GER20060 German Language II a

Academic Year 2022/2023

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. It will use the textbooks (incl. workbook & intensive trainer), Aspekte neu B2: Lehrbuch mit DVD; Aspekte neu B2: Mittelstufe. Arbeitsbuch mit Audio-CD; and Aspekte neu B2: Intensivtrainer. Supplementary print and online media will also be introduced periodically. This module aims to develops writing, reading, oral and aural skills during 2 weekly class hours. 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. In addition to formal accuracy, strong emphasis will be placed on training pronunciation in order to enable you to be understood and communicate with confidence in a German-speaking environment. This module and its successor in the Spring term, GER 20070, are designed to bring students' level of German to the B2 standard required 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;
- increase sensitivity to pronunciation; identify areas of pronunciation where practice and further
training are needed, but also recognise the progress being made;
- 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 "Aspekte neu B2 Mittelstufe". 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.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

30
Specified Learning Activities

45
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

115
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 (face-to-face).

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. 
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
Oral Examination: Roleplay (job interview for one of three job adverts distributed in advance), including CV.
Oral exam will take place during Mon/Wed class times in week 12, including Wed. 17:00-18:00		 Week 12 n/a Graded No

25
Continuous Assessment: Homework: stipulated minimum number of homeworks submitted at the designated time. Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

10
Examination: Written assignment on a topic related to the curriculum, summarising a selected text and giving personal opinion to set questions. 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

45
Class Test: Test in Monday of week 7: reading comprehension (MCQs, matching etc.) and grammar gap test. Week 7 n/a Graded No

20

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. 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 three textbooks below should be purchased from the Campus Bookshop prior to the first class and be brought to all subsequent classes:

1. Aspekte neu. Mittelstufe Deutsch. Lehrbuch mit DVD B2 (Stuttgart: Klett, 2018)
2. Aspekte neu B2. Arbeitsbuch mit Audio-CD
3. Aspekte neu. Mittelstufe Deutsch. Intensivtrainer B2 (Stuttgart: Klett, 2018)
(NB. These textbooks will also be used in the Spring Trimester for German Language IIb, GER 20070).

In addition to these, an excellent Grammar book and a large dictionary are essential, and we strongly recommend the following:

Martin Durrell, Hammer's German Grammar and Usage,
ISBN 9780367150266
(London: Routledge, 2021 = 7th edition). A number of these have been ordered for the Campus Bookshop and all students intending to continue with German to degree level should invest in this book; it will be an invaluable resource not just for this module, but as you progress to advanced level in German during your year abroad and your final year in German.

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.

* You are also encouraged to purchase an optional Grammar exercise book which corresponds to the previous edition of Hammer's Grammar, but will also be useful for the 2021 7th edition:
4th Edition:
Martin Durrell, Katrin Kohl, Claudia Kaiser. Practising German Grammar
(London: Routledge, 2017, 4th edition)

The following grammar book is a less expensive alternative (It is less comprehensive than Hammer's German Grammar and Usage):
Martin Durrell, Katrin Kohl, Claudia Kaiser & Gudrun Loftus: Essential German Grammar (Oxford: Routledge, 2015)


Name Role
Dr Helga Muellneritsch Lecturer / Co-Lecturer