Introductory description

N/A

Module web page

Module aims

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.

Classes integrate the four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – with an emphasis on form by
targeting some essential structures for intensive practice within a communicative context.
Students will also practice some elementary/intermediate translation. All these activities will entail
students´ self-study to broaden vocabulary and aural understanding.
Every week, students will learn grammar, vocabulary and functional aspects of German. They will have
several activities in the classroom to improve their understanding of the language and their performance
through practice of oral, listening and writing exercises. Below it is the description of grammar, vocabulary
and functional aspects of the language, which will be covered in this module:

1. Pronunciation, alphabet, introducing oneself, regular conjugations, the verb ‘sein’.
2. Subject pronouns, definite and indefinite articles, numbers, conjunctions, colours and adjectives,
   the verb ‘haben’.
3. Gender and number of nouns, demonstrative and possessive adjectives, questions: wo?, woher?,
   wer?, was?, wen?, wann?, the accusative case.
4. Separable verbs, regular verbs in the perfect tense.
5. Reflexive verbs and pronouns, adjectives of origin and numerals.
6. Modal verbs, the dative case.
7. Prepositions of place and movement (Wechselpräpositionen).
8. Irregular verbs in the present tense and past tense, word order (weil, dass, etc).
9. The future tense (werden).
10. The passive tense (present tense), the genitive case. 11. Comparatives and superlatives. 12. The passive tense (perfect tense). 13. The imperfect tense, the pulperfect tense.. 14. The indefinite article and pronouns (jed-, kein-, all-, viel-, wenig-). 15. Adjective endings 1. 16. Adjective endings 2. 17. Relative sentences and pronouns. 18. The subjunctive 1. 19. The subjunctive 2. 20. Sentense constructions: ‘(sich) lassen’, ‘sowohl-als auch’, ‘weder-noch’, ‘Je-desto‘. 21. Indefinite articles: ‘manch-‘, ‘einig-‘, Relative sentences and pronouns using the genitive case.

Learning outcomes

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

• Demonstrate individual skills in writing and reading in German, and initial cross-lingual awareness through translation.
• single out and discuss, when necessary, specific problems of grammar and syntax.
• demonstrate familiarity with different language variations and register
• identify and discuss intercultural awareness in the German context and German-English-speaking context
• demonstrate a strong command of basic structures of German grammar and their use in various contexts
• demonstrate competence in different registers
• demonstrate skills of aural comprehension and oral communication over a wide range of topics

Indicative reading list

Course textbooks:

• DaF Kompact A1-B1 (course book), DaF Kompact A1-B1 (exercise book),
• Neue Horizonte (course book and exercise book),
  Essential Reference:
  The Hammer’s Grammar (Martin Durrell)
  Oxford German Dictionary or Collins German Dictionary

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 develop students’ linguistic skills through engaging with primary materials in the target language. It will build students’ capacity to engage with aspects of German culture through analysis of this primary material and through seminar discussion aimed at deeper critical thinking. In particular, students’ awareness of the modern German language will be enhanced through lectures and seminars which engage in scholarship in the field.

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.