German language and society II

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed:

• First Year German modules (from either Ab-initio route or A-level route)

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

The module lasts for three terms, 2 contact hours per week per term. Weeks 3 and 4 of the summer term will focus on the oral presentations.

You will be expected to complete and submit exercises and other written assignments regularly and to present some of this work in seminars. In addition, reading and other preparation for the seminars will be required. For each contact hour, you should expect to spend on average about two hours in preparation. Advanced language study demands regular, active practice and revision.

Teaching programme

There will be a weekly oral and aural comprehension class for which there will be one prepared oral presentation in terms 1 and 2, a weekly text class, for which regular written exercises will be required.

All the lessons are conducted as seminars in order to encourage discussion and interaction. Therefore, completing weekly tasks in preparation for class discussion is an essential part of students’ commitment.

The teaching will be in small groups and will be conducted in German.

Teaching materials

Students must be in possession of a monolingual German dictionary. A dossier of texts and materials will be provided by the tutor.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

• Written formative work:
  • Written comments on the work, with a mark on the University mark scale
  • Oral/written feedback in class
  • Discussion of major issues and mistakes/content/structure
  • Individual feedback during office hours, when necessary
• Oral formative work:
  • Feedback on oral presentations and class discussions
  • Direct oral feedback in class discussions
  • Written Feedback form for oral presentations
  • Mark on university marking scale
  • Comments on different aspects of the presentation, i.e. content, argumentation, logic, register etc.
  • Individual feedback during office hours and in progress/feedback meetings 

Written feedback will usually be given within 10 days.

Assessment and feedback

• Written assignment (Paper 1),  submitted in Week 1 of Summer term.
  • Length: 1500 words
  • Weight: 30%
  • Feedback: written feedback form with a mark on the university marking scale, confirmed by the second marker, written comments on different aspects of the work, i.e. structure, content, logic and argumentation, grammatical accuracy, examples of typical mistakes (language).
• A closed 3-hour written exam  comprising textwork and written composition (Paper 2), Summer term, Weeks 5-7
  • Weight: 40%
  • Feedback: Students will be allowed to see their exam paper with comments, under supervision, at an appointed date after the external examiner has reviewed the papers.
• An oral presentation
  • A presentation on a prepared topic chosen from a list, followed by a discussion, Summer term
  • Weight: 30%
  • Feedback: written feedback within 3 weeks.