Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminars / Tutorials | 1 weekly + 1 fortnightly hour = core |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 50%: regular work assignments (10 written assignments); 10%: attendance, active contribution and performance in small groups; 20%: listening comprehension. Continuous Assessment: | 80% |
| Semester Exam | The oral examination takes the form of a 20-minute interview with the oral class tutor. During this interview the candidate will be asked: (a) to offer a brief presentation (maximum 5-7 minutes), in German, on a selected topic and (b) to engage in a general conversation, arising in the first instance from one of the 6-8 topics covered during the second-year oral classes. Only one topic will be provided per candidate. Candidates thus need to be prepared to discuss a wide range of topics. The presentation topic will be provided to the candidate 20 minutes before the examination (exact arrangements will be on the notice-board well before the examination). Candidates are reminded that they are not allowed to read from a script; they may not bring extensive notes to the examination (notes will be collected at the end of the examination); they must not deliver a previously learnt speech. The presentation should lead into (and be constructed so as to lead into) a conversation and further discussion of the topic. A more general conversation will follow. Oral Examination: | 20% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours 1 x 3-hour written examination (unless ONLY the oral component is failed, in which case the supplementary exam will be an oral examination). | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, if you have made satisfactory progress, you will be able to:
- identify your own improvement in German vocabulary and grammatical knowledge in written - and spoken language
- differentiate between major stylistic levels of German
- recognise and understand different linguistic registers in German
- translate selected German passages showing idiomatic, authentic style and grammatical usage
- present independently prepared material in spoken or written German
- discuss and debate topical issues in German
- summarise in your own words selected pieces of written or spoken German
- give your own insights into contemporary German life and culture
- take part in role-plays in German
- enter into conversation in German with confidence in your ability to express youself
Language modules have, as an integral part of their structure, regular homework assignments and class tests as well as end of year examinations. All assessment is designed to measure your progress against learning outcomes at the appropriate level.
Brief description
Listening comprehension (a skill of considerable importance for the Intercalary Year) will be practised from time to time during the year in class. It will be assessed by tests which will contribute 20% of the total marks for the module. You are expected and strongly advised to practise listening comprehension in your time (e.g. in the Language Resource Centre).
Aims
1. To consolidate students' knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary, with the ultimate aim of fostering accuracy in writing German.
2. To train students to translate accurately into English (or German) passages of continuous German (English) prose. Accuracy refers to content, idiom and style, and to grammatical usage, i.e. the translation ought to include all the information in the original and this ought to be expressed in English (German) that sounds as if a native-speaker had written it, that is grammatically correct, and is as formal or informal as the original.
3. To develop students' oral competence.
Reading List
Should Be Purchasedem: Abchlusskurs Deutsch als Fremdsprache Max Hueber Verlag Primo search Recommended Text
Langenscheidts Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdesprache Primo search A.E. Hammer . Revised by M. Durrell. German Grammar and Usage Edward Arnold - paperback Primo search Durrell, M. et al. (2002) Essential German Grammar. Arnold Primo search The New Collins German-English, English-German Dictionary OR The Oxford-Duden Dictionary (German-English, English-German)
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5