Module LZG-1003:
German for Beginners I

Module Facts

Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Sarah Pogoda

Overall aims and purpose

  1. To introduce students to the basic structures of the German language, and in particular to familiarise them with the role of gender, inflection and word order in German.
  2. To enable students to develop basic oral and aural skills, including an understanding of German phonology.
  3. To enable students to read, understand and create basic texts in German and to develop vocabulary acquisition.
  4. To enable students to understand and respond to basic spoken information and instructions in German in both formal and informal registers.

Students on this module will be working towards achieving B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Course content

The module is devised to suit 'ab initio' and post-GCSE students of German and focuses on the development of basic oral, aural and written communicative skills. The module involves an introduction to and [in the case of those with GCSE knowledge of the language] a revision of key areas of grammar (present and past tenses, the future and conditional tenses, nouns, adjectives, prepositions). Students will acquire general vocabulary and key expressions relating to self, family, daily routine, hobbies, likes and dislikes, in part through role-play situations. Using appropriate audio/visual aids, students will also be introduced to modern and contemporary German culture and society

Key Text: Birgit Braun, Margit Doubek et. al. "DaF Kompakt Neu" (Ernst Klett Verlag, 2016-2020) ISBN 978-3-12-676310-3

Websites SMLC offers a link list for all language students that covers the most important resources (newspapers, TV channels, online grammar and dictionaries, etc.) in the language(s) that they study:

http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ml/links-german.php.en (German online resources) http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ml/links-welsh.php.en (Welsh medium resources)

Additionally, students are encouraged to consult: English-German Context Dictionary: http://www.linguee.com/

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40-49%: Basic grasp of key grammatical structures such as gender, inflection and word order; basic understanding of short written texts and aural material in German. Limited ability to write short passages in German and respond to simple spoken material; limited grasp of German pronunciation.

good

50-69%: Good grasp of key grammatical structures such as gender, inflection and word order; good understanding of short written texts and aural material in German. Some ability to write short passages in German and respond to simple spoken material; good grasp of German pronunciation.

excellent

70+%: Excellent grasp of key grammatical structures such as gender, inflection and word order; excellent understanding of short written texts and aural material in German. Clear ability to write short passages in German and respond to simple spoken material; excellent grasp of German pronunciation.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with the general structure of the German language, and in particular appreciate the role of gender, inflection and word order in German in contrast to English.

  2. Acquire a basic familiarity with the German tense system and be able to create and manipulate basic sentences.

  3. Display a grounding in German oral skills, including an appreciation of German phonology.

  4. Read and pronounce a given German text with confidence.

  5. Display an understanding of basic information and instructions in the target language in both formal and informal registers.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Assignment 20
Test 20
Oral Exam 20
Written exam 40

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study 145
Seminar

1 x grammar (1 hour per week for 11 weeks) 1 x reading skills (1 hour per week for 11 weeks) 1 x listening skills (1 hour per week for 11 weeks) 1 x speaking skills (1 hour per week for 11 weeks) 1 x writing skills (1 hour per week for 11 weeks)

55

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others

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

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: