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GE201-30 Modern German Language II

Department
School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Andrea Klaus
Credit value
30
Module duration
20 weeks
Assessment
10% coursework, 90% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

This module will consolidate linguistic skills acquired in the first year and extend them through translation, writing, reading, speaking and listening activities.

A range of assessments will be offered for students to track and reflect on their progress through the provision of regular feedback. Students will also be provided with complementary autonomous learning activities and directed to appropriate activities for self-study in order to develop independent learning strategies.

Module web page

Module aims

The aim of this module is to encourage and enable students to build on the knowledge and competence in XXX language acquired in the first year, working towards the C1 goals of the CEFR. The module will be shaped around the four key skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing. It will hone and develop translation, writing and grammar skills, register awareness and vocabulary acquisition, both general and specialised.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Writing: Main objectives are to reflect on German Syntax structure and to write more complex sentences. The syllabus is composed of 4 topics which are concerned with current affairs in politics, culture, history, business and society in Germany. The main focus is on composing different texts in German and to learn to reflect and to identify specific grammar points in written German.

Oral: Main objectives are to improve listening and speaking comprehension in German by reading, listening and discussing current affairs in Germany. Further, the aim is to prepare the Year Abroad for both studying and working in Germany. The combination of current affairs in politics, culture, history, society, culture and business as well as the education system, student and work life will offer students the best preparation for your time in Germany.

Translation: Main objectives are to introduce students to a range of German texts from literary pieces to web pages and blogs, from business and economics to poetry. Students produce translation from English into German and from German into English. Aims are to encourage students to reflect on the practice of translation, to consider how best to render each text in a way which is both linguistically accurate and sympathetic to the style and context of the original.

Language in Practice: Main objectives are to apply the grammatical knowledge of Modern German Language I to improve German by doing practical exercises as well as to improve Aural comprehension. The class will function as an umbrella class to revise and apply grammar knowledge in order to improve on translation and writing. Aims are to improve students’ listening comprehension with a specific focus on dialectal and regional variations and to prepare students for the Year Abroad in Germany in Year 3.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • A solid command of advanced aspects of grammar
  • An advanced understanding of modes of written expression
  • Advanced reading skills across a range of document types.
  • An advanced understanding of the challenges inherent in translation from and into English (syntax, register, idiom)
  • Refined and idiomatic listening and speaking skills
  • Good understanding of selected aspects of contemporary XXXX society and culture and intercultural issues associated with them
  • A systematic approach to proof-reading with due attention to accuracy
  • Consolidation of independent language-learning skills
International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will build students’ linguistic skills through activities that stimulate authentic target language production and develop sensitivity to the transference of meaning across languages. Students will work towards the production of nuanced, accurate and contextually sensitive materials through a range of language classes and guided independent learning.

Transferable skills

All SMLC culture modules demand critical and analytical engagement with artefacts from target-language cultures. In the course of independent study, class work and assessment students will develop the following skills: written and oral communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and analysis, time management and organisation, independent research in both English and their target language(s), intercultural understanding and the ability to mediate between languages and cultures, ICT literacy in both English and the target language(s), personal responsibility and the exercise of initiative.

Study time

Type Required
Seminars 3 sessions of (0%)
Private study 300 hours (79%)
Assessment 80 hours (21%)
Total 380 hours
Private study description

Students will be expected to make use of the TRC, directed learning and self-study options to complement taught classes.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group D4
Weighting Study time
Coursework Writing and Translation 10% 20 hours

Combined Writing and Translation Coursework

Online Examination 50% 20 hours

Two translations (one into German and one into English, covering General AND Business German)
plus one written task/essay. Reading time of 15 minutes will be available.

~Platforms - AEP

Online Examination 20% 20 hours

Questionmark Perception online grammar and listening exam in General AND Business German

~Platforms - QMP

Oral exam 20% 20 hours

Oral Exam for General AND Business German: 15 Minutes

Feedback on assessment

Feedback will be provided in the course of the module in a number of ways. Feedback should be understood to be both formal and informal and is not restricted to feedback on formal written work.
Oral feedback will be provided by the module tutor in the course of seminar discussion. This may include feedback on points raised in small group work or in the course of individual presentations or larger group discussion.
Written feedback will be provided on formal assessment using the standard SMLC Assessed Work feedback form appropriate to the assessment. Feedback is intended to enable continuous improvement throughout the module and written feedback is generally the final stage of this feedback process. Feedback will always demonstrate areas of success and areas for future development, which can be applied to future assessment. Feedback will be both discipline-specific and focussed on key transferrable skills, enabling students to apply this feedback to their future professional lives. Feedback will be fair and reasonable and will be linked to the SMLC marking scheme appropriate to the module.

Past exam papers for GE201

Pre-requisites

N/A

Post-requisite modules

If you pass this module, you can take:

  • GE401-30 Modern German Language III

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 2 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 2 of UGEA-R2V1 Undergraduate German and History
  • Year 2 of UGEA-RW24 Undergraduate German and Theatre Studies
  • Year 2 of UGEA-RP33 Undergraduate German with Film Studies
  • Year 2 of UPOA-M164 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and German

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 2 of ULNA-R2L4 Undergraduate German and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 2 of UGEA-RW24 Undergraduate German and Theatre Studies
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R2R4 Undergraduate German with Spanish
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1R2 Undergraduate Linguistics with German
  • Year 3 of UFRA-R900 Undergraduate Modern Languages
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics
  • UPOA-M164 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and German
    • Year 2 of M164 Politics, International Studies and German
    • Year 3 of M164 Politics, International Studies and German

This module is Optional for:

  • UECA-3 Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants
    • Year 2 of L116 Economics and Industrial Organization
    • Year 2 of L116 Economics and Industrial Organization
  • Year 2 of UETA-Q1A2 Undergraduate Linguistics with German (with Intercalated Year)

This module is Core option list A for:

  • Year 2 of ULNA-QR37 Undergraduate English and German
  • Year 2 of ULNA-RR14 Undergraduate French and German
  • Year 2 of UGEA-R200 Undergraduate German Studies
  • Year 2 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R2L4 Undergraduate German and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 2 of UGEA-R2V1 Undergraduate German and History
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R2Q3 Undergraduate German and Linguistics
  • Year 2 of UFRA-R900 Undergraduate Modern Languages
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics

This module is Core option list B for:

  • Year 3 of ULNA-R4RG Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and German
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)

This module is Core option list C for:

  • Year 2 of ULNA-R2Q2 Undergraduate German Studies with Linguistics
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)

This module is Core option list D for:

  • Year 3 of UFRA-R900 Undergraduate Modern Languages

This module is Core option list E for:

  • Year 2 of ULNA-R4RG Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and German

This module is Core option list G for:

  • Year 2 of ULNA-R2A0 Undergraduate German with Chinese
  • Year 2 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics