Module LXN-1001:
Beginners' German

Module Facts

Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Mr Ruben Chapela-Orri

Overall aims and purpose

  1. To introduce students to the basic structures of the language.
  2. To enable students to develop basic oral skills.

Course content

This module runs during the first semester and is aimed at absolute beginners. The course is based on a communicative approach and helps students to develop all the key language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. After each of the contact hours, students are expected to spend at least 30 minutes of self-study to revise and consolidate what they have learned in class.

The textbook for this course is Menschen. Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Kursbuch A1, by Sandra Evans, Angela Pude and Franz Specht (Hueber, 2012). By the end of this course students will reach level A1 Breakthrough as defined by the Common European Framework, Language Assessment Scales.(1)

(1) Level One: Competent in a limited range of predictable and simple language tasks, using mainly set expressions and simple combinations of these. Capable of some rehearsed grammatical manipulations. This applies to all the 4 language skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40-49%: For the award of credit, students should demonstrate a satisfactory comprehension of the various grammatical areas studied and an ability to implement them in specific situations at a basic level.

good

50-69%: For the award of higher grades, students should demonstrate a solid comprehension of the various grammatical areas studied and an ability to implement them in specific situations.

excellent

70+%: For the award of the highest grade, students should demonstrate a detailed comprehension of the various grammatical areas studied and an ability to implement them confidently in specific situations.

Learning outcomes

  1. Communicate orally on basic topics

  2. Understand and respond orally to basic questions

  3. An understanding of the following topics and functions - Talking about oneself and others: family; daily routine; preferences; likes/dislikes; hobbies and free time - Asking and answering questions about jobs - Ordering food and drinks - Rooms/furniture/equipment - Counting up to 100 - Telling the time - Days of the week/ parts of the day

  4. An understanding of the following grammar - Pronouns - Gender - Present tense of weak verbs and sein - Forming questions - Possessives - Indefinite and definite articles - Modal verbs - Strong verbs (lesen; fahren) - Adjectival endings

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
One 5-min recorded video 50.00
One written assignment 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Seminar

2 contact hours per week x 10 weeks

 20
Private study

Students will be given homework each week to complete. They will also prepare for two exams.

 80

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Subject specific skills

  • The ability to extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.14)
  • Sensitivity to and analysis of grammar and syntax in the target language, as well as basic morphology and phonology. (Benchmark statement 5.8, and 5.9)
  • Basic reading and listening skills in the target language as well as vocabulary acquisition. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, and 5.10)
  • The ability to make effective use of notes and to carry out independent study. (Benchmark statement 5.15)
  • Develop verbal communication skills in the target language through group work and class discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.8)
  • The ability to read, understand, translate, and write short texts in the target language (benchmark statement 5.13, 5.14, 5.15 and 5.16)

Resources

Resource implications for students

Students have to purchase the textbook.

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/lxn-1001.html

Reading list

The textbook for this course is Menschen. Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Kursbuch A1, by Sandra Evans, Angela Pude and Franz Specht (Hueber, 2012).

Courses including this module