GERM 3212 - German IIISB: Language

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

Building on the language sections of German IIISA, this course is aimed to expand students' German competence and refine their skills in written and oral communication on more complex topics. It also aims to enhance students' structural understanding through the use of authentic texts that focus on aspects of contemporary society in German-speaking countries and promote analysis and discussion at a more advanced level.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GERM 3212
    Course German IIISB: Language
    Coordinating Unit German Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Prerequisites GERM 3211 or equivalent
    Incompatible GERM 3012
    Course Description Building on the language sections of German IIISA, this course is aimed to expand students' German competence and refine their skills in written and oral communication on more complex topics. It also aims to enhance students' structural understanding through the use of authentic texts that focus on aspects of contemporary society in German-speaking countries and promote analysis and discussion at a more advanced level.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Stefan Hajduk

    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 C1 of the Common European Framework for Languages

    2) in-depth knowledge and understanding of the structure and conventions governing the use of German and an ability to use them to communicate effectively in more complex circumstances and for more complex purposes

    3) further knowledge and critical understanding of aspects of German society and culture and the way in which they are represented

    4) the ability to make effective use of reference resources related to German and German Studies, including dictionaries, grammars, authentic texts and electronic resources

    5) the ability to analyse, synthesise and evaluate information within identified timeframes

    6) awareness of cultural difference/s and the ability to reflect on oneself and one's own culture from the point of view of another culture, to dentify ethical, social and cultural issues and their broader implications

    7) the ability to work indepently and in a group to analyse, evaluate and generate ideas in relation to German language, culture and society
    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. 1-7
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 2, 3, 5, 7
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 2, 5, 7
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 4
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 2, 6, 7
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 2, 6
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 3, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Koithan, Ute et. al., Aspekte 3. Mittelstufe Deutsch (C1) (Langenscheidt) You need to have
    1) Lehrbuch
    2) Arbeitsbuch
    The course book Aspekte 3. Mittelstufe Deutsch. Niveau C1. Lehrbuch 3 / Arbeitsbuch 3 (Langenscheidt 2010), is designed to further develop the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - through a combination of readings and reproductive and creative exercises. At the same time, it aims to enhance intercultural understanding through the use of authentic cultural texts that focus on aspects of contemporary life in German-speaking countries and promote comparison and discussion. We will start work with this text and associated materials straight away so it is important that you purchase it before the beginning of the semester if you don't have it already.

    Recommended Resources
    You are strongly advised to purchase the grammar reference Dreyer, Schmitt. Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch der deutschen Grammatik aktuell (Hueber).
    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
    Aspekte 1-3 online exercises are available at
    http://www.klett-langenscheidt.de/Deutsch_als_Fremdsprache/Fuer_Erwachsene/Aspekte/Lernen/Digitales_Lernen/Online-uebungen/10148
    http://xportal.klett-langenscheidt.de/aspekte/

    For a list of online resources click on Library – Resource Guides – German Studies Resources.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    The modes of teaching and learning employed in the course are largely classroom-based and face-to-face. They include:
    1) a language workshop designed to extend students’ comprehension, their command of written German and their understanding of German grammar and its application
    2) a conversation tutorial designed to enable students to increase their vocabulary on the topics treated in the language workshop, to practise speaking German and to develop their active command of the spoken language
    Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their learning through: 1) independent personal study 2) independent computer-based learning 3) online access to other resources
    Workload

    Workload

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

    Students are expected to devote to their German studies in addition to the 3 contact hours:
    Homework & Test Preparation (6)
    Tutorial Preparation & Vocab Learning (3)

    Learning Activities Summary
    A detailed course outline 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

    Assessment for the course will include homeworks, a mid-semester test, an end-of-semester test in Week 13, oral work, possibly vocab tests, and an oral presentation.

    Assessment Related Requirements
    Language workshops – 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

    Language Workshop
    Homeworks will focus on particular grammatical points or they will enable students to use the vocabulary and apply the grammatical rules they have learned in a piece of extended writing. They are designed to gauge students’ progress in the areas of language acquisition covered in the course and provide them with feedback on their areas of strength and weakness. A mid-semester class test will reflect the format of the semester test and will consist of four sections which correspond with the following areas of language acquisition, listening and/or reading, grammar and free writing. Class tests have a more cumulative orientation than homeworks and provide students with a gauge of their progress over a range of tasks and also prepare them for the semester test. A two hour semester test will, like the class tests, consist of four sections, a listening and/or reading comprehension, a grammar section and a composition. While the main focus of the test will be material not yet tested, students will be expected to be familiar with all topics covered in the semester.

    Conversation Tutorial
    Students will be given the opportunity to build up confidence and develop their speaking ability by engaging in conversational activities throughout the semester. They will be regularly assessed on their preparation, participation and performance and at the end of the semester will be given an oral examination or an equivalent oral assessment. Students may e.g. be asked to make a short oral presentation, answer questions on it. Throughout the semester there may be regular tests on the vocabulary introduced at the beginning of each chapter of the course workbook. The vocabulary is introduced to provide students with a basis for communication on the topic treated in each chapter.

    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.
    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 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
  • 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.