This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module GERM1011: GERMAN LANGUAGE 1 (I)

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (German)

GERM1011: GERMAN LANGUAGE 1 (I)

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Open	1	20	Available in 2010/2011	None.	Durham

Pre-requisites

B in German at A level (or its equivalent).

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

To improve the written, spoken and comprehension skills developed at A-level and to give a systematic review of major areas of German grammar.

Content

The module is topic-based.
A wide range of topics is discussed, many of them concerned with German culture and current affairs.
Essays and other written exercises develop writing skills, whilst greater fluency is achieved through participation in role-play, language games and discussions.
Grammar teaching is an integral part of the module throughout, as is listening comprehension, which is practised in the language laboratory.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

By the end of the course students should have:
consolidated their knowledge of key grammatical points,
increased their fluency and confidence in speaking German in a variety of situations,
gained practice in writing in German.

Subject-specific Skills

Key Skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

For the oral/essay component, work will take the form both of written essays and oral contributions of various kinds, including, e.g. small 'papers' on a subject, contributions to a debate, but, equally importantly, the ongoing engagement with peers in the group, one-to-one or in small groups - important because of the need participants have to talk for as much of any hour as possible. The oral/essay component is taught in German.
The grammar component deals with a number of major areas of German Grammar over the year, to lay the foundation for further systematic work over the course of the whole degree programme. These areas will be treated by way of tackling examples via the exercises in the dossier and, where necessary, revising a descriptive grammar of German. Progress will be monitored by means of tests and homework. The grammar component is mainly taught in German, but explanations will be given in English where necessary.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Reading, Speaking and Writing	21	1 Per Week	2 Hours	42	Yes
Student preparation and reading time				158
Total SLAT hours				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written Examination	75%	Written Examination	3 hours	100%	Yes
Oral Examination	25%	Oral Examination	10 minutes	100%	Yes

Formative Assessment

Regular written/oral practice.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.