MLG1001 - German Language
2010/1 Module description
| Lecturer(s) | Dr Sara Smart , Mr Christian Mo |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 30 |
| ECTS Value | 15 |
| Pre-requisites | |
| Co-requisites | na |
| Duration of Module | 22 weeks |
| Total Student Study Time | 300 hours, including 20 x 1-hour grammar lectures, 20 x 1- hour grammar classes, 20 x 1-hour language classes based on the study of German texts dealing with the history, politics and culture of Germany and Austria, and 20 x 1-hour oral classes plus revision. |
Module aims
To reinforce and extend the level of the four skills - writing, reading, listening and speaking -
achieved at 'A' level.
To consolidate the student's understanding of German grammar, and facilitate his/her application
of this to written and oral tasks.
To increase the student's level of comprehension of written and spoken German.
To enhance the student's ability to communicate in accurate German in a clear and structured
manner.
To expand the student's vocabulary in German.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
A. Module-Specific Skills:
1. Write and speak German with increased accuracy and fluency.
2. Apply knowledge of a range of grammatical features of the target language, including some
complex or advanced structures, to a range of linguistic exercises.
3. Use the target language in a range of linguistic exercises (including a short essay, translation into
German).
4. Use bilingual and monolingual dictionaries to expand vocabulary, establish basic meanings, and
find key grammatical information.
5. Give an oral presentation in German to a small group of listeners, and engage in debate on the
issues raised in the presentation.
6. Express ideas and opinions in the German language, in oral and written form, responding to
texts dealing with the history, culture and politics of Germany and Austria, the ideas of others in
the group, and the questions of the tutor.
B. Discipline-Specific Skills:
1. Understand a broad range of linguistic terminology, and apply this to verbal and written work.
2. Keep abreast of current affairs by engaging with the German-language media (printed and
electronic, including television and radio).
C. Personal and Key Skills:
1. Communicate information in verbal and written form in a foreign language.
2. Express and defend opinions on a range of current issues.
3. Advance his/her linguistic competence independently, with guidance from course tutors.
4. Use IT skills effectively to support language development.
Learning and teaching methods
The module is taught through four types of class.
First, the grammar lectures offer students a grounding in the basics of German grammar, thus
providing the foundation for Honours degree language work.
Second, the grammar practice hours provide opportunity for students to practise the points
discussed in the lecture. Students work individually and in groups at tackling a range of linguistic
exercises.
In the third language hour students engage in detailed linguistic analysis of a series of texts
focusing on the history, politics and culture of Germany and Austria. These texts provide the basis
for the regular written exercises (translation into German, translation into English, essay writing).
Through regular written work, marked and returned by the course tutors, students learn to
recognise and rectify their mistakes.
In the fourth class, the focus is on oral German: students work in small groups with a Lektor and
are asked to prepare short talks or Referate and practise speaking German in discussions and role
plays. In the oral classes students also practise their listening comprehension skills and
pronunciation.
Because independent work is essential to language acquisition, students are encouraged to make
full use of the FLC's resource area, of the Department's computer-based self-study system, and of
the German-language newspapers and magazines available in the University Library and through
the Internet.
Assignments and assessment
Formative or %
Contribution:
Form of Assessment: Size of the
assessment
e.g.
duration/length
ILO's assessed
by this
assessment:
Feedback method:
Formative 5 homeworks per
term
variable All ILOs
referring to
written work
Written and class
discussion
Formative Weekly grammar
test
c. 20 questions M-S , 1-3, D-S
1, PK 1,3 and 4
Class discussion
25% Oral, includes
aural
comprehension test
and
Referate (class
presentations)
Continuous M-S 1, 5; D-S
1; PK 1-2
Verbal and
feedback sheets
25% 2 grammar and
vocabulary tests
(one in January, one
in May)
1 hour each M-S 1- 3, D-S
1, P K 1, 3-4
Written and class
discussion
50% Written examination 2 hours All ILOs
referring to
written work
Exam feedback
sheet.
Syllabus plan
Term 1
Grammar lectures cover: 1. gender of nouns, 2. plural of nouns, 3. the case system, 4. the definite
and indefinite articles and their equivalents, 5. verbs and tense, 6. adjective endings, 7.
prepositions and case, 8. verbs working with prepositions, 9. weak masculine nouns, 10.
conjunctions and subordinate clauses.
Term 2
Grammar lectures cover: 1. adjectival nouns, 2. personal pronouns, 3. relative pronouns, 4.
interrogatives, 5. the passive, 6. dative constructions, 7. the subjunctive and conditional clauses, 8.
modal verbs in the indicative, 9. modal verbs in the subjunctive.
Over the two terms students practise translation into English and German and essay writing in
German.
Indicative basic reading list
Indicative basic reading list:
A grammar to accompany the lectures as well as all texts discussed in class are supplied by the
Department and are available on-line. Grammar exercises are also available on-line.
Students may find the following grammar useful:Martin Durrell, Katrin Kohl and Gudrun Loftus,
Essential German Grammar (London: Arnold, 2002).
Recommended dictionary: Collins German Dictionary Complete and Unabridged (Glasgow:
HarperCollins, 1999)
Important please note
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the module descriptors for the Online Module Selection process, please be aware that on rare occasions it may be necessary to remove proposed modules for reasons beyond our control. In addition, there are still some new modules going through the accreditation process. These will be offered in due course by the relevant discipline.
All modules displayed below have been approved by the approval process but may require further minor amendments before the commencement of teaching.
We are committed to providing an outstanding education and high quality teaching. You can find out details of your modules and any potential changes on these pages. If you are a returning student, joining after the first year or a postgraduate student details of your module changes will be provided in August.
Foreign Language Centre modules
Term 1 module codes listed above ending with C, i.e. FLF1115C, are only available to outbound students who are away in Term 2. Students studying all year must select the standard module across both Term 1 and 2.