Module Information

Certain classes focus on written skills: here the aim is to further the student's understanding and active awareness of contemporary German vocabulary, idiom and syntax in ways that are varied and interesting. Other classes focus on conversational skills, notably the oral class where the priority is to develop confident self-expression in a relaxed but active atmosphere.

A weekly class, which utilises the course book and other selected material, seeks to develop expression by discussion and by the completion of exercises that include gap-filling description and oral commentary, while the written assignments for this class comprise comprehension, precis, essay writing and translation from German. This is complemented by a fortnightly class which is primarily devoted to translation into German and in which accuracy is stressed. Students will have several written assignments and are required to do assessed work regularly on CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) in the Language Laboratory.

Listening comprehension (a skill of considerable importance for the Year Abroad) will be practised weekly during the year in class. It will be assessed by tests which will contribute 20% of the total module marks. You are expected and strongly advised to practise listening comprehension in your time (e.g. in the language laboratories): this is a skill where practise does indeed make perfect.

Note: Students are expected to obtain a card key for access after 5pm to the Language Laboratory and computer terminals.

In the weekly oral class and the debate/discussion meetings students are required to offer presentations in German on given topics and are expected to participate actively in role play games and discussions relating to contemporary issues.