Module Information

Module Identifier
GEM1920
Module Title
German Language (Beginners)
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Continuous assessment: regular assignments (5 in all) in writing, reading, listening, speaking at appropriate level. One of these assignments will be linked specifically to the History scheme followed by the student worded as follows: Either a piece of translation (into English) of 500 words, or a precis in English of a longer piece of text (2500 to 3000 words) in German, again of 500 words. Each assignment is weighted equally.   100%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of any missing coursework. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate their interest in and understanding of the German language as a subject of study
2. Be able to use a range of basic grammatical constructions proficiently
3. Translate selected passages from German
4. Recognise a range of linguistic structures, particularly those in more frequent general usage
5. Communicate in written German at a standard appropriate to M level beginners
6. Select the important points in material written in German and summarise in English
7. Recognise intercultural differences between German and British society
8. Use a range of German vocabulary
9. Respond with understanding to spoken German at a basic level (standard German, articulated more clearly and spoken at a tempo that is slower than that of normal native-speaker interaction)
10. Make both supervised and independent use of the facilities available in the department: video, language laboratory, satellite television,web-based learning

Brief description

This module forms part of the research skills programme in the MA in History and is suitable for students with little or no prior knowledge of German. It aims to introduce students to contemporary German, imparting basic competence in all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and developing the student's language awareness as part of his/her generic language learning skills.

Aims

This module forms part of the research skills programme in the MA in History and is suitable for students with little or no prior knowledge of German. It aims to introduce students to contemporary German, imparting basic competence in all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and developing the student's language awareness as part of his/her generic language learning skills.

Content

This module forms part of the research skills programme in the MA in History and is suitable for students with little or no prior knowledge of German. It aims to introduce students to contemporary German, imparting basic competence in all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and developing the student's language awareness as part of his/her generic language learning skills.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number N/A
Communication Expected to communicate both orally (with tutor, between themselves and with German-speakers studying at Aberystwyth) and in writing. Group work will be encouraged
Improving own Learning and Performance Learners will be able to observe the improvement in their own competence on a weekly basis by showing the capacity to deal with challenging situations and activities
Information Technology ICT is part and parcel of language learning: data searching, email, machine-translation
Personal Development and Career planning Students will acquire the skills which would enable them to become autonomous learners in a German or Austrian university or in the working environment. Transferable skills are an element of this course
Problem solving Students will be expected to address and resolve various problems posed by the acquisition of a major European language
Research skills Required to find, evaluate and use source materials. ICT, books, newspapers, magazines, language reference works
Subject Specific Skills
Team work Organizational skills, time management can be achieved through group work thus preparing students for the workplace: agreeing ground rules and goals, planning actions and allocating tasks, checking on progress, cooperation, balancing own behaviour in team work

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7