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GER20070

Academic Year 2026/2027

German Language II b (GER20070)

Subject:
German
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Gillian Pye
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 2 module for programme students of German and other subjects. Building on Autumn module German Language IIa (GER20060), it assumes that students have attained at least level B1+ of the CEFR and are working towards level B2. International and elective students are welcome to take this module and should contact the module coordinator if in doubt about their level.

The module aims to help you deepen all areas of your competence in German: grammar, vocabulary, oral, aural, and written skills, with the aim of moving towards a standard of competence adequate for studying and working in a German-language environment. It is taught in small groups in 3 separate weekly hours and attendance at all hours is mandatory.

Overall in this module, the necessary skills will be fostered to prepare for studying at a German-speaking university and living in a German-speaking environment. Students who achieve at least a B grade in this module will be deemed to have reached level B2 of the CEFR.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module students will be able to:

Study skills:
- Independently build, maintain and learn accurate, relevant vocabulary records.
- Actively use feedback provided to improve self-correction in written and oral work.
Comprehension:
- read and understand written, audio and audiovisual texts expressing points of view about module topics related to current affairs - - in the German-speaking world
Oral production:
- take part in discussions on module themes - expressing opinions, agreeing, disagreeing, persuading, and negotiating solutions to problems
- summarise the content of a piece of broadcast media, respond to questions about its content and form, and express and justify personal opinions on it
- continue to develop an awareness of standard varieties of pronunciation and intonation and demonstrate an ability to self-correct
Grammar:
- demonstrate control of word order in common sentence structures and a well-developed ability to correctly use a range of tense forms and the passive voice.
- demonstrate a solid knowledge of adjectives, adverbs and prepositional constructions.
Written production:
- write a written response to a text on a module theme, evaluating the opinions presented and outlining a personal viewpoint, using appropriate vocabulary and a variety of correctly used grammatical structures

Indicative Module Content:

A weekly grammar workshop helps build your understanding, and control, of the use of adjectives and adverbs, prepositions, tense forms and the passive voice. You will continue to develop your ability to identify and construct more complex sentences, varying syntax and correctly using case
In two weekly seminar hours we will use authentic written and audio visual materials drawn from contemporary media sources as a basis for spoken and written practice. Topics will include the public sphere in the German-speaking world, including issues relating to film, TV, literature, radio, social media, democracy and public debate.
Seminar sessions taught in small groups are interactive and will support you in developing a range of communication skills in German. These include summarising different points of view, evaluating, defending and justifying opinions, agreeing and disagreeing, persuading and negotiating solutions.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 1

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

23
Tutorial

12
Specified Learning Activities

35
Autonomous Student Learning

35
Total

105

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is taught in small group classes in 3 separate weekly hours: 2 seminar hours and one practical grammar tutorial.
In order to benefit from the learning experience, students must attend and participate actively in all classes.

The classes are all workshop-based and rely on student interaction. They are constructed around task-based activities, buzz-groups, individual presentations, individual and group exercises, and include peer learning and language games. Strategies for vocabulary and grammar acquisition are offered and tested at regular intervals. Regular homework exercises are set and marked up by the tutor or corrected in class.

Students are expected to work consistently and independently outside of class time, engage with the tasks and material on Brightspace and submit regular homework. Please note that if you are unable to attend class for a valid reason, you must make contact with your tutor.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students who have not completed the level 1 Spring German-language module must contact the module coordinator.

German of a standard equivalent to level B1.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
GER10020 - German Language I b, GER10110 - German Beginners B

Co-requisite:
GER20060 - German Language II a, GER20240 - German for Ex-Beginners A

Incompatibles:
GER20180 - Intensive German Ex-Beginners, LANG10110 - German Gen Purp 4, LANG10130 - German Gen Purp 2, LANG20250 - German Gen Purp 3, LANG20450 - German Gen Purp 5

Additional Information:
Pre-requisites: German Language I b (GER10020) or German Beginners B (GER10110) Co-requisites: German Language II a (GER20060) or German for Ex-Beginners A (GER20240)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Demonstration of sufficient participation in classroom activities and 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
10
 No
Exam (In-person): Language paper End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Practical Skills Assessment: In-class grammar test Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Practical Skills Assessment: Oral presentation Week 12 Graded No
25
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• 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?

Students will receive spontaneous group and individual feedback on oral and written work produced in class. Peer feedback activities will form part of some in-class activities. Written feedback will be provided on homework submitted on time. Online self-correcting exercises will be used to support students in their development of grammatical control. Students should avail of office hours to receive one-to-one feedback from their class tutor or module co-ordinator

Name Role
Ms Sherry Ishak Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Ruth Lockhart Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Jeanne Riou Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Heidi Zojer Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
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