Module Identifier GE30130  
Module Title GERMAN LANGUAGE  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Winifred V Davies  
Semester Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)  
Pre-Requisite (Normally) Eligibility for entry to Level 3 German.  
Course delivery Seminars / Tutorials   77  
Assessment Semester Exam   2x2 Hours   30%  
  Semester Assessment   Continuous Assessment: 30%: regular work assigngments (6 written assignments, 6 class tests) 10%: atendance, active contribution and performance in the small groups   40%  
  Semester Assessment   Oral Examination: The oral Examination takes the form of a 20-minute interview with two members of staff (one of whom may be the external examiner, or whom the external examiner may join). 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 the presentation itself. The topic will be drawn from one of the 10-12 topics covered during the final-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 30 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.   30%  
  Supplementary Exam   3 Hours Supplementary examinations consist of one three hour paper (unless only the oral component is failed in which case the supplementary examination will be an oral exam)   100%  

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, if you have made satisfactory progress, you will be able to:

- quantify your own improvement in German vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and spoken language since before going abroad
- translate idiomatically into and out of German, using factual or fictional texts
- translate selected unseen passages in class
- prepare passages for translation and discussion in class
- explain and justify your own choice and use of different linguistic registers
- demonstrate active command of stylistic levels of German
- demonstrate competence in preparing effectively for essay-writing: structuring work, constructing logical argument and expressing ideas in the appropriate linguistic register
- apply language skills acquired in German, and during the year abroad, with particular emphasis on achieving as native-like a pronunciation as possible
- express yourself with confidence using a rich and varied vocabulary
- apply orally the complex vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced in written classes
- present independently prepared material in spoken or written German
- analyse and discuss complex German texts
- give detailed insight into German cultural and political affairs

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

This is a thin module with 3 hours per week and 1 hour per fortnight extending over Semesters 1 and 2. The fortnightly class will be devoted to essay-writing. Two weekly classes will be devoted to teaching grammar and students will do a range of exercises designed to consolidate their linguistic and stylistic competence, e.g. translating, precis-writing, report-writing, debating. The whole class will be taught together in these hours. In 1 of the weekly hours students will be divided into small groups and will do a range of listening/oral exercises. All classes will be devoted to the integrated study of the German language in its cultural context. Continuous assessment marks will be derived from a variety of exercises, many carried out in or directly arising from class work, such as: unseen translations; report-writing; responses to topical news items (in broadcast, print or internet media); group presentations, etc. There will be some assignments to be completed at home in the traditional manner or within a limited time (akin to ‘take-away’ examinations).

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Consultation
W. Davies. Essay-writing in German. MUP
Duden. Stilworterbuch.
M. Durrell. Using German. CUP
M. Durrell. (2000) Using German Synonyms. CUP
A.E. Hammer, revised by M. Durrell. German Grammar and Usage. Edward Arnold
R.B. Farrell. Dictionary of German Synonyms. CUP
One of the following:.
The New Collins German-English, English-German Dictionary.
The Oxford-Duden Dictionary (German-English, English-German).