and cultural background of the target language.
5. be able to respond to, understand and interpret written texts at an upper intermediate level and mediate between the target language and English in an effective manner.
Overall, students will attain a level comparable to B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
3 hours of seminars per week.
The communicative approach will be used; learners will be involved in a variety of interactive and stimulating activities with maximum use of the target language. This will be supported by e-learning opportunities; a Blackboard site, wikis, blogs and use of self-study facilities.
One 3 hour exam (75%) plus class tests (25%)
The four skills are Composition, Translation, Guided Writing and Oral/Aural. They are assigned equal weighting for the purposes of assessment (25% each).
1. Composition - assesses the students’ ability to communicate in the longer written form in the target language. Tested by formal examination (25%). This assesses ILOs 2, 3 and 4.
2. Translation - assesses the students’ ability to translate accurately and fluently into and out of the target language. Tested by formal examination (25%). This assesses ILOs 3, 4 and 5.
3. Guided Writing - assesses the students’ skills in reading comprehension and in expressing material in the target language. It also tests students’ metalinguistic and lexical competence. Tested by formal examination (25%). This assesses ILOs 2, 3, 4 and 5.
4. Oral/Aural - assesses the students’ verbal, listening and comprehension skills. Tested by one exam conducted in class (for aural = 30%) and one oral exam conducted in class (oral= 70%) at the end of the summer teaching block. This assesses ILOs 1, 3, 4 and 5.
In order to progress into Year 3, students would need to achieve an overall pass mark (40) and to have attempted all assessment components. Marks of below 40 in any of the four language skills would not prevent a student from progressing, as long as the overall average remained above 40 and the student has attempted all components of assessment. Students who receive an overall mark of below 40 will normally be required to re-sit all failed or missed components.
Selection of dedicated material prepared in-house (SML). Grammar texts and dictionaries as appropriate to language area.
