GER20060 German Language II a

Academic Year 2020/2021

This is a level 2 module for programme students of German and other subjects. International students are welcome to take this module and should contact the module coordinator if in doubt about their level. Building on the linguistic skills and language-learning strategies acquired during the non-beginners level 1 modules GER10010 and GER10020 (or equivalent), it consolidates level B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and moves towards level B2. Using the integrated textbook and workbook "Mittelpunkt neu B2.1" and supplementary print and online media, it develops writing, reading, oral and aural skills during 3 weekly class hours, 1 of focuses solely on pronunciation, spoken production and interaction. In class and during autonomous learning, students engage with written texts and audio-visual material on general topics, current affairs and the world of work, leading to the production of coherent texts where the focus is on expression and grammatical control. Preparation will also commence for the Erasmus year in a German-speaking environment. Students who achieve at least a B grade in this module will be deemed to be progressing towards level B2 of the CEFR.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module students will be able to

- employ new grammatical structures, vocabulary and expressions in order to produce concise and coherent written texts;
- summarise the main ideas of a text using one's own words;
- formulate in writing viewpoints on topical issues using appropriate vocabulary;
- understand and respond to audio and written material pitched at intermediate level;
- interact with an increasing degree of oral fluency and spontaneity on topics covered during the module;
- build in the feedback from regularly submitted homework and acquire a heightened ability to self-correct.

Indicative Module Content:

The module is divided into 3 blocks, each block dealing with the topics and associated grammatical points in selected chapters of "Mittelpunkt neu B2.1". All 4 skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) will be practised. Grammar points will be introduced via short recorded presentations.
Assessment involves regular homework, an online test (comprehension and grammar), an oral exam simulating a job interview, and a written assignment around the topic of work.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

20

Conversation Class

10

Specified Learning Activities

40

Autonomous Student Learning

35

Total

105

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In order to benefit from the learning experience, students need to attend fully and participate actively. Students are expected to work consistently and independently outside of class time, and engage with the tasks and material on Brightspace.
Teaching will be conducted both on campus and online in the virtual classroom. Students unable to attend on campus will be supported in their learning.
Monday and Wednesday hours: one group will be on campus on Mondays and online on Wednesdays; the other online on Mondays and on campus on Wednesdays. Students must register for a particular pairing and should stick to that, unless circumstances intervene and physical attendance is impossible -- in which case online attendance in the other group will be possible.
Spoken German (conversation) hours: each hour has 2 very small groups, one online and one on campus.

The classes are constructed around task-based activities, small group discussion, and include peer learning. Self-assessment using the CEFR is carried out at the start of the module, and again towards the end of the module. Individual feedback will be given to homework submission, and students are encouraged to resubmit exercises in order to learn from the corrections. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students who have not completed level 1 German-language modules must contact the module co-ordinator.

Standard of German equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
GER10020 - German Language I b

Incompatibles:
GER10120 - Spoken German for Beginners, GER20170 - Accelerated German Ex-Beginner, GER20180 - Intensive German Ex-Beginners, GER20240 - German for Ex-Beginners A, GER20250 - German for Ex-Beginners B, LANG10110 - German Gen Purp 4, LANG10130 - German Gen Purp 2, LANG20250 - German Gen Purp 3, LANG20450 - German for General Purposes 4


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Homework: stipulated minimum number of homeworks submitted at the designated time. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10

Assignment: Written assignment on topic of work, summarising a selected text and giving personal opinion to set questions. This will link up with the oral exam (simulated job interview). Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

40

Oral Examination: Roleplay (job interview for one of three job adverts distributed in advance), including CV.
To take place in the virtual classroom during Mon/Wed class times in week 12, including Wed. 17:00.
Week 12 n/a Graded No

25

Class Test: Online class test in Monday of week 7: reading comprehension (MCQs, matching etc.) and grammar gap test. Week 7 n/a Graded No

25


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

All submitted homework on time (via Brightspace) will be corrected and returned with comments. It may be corrected and resubmitted. Self- and peer-assessment according to agreed criteria will be carried out periodically in class. Websites with self-correcting grammar exercises will be recommended. The spoken German classes will deal with other topical issues, include pronunciation work, and increasingly lead up to the oral exam.

The below text book should be purchased from the Campus Bookshop prior to the first class and be brought to all subsequent classes:

Mittelpunkt neu B2.1. Deutsch als Fremdsprache für Fortgeschrittene. Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch mit Audio CD (Stuttgart: Klett, 2018).

The recommended grammar (also available from the Campus Bookshop) is:
Martin Durrell, Katrin Kohl, Claudia Kaiser & Gudrun Loftus: Essential German Grammar (Oxford: Routledge, 2015)

Students should also be in possession of a LARGE hardback bilingual (e.g. Collins, Oxford or PONS) or monolingual (e.g. Duden, Langenscheidt) dictionary. Small dictionaries are not sufficient at this level.