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GER10020

Academic Year 2024/2025

German Language I b (GER10020)

Subject:
German
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Joseph Twist
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

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.

In-module repeats of select component elements may be made available during this module for students.
Any in-module repeat is only available to students who have already sat and failed an in-term component; it carries a one-grade penalty; and it does not extend to orals or RDS exams.

About this Module

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
Lectures

12

Small Group

24

Specified Learning Activities

50

Autonomous Student Learning

39

Total

125


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 Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): grammar and free-writing exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No
Practical Skills Assessment: Oral exam Week 12 Graded No
20
No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In-class grammar and reading comprehension test Week 6 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
15
No
Participation in Learning Activities: Demonstration of sufficient participation in classroom activities and completion of homework Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
15
No

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

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Spring External & School Exams Offering 1 Week(s) - 25 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 09:50