Department of European Studies & Modern Languages, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
EU10626: German written and spoken language 1 |
 Credits:
| 12 |
| Level:
| Certificate |
| Period: | Academic Year |
| Assessment:
| CW 50%, EX 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description: | Aims: The aims of this unit are: * to refresh and consolidate students' knowledge and understanding of the most important and fundamental grammatical structures; * to enable them to apply the acquired skills to the production of short but fluently written German texts; * to enhance students' communicative and listening skills in a limited variety of contexts; * to expand their vocabulary and improve their presentation skills. Learning Outcomes: Increasingly students should be in a position to apply the acquired skills to the production of coherent and fluent written composition: to introduce students to a variety of German texts dealing with appropriate contemporary issues. Skills: Skills in precision and creativity in the use of written and spoken language, effective communication in the target language and translation are taught and assessed in this unit. Skills in effective learning, CIT and adaptation to life in the target countries are developed in this unit. Content: Written Language: With regard to the consolidation of grammar, the course focuses on: * the various classes of words, including their declension * their function within the phrase or sentence. * As regards the production of texts, the course concentrates on: * translation into and from German * developing essay writing skills/exercises in creative writing. Spoken language: Students will be discussing a limited variety of topics related to culture, politics, business and society in the German speaking countries. This includes: * reading short Austrian and German newspaper articles; * doing simple role plays, interactive exercises, small-group discussions etc. Key texts: Jamie Rankin, Larry D. Wells, Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik. Wiederholen und Anwenden. Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Also highly recommended: Hilke Dreyer, Richard Schmitt: A Practice Grammar of German. New Edition. Hueber: 2001. |