2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GERM2011 German Language Skills in Context

15 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Kirsten Rathjen
Email: K.Rathjen@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

German language skills to CEFR B2 Level

Pre-requisites

GERM1010

German Language Awareness and Skills

This module is mutually exclusive with

GERM2010

German Language Skills in Context

Module replaces

GERM2031

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Building on the skills attained at Level 1, students will develop the knowledge and skills required for successful oral and written communication in a variety of registers and contexts including daily life in Germany, Switzerland and Austria but also prepare for the sort of paperwork and everyday cultural challenges which they could expect to face in a German-speaking environment. Furthermore, students will broaden their specialist vocabulary and gain an understanding of variations in register and rhetorical strategies, which they can apply to their own written and spoken and German.

Objectives

This module aims to:

- further develop linguistic knowledge and skills to enable students to communicate effectively in German (reading, writing, speaking, listening)
- establish an advanced level of German grammar, vocabulary, structures and registers;
- further develop the students’ ability to analyse and produce a variety of different text formats, e.g. blogs, homepages, podcasts, etc.;
- introduce students to a range of 'Fachsprachen' (specialist or applied languages) usually including business, tourism, politics and academia;
- explore important aspects of life in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to develop students’ inter-cultural knowledge and skills
- develop students' ability to reflect on their own learning and to choose and complete autonomously language learning activities.

Learning outcomes
On completing this module students should be able to:

1. demonstrate receptive and productive language skills for the use of German in a variety of social, cultural and professional contexts
2. communicate appropriately and effectively in German on a range of topics with a reasonable degree of grammatical accuracy
3. have a thorough understanding of German grammar, structures and registers
4. demonstrate knowledge of daily life and aspects of social and cultural life as well as cultural sensitivity in German-speaking countries.
5. identify, analyse and employ a range of specialist or applied languages (‘Fachsprachen’) in German
6. face with confidence the linguistic and cultural challenges of their Term or Year Abroad and take responsibility for their own learning process in a German-speaking country

Skills outcomes
The Autonomous Learning Portfolio and the Fachsprachenprojekt will not only foster independent learning skills but also provide students with opportunities to explore the German language and the German-speaking world from different angles. By analysing and producing a variety of different genres, e.g. podcasts, blogs, novels, homepages, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the chosen topics and an opportunity to apply various techniques in their own production.

Syllabus

Lectures cover contemporary and historical topics of social relevance in the German-speaking world and practical importance for the Year Abroad. These usually include applied and specialist languages, linguistic varieties and dialects, social and political developments and current affairs in German-speaking countries, as well as preparation for the Year Abroad.

In seminars students practice their receptive language skills (listening and reading) as well as their productive skills (speaking and writing) on the topics covered in the lecture as well as year abroad specific topics such as the job application process, education, and media. Seminars will also reiterate relevant grammar topics.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	15	1.00	15.00
Seminars	15	2.00	30.00
Private study hours			105.00
Total Contact hours			45.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Preparation for and revision of seminars
Completion of portfolios
Completion of Fachsprachenprojekt

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be given informal feedback on their progress during seminars throughout the year.

Feedback on formative assessments will be given on a draft version of their CV and covering letter, written homework, group presentations, etc.

Furthermore, there will be formative grammar tests to motivate the students to work on their grammar skills.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Language Project - 1,200-words (Fachsprachenprojekt)	40.00
Presentation	15 minutes verbal presentation of Language Project	25.00
Portfolio	1 Portfolio Part	35.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 24/05/2024

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