Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Grammar | 20 x 1 Hour Grammar |
| Listening | 20 x 1 Hour Listening |
| Oral | 20 x 1 Hour Orals |
| Translation | 20 x 1 Hour Translations |
| Tutorial | 20 x 1 Hour Tutorials |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 50%: 10 written assignments, 5 of them under exam conditions (those taken under exam conditions counting twice as much as the others); 10%: oral (4 marks based on attendance, active contribution and performance in small oral groups); 20%: listening comprehension (2 tests). | 80% |
| Semester Exam | The oral Examination takes the form of a 15-minute interview with one member of staff. During this interview the candidate will be asked: (a) to offer a brief presentation (maximum 5-7 minutes) in the target language on a selected topic and (b) to engage in a general conversation arising in the first instance from the presentation itself. Some weeks before the oral exam, students will be provided with 6 topics taken from the topics covered during the oral classes throughout the year. They will need to prepare all six of these topics as only one of them will be given to the student in the exam. The final exam topic will be provided to the candidate at the beginning of the examination. There will be no period of preparation time immediately beforehand. Candidates are reminded that they are not allowed to read from a script and are not allowed to bring any notes into the examination room; they must not deliver a previously learnt speech. The presentation should lead into (and be constructed so as to lead into) a conversation and further discussion of the topic. A more general conversation will follow. | 20% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours 1 x 3-hour written examination (unless ONLY the oral component is failed, in which case the supplementary exam will be an oral examination). | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, if you have made satisfactory progress, you will be able to:
- identify your own improvement in German vocabulary and grammatical knowledge in written - and spoken language
- differentiate between major stylistic levels of German
- recognise and understand different linguistic registers in German
- translate selected German passages showing idiomatic, authentic style and grammatical usage
- present independently prepared material in spoken or written German
- discuss and debate topical issues in German
- summarise in your own words selected pieces of written or spoken German
- give your own insights into contemporary German life and culture
- take part in role-plays in German
- enter into conversation in German with confidence in your ability to express youself
Language modules have, as an integral part of their structure, regular homework assignments and class tests as well as end of year examinations. All assessment is designed to measure your progress against learning outcomes at the appropriate level.
Brief description
Listening comprehension (a skill of considerable importance for the Year Abroad) will be practised from time to time during the year in class. It will be assessed by tests which will contribute 20% of the total marks for the module. You are expected and strongly advised to practise listening comprehension in your time (e.g. in the Language Resource Centre).
Aims
1. To consolidate students' knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary, with the ultimate aim of fostering accuracy in writing German.
2. To train students to translate accurately into English (or German) passages of continuous German (English) prose. Accuracy refers to content, idiom and style, and to grammatical usage, i.e. the translation ought to include all the information in the original and this ought to be expressed in English (German) that sounds as if a native-speaker had written it, that is grammatically correct, and is as formal or informal as the original.
3. To develop students' oral competence.
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5