GER-90007 - Module Specification
Language Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

German 6 or equivalent (e.g. AS-level grade 6-9 / B-A, CEFR level B1)

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module is aimed at students with a good knowledge of German and will be taught predominantly in the target language. All basic skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) will be practised in the contact hours, and communicative skills, vocabulary base and knowledge of grammar will be consolidated and expanded. This module is based around a series of texts focussing on life in contemporary Germany which will afford an insight into the cultural background of German society, dealing with issues such as education in Germany, and social and political problems.
Students will move from being able to communicate in everyday situations to discussing more complex issues with a degree of confidence. This will be practised in the classroom situation in a variety of ways: pair work and debates, as well as listening comprehensions and audiovisual material that familiarises students with authentic linguistic features. In self-study time, these skills will be consolidated with the help of exercises on KLE, and German Internet sites that will expand their vocabulary base and further their understanding of German life and culture. The language learning process will be charted in the reflective diary and provide valuable tools to improve language acquisition. Feedback on formative and summative assessments will be provided at regular intervals.
The language level of this module corresponds to work leading to Level B2 in the European Common Framework for Languages (CEFR -B2)

This module aims to build on students' existing knowledge of German and consolidate all areas of grammar, while at the same time expanding the vocabulary base to enable students to confidently discuss various aspects of contemporary German society, such as education in Germany and social and political questions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand the main points of clear standard speech including radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively clear: 1,3
Interpret, summarise and extract key information from a variety of written texts that consist of everyday or job-related language and description of events, feelings and wishes: 1,2
Interact and enter unprepared into conversations on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events): 3
Write clear coherent texts on topics which are familiar, of personal interest, describing experiences and impressions or expressing points of view: 1,2
Recognise and use different complex linguistic structures in the target language and compare them to the English language: 1,2,3
Demonstrate awareness of cultural issues, as well as accurate use of the language with regard to vocabulary, grammar, register and style, and of different varieties of German: 1,2,3

Study hours

22 hours of contact time in class.
40 hours assessment preparation and completion.
88 hours guided independent study.

School Rules

Admission to the module must be confirmed through completion of a language level self-assessment form
Students are only permitted to take one German language module per semester.

Description of Module Assessment