GERM 1003 - German IB: Beginners' German

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

This second semester course is a sequel to German IA: Beginners' German. It is expected that each student will spend at least eight hours of private study reviewing work done in class and preparing for lessons. Aspects of German culture will be a component of language instruction throughout the semester.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GERM 1003
    Course German IB: Beginners' German
    Coordinating Unit German Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Prerequisites GERM 1002 or equivalent
    Incompatible SACE Stage 2 German or equivalent
    Course Description This second semester course is a sequel to German IA: Beginners' German. It is expected that each student will spend at least eight hours of private study reviewing work done in class and preparing for lessons. Aspects of German culture will be a component of language instruction throughout the semester.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Ms Judith Wilson

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of the course students will:
    1) have a language proficiency corresponding to Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
    2) have a basic knowledge and understanding of the structures and conventions governing the use of German and an ability to use them to communicate in German in a range of familiar everyday situations
    3) have some knowledge of relevant aspects of German culture and society
    4) be able to locate and make effective use of reference resources related to German and German Studies, including dictionaries, grammars, authentic texts and electronic resources
    5) be able to apply what they have learned to answer questions and resolve problems in German within identified timeframes
    6) have developed a basic awareness of what is different about the German language and the German culture and the impact such differences can have on communication and intercultural relations
    7) be able to work independently and cooperatively to explore and respond to questions and issues relating to the language and the context/s in which it is used
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2, 3
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 4, 5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 7
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 6
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Tschirner, Nikolai, Terrell: Kontakte, coursebook and workbook, 7th student edition, McGraw-Hill. Students will need these for the whole semester, starting in week one. They will need both the course book and the work book in class. NB. This is a new edition. Students should also make use of the material available on the Kontakte website:
    http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073386340/student_view0/index.html
    Online Learning
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    The modes of teaching and learning employed in the course are largely classroom-based and face-to-face, but there is a lot of support material for the course available online at the Kontakte website, and additional material is provided on MyUni.
    The course consists of two two-hour workshops that are designed to develop all four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. At the same time the course encourages the development of the appropriate background knowledge of cultural contexts necessary for cultural competence in communication. Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their learning through:
    1) independent personal study
    2) independent e-learning
    3) online use of all available resources
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
    In addition to the 4 contact hours, each week students are expected to devote time as below to their German studies:
    Homework and test preparation (3)
    Vocab learning and oral and listening practice (3)
    Revision, reading and other independent work (2)
    Learning Activities Summary
    This summary is meant simply as a provisional guide. The chapters treated in each week may not be exactly the same in the actual program. Students will be given a detailed course outline at the beginning of the semester.
    Weeks 1-2 Chapter 6, Weeks 2-4 Chapter 7, Weeks 4-6 Chapter 8, Weeks 6-7 Chapter 9, Weeks 7-9 Chapter 10, Weeks 9-11 Chapter 11, Weeks 11-12 Chapter 12.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment for the course is continuous and includes homework exercises, a research project, vocab tests, a mid-semester class test, an end-of-semester test in Week 13 and oral test also in Week 13.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students are expected to attend all 4 hours per week. In all cases, it is students’ responsibility to contact lecturers/coordinators about any absence and to ensure that they obtain any material handed out in classes missed. Students need to check their Adelaide student email regularly for reminders and updates! Students are also expected to spend 8 hours per week outside class time working with the books and online. This is an intensive course aiming to get students to approximately the level of A2/B1 by the end of the year, so the classes go fast and it is essential that students take the time regularly to revise, practise, prepare, learn vocab. etc. outside class time. Students who require alternative arrangements for tests must notify staff at least 4 weeks in advance. Students who require an extension must notify staff before the due date and must provide evidence that they have legitimate medical or compassionate grounds for the request.
    Assessment Detail
    The homework for this course takes the form of free writing tasks, each of which will focus on particular grammar points and vocabulary from the chapter being treated. It is designed to gauge students’ progress in active use of new material and provide them with feedback on their areas of strength and weakness. Regular vocab tests are designed to encourage students to learn their vocab as they go and provide a measure of how effective their learning has been. The research project gives students the opportunity to explore an aspect of German culture or language treated in the text in more detail. The one-hour class test and the two-hour semester test have the same format and consist of the following sections: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and and free writing. Tests have a more cumulative focus than homework, and students are expected to be able to demonstrate the ability to use both previous and recent material in their answers.
    Submission
    Work submitted as a hard copy outside class times should have a German cover sheet obtainable from the School of Humanities office on level 7 Napier. Work completed during semester will normally be returned in class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to arrange collection of your work from the staff member concerned. Homework is normally returned in one week, tests in one to one and two weeks and research projects in three to four weeks. Legal nature of the cover sheet The cover sheet is a legally binding document that asks you to confirm that you have read and understood the rules relating to plagiarism and related forms of cheating, that you are handing in the final version of your work and not a draft, that it has not been submitted for any other course, that you allow it to be photocopied or scanned and submitted to a plagiarism detection programme, and that you have kept a copy of the assignment that you will be able to produce on demand.
    Extensions 10% will be deducted from work handed in after the due date unless there are legitimate compassionate or medical grounds and appropriate certification is provided. The 10% penalty applies for the first week; after that the work will not be accepted. Students who have legitimate grounds and require an extension should contact staff before the due date.
    Please note: a) All marks are subject to moderation. An adequate standard must be reached in each part of the course. Final grading (High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass...) will be based on performance in each part of the course. To obtain a High Distinction, students must normally achieve this mark both in the final written test and in their overall total. b) Students should make a copy of all pieces of work passed in for assessment. c) It will be assumed that all homework exercises and tests are the student's own work. Work that is obviously not the student's own will be given zero and cannot be redeemed. If there is a significant discrepancy between homework and test results students may be required to redo the homework under test conditions. d) Students may re-sit the semester test and/or the oral examination if their overall final mark is less than 50%, or if they have legitimate compassionate or medical grounds and appropriate certification (letter from counsellor, medical certificate). Students who are granted a supplementary because of poor performance can normally only achieve a maximum result of 50% for the course. Other work (vocab tests, class test and homework) is normally only redeemable if there are legitimate compassionate or medical reasons and appropriate certification. e) Students who require alternative arrangements for tests must notify staff at least 4 weeks before the due date and must provide evidence that they have legitimate medical or compassionate grounds for their request.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
    Sometimes things go wrong. Staff in German Studies are always sympathetic towards students with genuine problems. We recommend that students let us know about any difficulties or disabilities affecting their academic performance as soon as possible. Staff will always do their best to help students if they are aware that they have a problem and need assistance.
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.