This course is aimed at students who already have a good level of competence in German, i.e. students who have completed the LfA Lower Intermediate course or their AS in German (or equivalent). The module will take students to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), in the understanding and use of written and spoken German.
Related modules
AS in German or successful completion of the module LfA German Lower Intermediate / German Language and Cultures: Lower Intermediate or equivalent.
Module will run
Occurrence
Teaching period
A
Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25
Module aims
This module will steadily build the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to communicate and interact in German over the course of a semester. It will focus on developing a communicative competence at intermediate level, to about B1 level standard of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Students will engage, individually and in groups, in communicative activities and tasks emphasising three modes of communication:
reception activities (oral, audio-video and reading comprehension);
production activities (oral and written production);
interaction activities (oral, written, and online interaction).
The mediums of instruction are English and German.
Module learning outcomes
Ability to understand straightforward factual, authentic texts with a satisfactory level of comprehension.
Ability to produce short, complex texts on topics of interest and express and justify their opinion.
Ability to summarise, report and give their opinion about accumulated factual information and to produce very brief reports in a standard conventionalised format.
Ability to express personal opinions and exchange information on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g., family, hobbies, work, travel, and current events).
Ability to generally respond appropriately to the most commonly used cultural cues to discuss in appropriate terms different perceptions of culturally determined actions.
Module content
Topics may include:
Talking about plans, ideas, and expressing opinions & wishes
Understanding statistics & comparing items, communication & preferences
Understanding & expressing personal events as messages on answerphones, making phone calls
Giving clear instructions & directions
Expressing reasons & understanding traffic news
Understanding more complex texts on travel & making suggestions
Booking holidays & talking about preferences
Asking for & giving banking information
Understanding various ways to pay & learning about financial services
Comprehension of personal texts & following arguments
Discussion of personal travel, making suggestions & react to suggestions
The course is non-assessed but students will receive an LfA Certificate of Completion if they participate in at least 13 sessions out of 18.
Reassessment
None
Module feedback
Regular homework tasks will provide opportunities for ongoing feedback on progress.
In addition, students will have the opportunity to complete coursework. Its purpose is not to provide a summative assessment of students’ performance but to provide the basis for relevant tutor’s feedback and feedforward.
Indicative reading
Course materials and guided readings will be provided by the module convenors via the VLE at the start of the year.