2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GERM3270 German Economy and Business Project

20 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Wolfgang Keinhorst
Email: w.keinhorst@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisite qualifications

Successful completion of GERM 2030/2031 or equivalent level of German language (CEFR B2).

Module replaces

GERM3060

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is suitable for students with an interest in developing their professional language skills while learning about the internal and external factors relevant to an understanding of German business and does not presuppose specialist knowledge of business or economics. The module is taught and examined entirely in German and allows students to develop an understanding of the key concepts relevant for understanding the current business environment as well as the linguistic proficiency to express these ideas in German. Language proficiency develops alongside an engagement with the themes and issues and through exposure to German source material and will be reinforced within the seminars. Ability to express ideas and present information in fluent and accurate German as well as a grasp of specialized terminology is a major element in the assessment of this module.

Objectives

This module will examine the external business environment by exploring how the political, economic, social/cultural and technological environments shape the way in which business activity occurs and the ways in which German is used within these contexts.

The module will encourage students to focus on and examine competing views about key issues and themes facing the German economy and German businesses.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should:
- have acquired a solid overview of the German economy and current business practice;
- be able to understand and apply basic entrepreneurial and marketing knowledge required for a successful launch of an innovative product or service;
- have acquired cultural-specific knowledge required for business in Germany
- be able to apply their contextualized language skills actively and creatively in a range of written and spoken business contexts;
- have improved their researching, team-working and presentation skills;

Syllabus

The following are indicative themes:
- What is business? The role of the state and the relationship between politics and business;
- The social market economy: balance between the authority of the state and the freedom of the market;
- The social and cultural environment: education & training, demographic trends, the labour market;
- German business cultures: employers & employees, small and medium enterprises, large companies;
- Globalization: Germany within a globalized economy, external trade, import and export
- Other aspects of business: e.g. corporate social responsibility, fair trade,

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	40	1.00	40.00
Private study hours			160.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will be required to research topics online each week in preparation for the seminars and spend further time in online research and learning in preparation for the assessments (examination and written assignment).

They will further be required to meet at least six times in groups to prepare for the group assessment task and spend time preparing for and writing the written assessments and examination.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Completion of specific oral and written tasks throughout the year will monitor student progress, along with contribution to discussion in weekly seminars.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Project Report - 2000 words in German	30.00
Group Project	Presentation of Business Project	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		60.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S1)	2 hr 00 mins	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2018

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