Prospectus

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German 1 Intermediate

Course
2023-2024

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme.
For this course a minimum number of 8 participants is required. If the minimum number of participants is not met, the course will be cancelled.
You need to contact your coordinator of studies in order to check your language level and to do the entry test.

Description

In this course you learn how to handle successfully a variety of basic and more complex social situations you may encounter in daily life in Germany or other German speaking countries.

The content of this course is analysing more complex grammatical structures and extending students’ vocabulary. Students acquire the ability to discuss current topics and learn to comprehend more difficult texts (reading and listening comprehension).

You learn to maintain face-to-face conversations, and to perform such tasks as giving information about yourself and your studies, small talk in German about hobbies, leisure time, holidays etc., making telephone calls, giving your opinion about current affairs, reading simple newspaper articles, or writing an e-mail.

These basics are acquired by using the textbook and through a wide range of real-life situations, performed either individually or in groups. Grammar, cultural topics, current issues and pronunciation are main concerns, too.

Course objectives

This course enables the student to achieve an overall level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

This course is the first course in a series of three language acquisition courses within the International Studies program. The final objective of this course series is to obtain an intermediate level of proficiency in German, aimed at communication with people in the region in everyday social situations and enabling students to follow current affairs in the region via various media.

Skill CEFR Level
Reading B1+
Writing A2+
Listening B1
Speaking A2+

Timetable

Visit MyTimetable.

Mode of instruction

Tutorials

Three two-hour tutorials every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your Tutorial-lecturer in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent will result in a lowering of the participation grade with 0.5 for every absence after the first five (5) times.

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Midterm exam, Final exam, tests after each chapter in the book, in-class oral/listening performance.

Weighing

Partial grade Weighing
In-class participation and homework, tests/evaluations 20%
Midterm exam: Reading, Listening and Writing 25%
Final exam I: Reading, Listening and Writing 35%
Oral presentation in class 5%
Final exam II: oral exam 15%

End Grade

  • To successfully complete the course, please take note that the End Grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the in-class oral and listening performance, and written exams.

  • The End Grade needs to be a 6.0 or higher to pass the course.

Resit

If the End Grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), there is a possibility of retaking the full 80% of the exam material (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). No resit for the tutorial (participation) is possible.

The BA International Studies program does not allow students to resit passed (constituent) examination(s) within the language courses. Language acquisition is, primarily, accomplished through in-class acquisition activities and practical assignments which contribute to the (final) examination. The diverse structure of the language courses and characteristics of language acquisition therefore withhold the possibility to resit a passed examination.

Exam review and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

  • Spektrum B1+ Integriertes Kurs- und Arbeitsbuch mit Cds (2018), A. Buscha / S. Szilvia, Dr. Harald Schubert
    ISBN: 9783941323346

Registration

  • Enrolment for the workgroup through My Studymap is mandatory.

  • No enrolment needed for the language exams.

Contact

Remarks

Passing this course is an additional requirement for a positive Study Recommendation at the end of the year.

This course uses an integrated communicative language learning method. Therefore active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.