GE101-30 Modern German Language I
Introductory description
N/A
Module aims
To develop translation, grammar and speaking skills in German, and in doing so broaden students' vocabulary and range of idioms, expressions and awareness of various stylistic registers.
Grammar
- To increase students' understanding and active use of the technical language of grammar, in English and, increasingly, in German.
- To exploit German texts as a means of examining grammatical usage in German
- To develop students’ free production of grammatically-accurate German
- To use the activity of translation into German as a means of developing grammatical awareness, grammatical accuracy and vocabulary acquisition.
Translation into English: - To develop students’ comprehension of written German.
- To develop students’ ability to identify the problems and pitfalls inherent in the translation of passages of different types and registers.
- To develop students’ discernment of their written English and their recognition of the need for accuracy in their mother tongue when translating
Translation into German: - To develop students’ ability to identify the problems and pitfalls inherent in the translation of passages of different types and registers.
- To focus on particular grammatical topics and the problems when translating into the target language
- To improve grammatical accuracy
Writing German - To develop students’ ability to produce arguments on a variety of topics with due attention to accuracy in lexis, grammar and syntax
- To extend students’ knowledge of German essay-writing and argumentative forms
Reading comprehension - To develop students’ ability to sift and sort written information in journalistic texts
- To develop students’ ability to read with attention to context
- To develop strategies for dealing with complex syntax, lexis and grammar
Oral - To develop students’ ability to converse fluidly in German on a number of topics
- To develop students’ discernment of their German pronunciation
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.
Conversation and Comprehension Class
This class focuses on developing not only oral skills, but also practical skills, such as presentation. The
Conversation and Comprehension class will also include an element of written comprehension work as
well as introducing German writing skills in preparation for the Writing and Translation Exam. In the second term work will be linked in part to a project, usually done in pairs or
groups of three.
Media project: research-based written project plus in-class group presentation
Oral Exam: This comprises a brief presentation on the media project topic lasting about five minutes. The
next 5 minutes requires a presentation of additional research made on the topic. The examiner will also
ask questions on the material and findings presented. The last 5 minutes of the exam is a conversation
about a German topic, previously discussed in class. A list of about three topics will be published at the
end of the first week in term 3 and although the topics will have been discussed in class previously, a
reasonable amount of independent research on all the topics is expected.
Translation class
Term I:
Weeks 2-4 Introduction: Resources online, Hammer online grammar, use of dictionaries; introduction to
translation techniques from and into German
Weeks 5, 7-10: Translation into German
Term 2:
Weeks 1-5 -Translation into English
Weeks 7-10 - Translation into German
Term 3:
Weeks 1/2 - Translation exam practice (either e-g or g-e)
Grammar class
The small groups for this class are streamed according to the results of the Diagnostic test (term 1/ week
- and the week by week outline of grammatical topics takes into account the needs of each group. All
fundamental grammatical topic of German grammar are covered by all groups.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Have a thorough command of the fundamental tenets of German grammar, and use reference resources appropriately to check grammar and syntax.
- Have a sound understanding of the challenges inherent in translation into English (syntax, register, idiom) and to have developed a range of translation strategies
- Proof-read and scrutinise their work with due attention to accuracy in grammar, syntax and lexis
- Accurate reading skills that include anticipating common problems of syntax, lexis and grammar
- An ability to express oneself orally and in writing on a number of key topics in German
Indicative reading list
Martin Durrell (ed.) Hammer's German and Usage, London, (6th ed.) 2017, and Martin Durrell et
al. Practising German Grammar, London, (4th ed.) 2017
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.
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Seminars | 63 sessions of 1 hour (21%) |
Private study | 237 hours (79%) |
Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
Private study includes individual language learning tasks such as revision of grammar rules, essay writing and some translation into English and into the target language.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group D3
Weighting | Study time | |
---|---|---|
Coursework: Media Project | 20% | |
Students work in pairs/ groups of three throughout term 2 on a research and writing task which results in the media project paper to be handed in at the end of term 2. |
||
Writing | 5% | |
one in class writing task (i.e. summary, piece of creative writing) including a reflective element |
||
Grammar Test | 5% | |
Mid-term Grammar test in week 7 or 8 of term 2 |
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Translation | 5% | |
one in class translation task including a reflective element |
||
Oral Examination | 20% | |
Oral examination |
||
In-person Examination | 45% | |
Note:
|
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.
Post-requisite modules
If you pass this module, you can take:
- GE220-15 Violent Women in the German Cultural Imagination
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of UGEA-R200 Undergraduate German Studies
- Year 1 of ULNA-R2Q2 Undergraduate German Studies with Linguistics
- Year 1 of ULNA-R2A0 Undergraduate German with Chinese
- Year 1 of UGEA-RP33 Undergraduate German with Film Studies
- Year 1 of ULNA-R2R4 Undergraduate German with Spanish
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 1 of UGEA-R200 Undergraduate German Studies
- Year 1 of ULNA-R4RG Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and German
- Year 1 of UETA-Q1A2 Undergraduate Linguistics with German (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics
This module is Core option list A for:
- Year 1 of UCXA-VV18 Undergraduate Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe
- Year 1 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
- Year 1 of ULNA-R2L4 Undergraduate German and Economics (4-year)
- Year 1 of UGEA-R2V1 Undergraduate German and History
- Year 1 of UGEA-RW24 Undergraduate German and Theatre Studies
- Year 1 of UGEA-RP33 Undergraduate German with Film Studies
- Year 1 of ULNA-R2R4 Undergraduate German with Spanish
- Year 1 of UFRA-R900 Undergraduate Modern Languages
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)
- Year 1 of UPOA-M164 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and German
This module is Core option list B for:
- Year 1 of ULNA-QR37 Undergraduate English and German
- Year 1 of ULNA-RR14 Undergraduate French and German
- Year 1 of ULNA-R1A2 Undergraduate French with German
- Year 1 of ULNA-R2Q3 Undergraduate German and Linguistics
This module is Core option list C for:
- Year 1 of UFRA-R900 Undergraduate Modern Languages
This module is Core option list E for:
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)
This module is Core option list G for:
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9L1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Economics (4-year)
- Year 1 of ULNA-R9Q1 Undergraduate Modern Languages and Linguistics
This module is Option list G for:
- Year 1 of UCXA-Q821 Undergraduate Classical Civilisation with Study in Europe
This module is Unusual option for:
- Year 1 of UCXA-Q802 Undergraduate Classics (Latin) with Study in Europe