GERM 2203 - German IIA: Language

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017

This course is designed for students who have studied German at high school to Year 12 level (or equivalent)or who have successfully completed German IA and German IB. It aims to further develop students' proficiency in the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - through a combination of readings and reproductive and creative exercises. It also aims to enhance students' intercultural understanding through the use of authentic texts that focus on aspects of contemporary German culture and society and promote comparison and discussion.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GERM 2203
    Course German IIA: Language
    Coordinating Unit German Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites GERM 1003 or equivalent, new SACE Stage 2 Continuers' German with a scaled grade of B or higher or equivalent
    Incompatible GERM 1002
    Course Description This course is designed for students who have studied German at high school to Year 12 level (or equivalent)or who have successfully completed German IA and German IB. It aims to further develop students' proficiency in the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - through a combination of readings and reproductive and creative exercises. It also aims to enhance students' intercultural understanding through the use of authentic texts that focus on aspects of contemporary German culture and society and promote comparison and discussion.
    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 this course students will have:
    1) a language proficiency in German corresponding to Level A2/B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
    2) a greater knowledge and understanding of the structure and conventions governing the use of German and an ability to use them to communicate effectively in a variety of situations and for a variety of purposes.
    3) a greater knowledge and understanding of aspects of German culture and society
    4) the ability to make effective use of the available resources for German and German Studies to answer questions and explore problems relating to German language, society and culture
    5) the ability to communicate information and ideas in the target language coherently and reasonably accurately
    6) an awareness of cultural differenc/s and the ability to reflect on oneself and one's own culture from the point of view of another culture
    7) the ability to work independently and cooperatively to explore issues relating to German language, society and culture
    8) a foundation for further study and research in German language and culture and for travel, study or work in a German-speaking environment.
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    7
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2, 7
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    6, 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Language Text: Kuhn, Hermann et al. studio [21] - Grundstufe: B1: Gesamtband - Das Deutschbuch:Kurs- und Übungsbuch mit DVD-ROM: DVD: E-Book mit Audio, interaktiven Übungen, Videoclips Taschenbuch (Cornelsen). We will be using this text in both the Language Workshop and the tutorial so it is important that students have it from the beginning of the semester.
    Students should also make use of the material available on the Cornelsen studio 21 website:
    http://www.cornelsen.de/studio_21/
    Recommended Resources

    Students should ensure that they have access to a good German dictionary. Check this site to see what is available:
    http://www.germanprofessor.org/dictionaries/
    Online Learning
    Online materials are available at:
    http://www.cornelsen.de/studio_21/

    You will also find useful additional material on German grammar at these sites:
    http://germanforenglishspeakers.com/other/modal-particles/
    http://www.german-grammar.de/
    http://www.nthuleen.com/

  • 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 Cornelsen website, and additional material will be provided on MyUni.
    The course consists of one two-hour workshop and a one-hour conversation tutorial. They 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.

    3contact hrs  36 hours per semester
    4 hours homework & test preparation 48 hours per semester
    4 hours vocab learning & oral & listening practice 48 hours per semester
    2 hours revision, reading & other independent work 24 hours per semester
    Total 156 hours per semester

    If you want to be successful in improving your language skills then you need to take the time regularly to revise, practise, prepare, learn vocab etc. outside class time.
    Learning Activities Summary

    In this course we will aim to complete the topics covered in the first half of the book studio 21 B1. It provides students with the vocab and expressions to communicate effectively in a range of everyday situations and with the relevant cultural knowledge and understanding. A detailed program for the language workshop and tutorial will be provided at the beginning of the semester.

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Students will be given the opportunity to work independently and cooperatively to explore questions and issues that arise in the course and to embark on their own quest to discover more about aspects of contemporary Germany and the German language.
  • 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
    Regular assessments and tests, conversation tutorial (participation, performance, oral exam or equivalent), end-of semester test.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Language classes – students are expected to attend all classes. In all cases, it is the student’s responsibility to contact their lecturer or course coordinator about their absence and to ensure that they get any material that may have been handed out in the class/es missed. Students who require alternative arrangements for tests or extensions for assignments must notify staff before the due date and must provide evidence that they have legitimate medical or compassionate grounds for their request.

    Conversation tutorial – as the tutorial mark is based on participation and performance, attendance is compulsory. Students who are obliged to miss a tutorial are asked to provide their tutor with a reason.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Course Learning Outcome/s
    Homework Formative & Sumaative 15% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Class Test Formative & Summative 20% 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
    Semester Test Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
    Tutorial participation & performance Formative & Summative 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Oral & Written Presentations Summative 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Vocab Tests Formative & Summative 5% 1, 2, 5, 8
    Submission
    Information will be provided in the detailed Course Outline students receive at the beginning of the semester.
    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
  • 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.

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