GER30080

Learning Outcomes:

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

• Demonstrate comprehension of medium-length clips from topical podcast and audiovisual material in German.
• Summarise information and synthesise ideas in writing.
• Show a commitment to autonomous learning by researching independently from German-language media.
• Express different positions on a current issue in written German using a variety of grammatical structures and appropriate vocabulary and idiom.
• Keep up a casual conversation with a good level of fluency, coping with abstract expressions.
• Take part in oral presentations and discussions, using the appropriate register and a wide range of vocabulary.

Indicative Module Content:

This module explores audio-visual and written materials drawn from a variety of media including TV documentaries, online audio-visual and press sources that deal with personalities from different historical periods and different aspects of German-speaking society. It focuses on advanced written and oral production and comprehension in German, supporting students as they independently refine their grammatical knowledge and expand their vocabulary to present portraits of selected persons and hypothesize about their views on social, cultural and political issues. In addition to the class hours, class preparation and formative homework exercises, students are expected to sign-up for 3 short "Gesprächstermine" in groups of 2 during the trimester (2 in weeks 1-7, 1 in weeks 9-12). Ample slots will be given out in advance.

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Successful language acquisition needs continual training - just like training for a sport, or practising music. In order to benefit from the learning experience, students must attend each class, participate and contribute actively in the target language, take part in peer- and self-learning exercises, and submit individual regular homework that they should correct and hand back up again. Language learning always involves making mistakes, learning from them, and speaking the language at every opportunity!
Students are also expected to work consistently and independently outside of class time, and must attend all 3 of the small discussion groups, "Gesprächstermine".

In-class work will include:
• small group and partner work
• class discussion
• aural comprehension work

Independent work outside of class will include:
• selecting, reviewing and researching German-speaking personalities and current issues
• drafting texts and correcting written work
• preparing and practising oral presentations
• practising spoken skills (conversation and phonetic practice)
• reading/viewing/listening to source materials and taking notes or answering comprehension questions
• recording and learning vocabulary
• practising grammar skills based on online material and quizzes

Generative AI may be used for certain purposes only under the guidance of your module coordinator and within academic integrity guidelines. This corresponds to amber on the traffic light system that has been adopted by UCD Arts & Humanities: https://www.ucd.ie/artshumanities/study/aifutures/trafficlightsystem/
More information will be supplied on Brightspace for the presentation assignment. The other assignments are conducted under exam conditions, using paper and pen, no dictionaries permitted.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Requirements:

Programme students of German must have successfully completed GER 20060 (German Language 2a) and GER 20070 (German Language 2b) OR GER 20180 (Intensive German Ex-Beginners) OR GER 20240 (German Ex-Beginners A) and GER 20250 (German Ex-Beginners B) prior to taking GER 30080.

Learning Recommendations:

An extended period spent abroad in a German-speaking country or frequent exposure to a German-speaking environment is highly recommended. The proficiency level recommended is a minimum of B2 (CEFR). Programme students of German are deemed to have met this if a minimum of a B grade has been achieved in GER 20070 (German Language IIb).

Non-programme students of German or students taking this module as an elective, but who have not completed or passed both Level 2 German language modules, must contact the module coordinator.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Pre-requisite:
GER20060 - German Language II a, GER20070 - German Language II b, GER20180 - Intensive German Ex-Beginners, GER20240 - German for Ex-Beginners A, GER20250 - German for Ex-Beginners B

Incompatibles:
LANG10110 - German Gen Purp 4, LANG10130 - German Gen Purp 2, LANG20070 - German Gen Purp 5, LANG20250 - German Gen Purp 3, LANG20450 - German for General Purposes 4

Additional Information:
Prerequisites: EITHER GER 20060 and GER 20070 OR GER 20240 and GER 20250 OR GER 20180


 

Assessment Strategy

 

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?

Feedback on formative assessments (regular homework) will be provided individually and for the entire class. Students are strongly recommended to submit regular homework, completed without the aid of online dictionaries. Any formative online quizzes will be graded automatically. Feedback on flash presentation will help the recorded oral portrait presentation. Students are encouraged to complete practice tasks for the summative assessment and will be given individual feedback. All students should take an online Einstufungstest before the class test, for the purposes of revision and self-assessment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.