Accessibility statement

Ab Initio German Language & Society - LAN00037C

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module introduces some aspects of German society and culture. The emphasis will be on developing your communicative skills and your ability to engage with cultural, social, political and historical topics. The programme is intended to develop language proficiency, consolidate and expand written and oral skills in order for you to achieve accurate and idiomatic expression. This module will lay the groundwork to more advanced study of German language and society at levels I and H.

Module learning outcomes

After satisfactorily completing the course you should be able to demonstrate:

Increased fluency and accuracy in spoken German

Increased accuracy and sophistication in the production of a variety of written German texts

Improved aural language comprehension

An insight into certain aspects of German society and culture

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 40
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 60

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 40
Oral presentation/seminar/exam 60

Module feedback

Formative work and feedback

Formative exercises will be assigned on a weekly basis.

Written comments and mark on University scale given to individual students for practice essays, with opportunity for individual consultation.

Model answers may be given for class exercises with class discussion of difficulties.

Formative written work will be returned within two weeks.

Oral commentary and dialogue within class on oral and written work. Given immediately both to individuals and to the group.

Oral commentary and dialogue on seminar presentation, written feedback sheet given to the individual presenter following the seminar.

Summative Assessment and feedback

There are two components to the final assessment:

Coursework, due in week 1 of Term 3

Oral pair or group presentation in Term 3

Written feedback to be provided within 20 working days.

Indicative reading

Compulsory:

Textbook:

A textbook with materials for the course will be provided by the tutor at the beginning of the academic year.

Recommended:

A good bilingual dictionary, one of the following:

  • The Collins German Dictionary, 8th edition or later. (2013). Collins. Glasgow
  • The Oxford Duden German Dictionary. (2005). Oxford University Press. Oxford

A monolingual dictionary is strongly recommended, e.g.

  • Langenscheidt's Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache. (2015). Langenscheidt. Munich.
  • Duden – Deutsches Universalwörterbuch. 8th edition. (2015). Duden


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.