2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GERM1020 Beginners German (A1 of the CEFR)

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Bjorn Kasper
Email: b.kasper@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is mutually exclusive with

FLTU1402	Beginners German 20cr Sem2
FLTU1403	Beginners German 20cr Sem1&2
FLTU1405	Beginners German
FLTU1409	Beginners German 10 credits Semester 2

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module enables students with little or no prior knowledge of German to develop their language skills up to A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It focusses on achieving basic skills in all four areas (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and developing confidence and a degree of accuracy in basic oral communication in a limited range of situations. The module also aims to stimulate students' interest in the countries where German is spoken and develop their knowledge and understanding of cultural aspects as well as some major linguistic differences.This module is designed for students who study German as part of their degree and students who wish to develop their German skills intensively in the first two years of their degree (for example in preparation for a year abroad in a German-speaking country). Students wishing to take a more communicative and less intensive approach to learning the German language are advised to consider modules offered by Languages for All (FLTU modules).

Objectives

This module aims to
• introduce students to the German language and develop their ability to communicate at beginners' level (to A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
• develop a basic understanding of everyday vocabulary and expressions and a basic grasp of the relevant grammar for that level, as well as an understanding of the rules of pronunciation.
• train students to apply these skills in basic written and spoken communication.
• develop students’ interest in the cultures where German is spoken

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of commonly used vocabulary and everyday expressions in the topics covered
2. demonstrate a basic knowledge of grammar such as sentence structure, verb conjugation, articles and prepositions
3. extract accurately key information from written texts as well as audio and/or video material
4. understand and make themselves understood by a sympathetic native speaker in specific contexts in written and oral communication
5. demonstrate some awareness of linguistic and cultural differences in the use of German and English

Syllabus

Topics usually include (aligned to A1 of the Common European Framework for Languages):
• giving and asking for personal information, greetings and farewells, seeking for linguistic items clarification
• expressing intentions, speaking about interests and expressing the reasons why you do things
• understand and use numbers, the time and dates
• describing places and countries, expressing existence, location and speaking about the weather
• identifying objects, expressing necessity, shopping, speaking about preferences
• speaking about appearance and character, expressing likes and dislikes, speaking about personal relationships
• speaking about leisure activities
• speaking about daily life and expressing frequency
• asking for and giving information about food, restaurants and eating habits
• describing places where you live, what you like about a place, asking for and giving information about a places
• talking about present, past and future experiences, skills and abilities

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	20	2.00	40.00
Private study hours			160.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

revision, consolidation and preparation for seminars (60 hours)
additional guided and independent private study tasks (50 hours)
preparation and practice for the assessments (50 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive regular formative feedback on smaller tasks that they complete as part of their weekly seminar preparation to develop all four linguistic skills, e.g. reading short texts, watching short videos, completing quizzes or grammar exercises. Feedback on the weekly tasks will be given as written individual, peer-feedback or collective feedback to monitor student progress and to further encourage autonomous learning.
Students will also receive individual and collective feedback on their oral language production in seminars and in particular in the weekly tutorial, for example on pronunciation, fluency and accuracy, in order to help the students to gain more confidence in their oral language skills and to prepare them for their oral exam.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course Assessment	In-course assessment listening/reading	30.00
In-course Assessment	In-course assessment writing	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		60.00

Resit will be through a portfolio of equivalent tasks that focus on the same skills and learning outcomes

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Practical spot test exam (1)	0 hr 10 mins	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		40.00

Speaking re-sit on campus or via videoconference.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:40:36

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