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
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
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 tutor 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.
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 10 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), which equals 280 hours, broken down by:
| Component | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Attending classes | 72 hours |
| Assessment hours (exams) | 6 hours |
| Preparing for classes, exams and extra activities | 202 hours |
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 | 30% |
| Final exam I: Reading, Listening and Writing | 30% |
| Oral presentation in class | 5% |
| Essay | 5% |
| Final exam II: oral exam | 10% |
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.
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.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for this course. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.
Reading list
Spektrum B1+ Integriertes Kurs- und Arbeitsbuch mit Cds (2018), A. Buscha / S. Szilvia, Dr. Harald Schubert
ISBN: 9783941323346
To support student’s selfstudy two more books can be recommended:
B-Grammatik, Übungsgrammatik Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Sprachniveau B1/B2 (+CD), by Anne Buscha und Szilvia Szita, Schubert Verlag, Leipzig, 2010.
ISBN: 978-3-941323-10-0
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for Tutorials is mandatory.
Students will be enrolled for Exams by the Administration Office, as long as they have a valid Tutorial enrolment.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
To be announced
When contacting lecturers or tutors, please include your full name, student number, and tutorial group number.
Please use your University email-address (uMail) when communicating with any person or department within Leiden University.
Student Affairs Office for BA International Studies
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.