GER10020 German Language I b

Academic Year 2022/2023

This is a level 1 module for students who have studied German to Leaving Cert level or have an equivalent standard. GER10010 German Language Ia is not a prerequisite for this module, although this module builds on the work from Ia. GER10020 aims to provide a strong foundation for the study of German language (and culture) at third level, and is also available as an elective for those who want to improve their German. Reading, writing, oral, aural and grammar competences are taught in an integrated way, using both a coursebook and authentic materials that provide socio-cultural insights into the German-speaking world. Students will engage with different text types and audio/visual sources on a variety of topics. The grammar covered in this module focuses verb forms, accurate declination and varied complex sentence structures. Students will learn how to discuss authentic written texts from newspaper articles or magazines orally. To progress well in this module, students will need to actively participate in class and also develop strategies for independent learning. Students who have achieved at least a B grade in this module are deemed to have reached level B1.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

write and speak with an adequate level of grammatical accuracy and control;
use and recognize a variety of complex sentence structures;
demonstrate an understanding of the main points and some detail in both written and oral communication when the focus is on familiar topics that are covered in the module or of personal interest;
produce simple coherent written texts and oral presentations employing appropriate tenses and sentence structures on topics that are covered in the module or of personal interest;
express and justify an opinion on relevant topics;
participate in free discussion on familiar topics, using appropriate vocabulary and demonstrating reasonable communicative competency;
demonstrate an ability to work independently on grammatical topics and vocabulary building.


Indicative Module Content:

Thematic topics include community, civil society, accommodation, sport, culture.

Grammar topics include different categories of verbs, subordinate clauses, adjectival endings, comparatives/superlatives, the passive.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

36

Conversation Class

0

Specified Learning Activities

52

Autonomous Student Learning

12

Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Grammar and thematic content are taught in an integrated way through the coursebook Mittelpunkt neu B1+, with a separate conversation class each week to focus on oral practice.

Students will engage with a variety of written and audio/visual texts, taken from the coursebook and from authentic sources.

There is a strong emphasis on group-work in class.

Classes are taught primarily through German.

Contact hours will be taught in person on campus, depending on UCD and Government health guidelines. There will be supplementary tasks online in Brightspace. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Leaving Certificate Higher Level German or equivalent

Learning Recommendations:

Students who did not take the Higher Level German Leaving Cert should attend an advisory session in the German section before or during the first week of the semester in order to be advised on the suitability of this module.
Students who did not complete the module German Language I a should talk to the module coordinator before or during the first week of the semester to be placed in an appropriate group.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
GER10110 - German Beginners B, GER20180 - Intensive German Ex-Beginners, GER20240 - German for Ex-Beginners A, GER20250 - German for Ex-Beginners B, LANG10100 - German Gen Purp 1, LANG10110 - German Gen Purp 4, LANG10130 - German Gen Purp 2, LANG20450 - German for General Purposes 4


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: Free-writing and grammar (in-person) exam. 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

50

Class Test: Reading comprehension exam Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

15

Oral Examination: Discussion of authentic texts and general discussion on topics studied Unspecified n/a Graded No

25

Portfolio: Regular homework exercises and final portfolio of corrected essays Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn 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
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual written feedback and oral group feedback, together with peer-to-peer feedback on occasion, is given after all written homework in preparation for the exam and portfolio. Oral feedback is given throughout class activities.

Mittelpunkt Neu B1+: Deutsch als Fremdsprache für Fortgeschrittene: Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch + Audio-CD zum Arbeitsbuch (Klett). ISBN: 978-3-12-676645-6
Essential German Grammar. 2nd ed. Milton Park: Routledge, 2015. (available in the UCD Campus Bookshop). ISBN: 978-1-138-78581
Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Langenscheidt)
Collins English/German-German/English dictionary (Collins)
Name Role
Dr Helga Muellneritsch Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Gillian Pye Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Joseph Twist Lecturer / Co-Lecturer