German IV

Teacher(s)

Suner Munoz Ferran;

Language

Deutsch

Prerequisites

Level B2 of the Common Europea Framework of Reference for Languages

Main themes

A wide range of written texts and multimedia documents are used as a prompt for receptive and productive activities in both speech and writing. The focus is on vocabulary extension, grammatical accuracy and coherent argumentation. Special attention is devoted to intercultural communication. Lexical, grammatical and discursive differences between the target language and French are highlighted and practised through translation exercises.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	To acquire advanced+ productive and receptive skills in both speech and writing (B2+ level - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). At the end of the course, the student will be able to: - follow extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly; - understand standard spoken language, live or broadcast; - easily follow complex interactions between third parties in group discussion and debate, even on abstract, complex unfamiliar topics; - understand spoken language displaying light regional varieties; - easily summarize lectures, conferences and talks (even on specialized topics) presented by native speakers; - understand a wide range of journalistic, literary or domain-specific texts; - appreciate stylistic differences between texts (written or spoken); - discover the structure of discourse; - recognize stylistic devices typical of the target language and provide equivalents in his/her mother tongue; - identify the targeted readership of a text; - have a good command of a broad lexical repertoire allowing gaps to be readily overcome with circumlocutions and avoidance strategies; - have a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms; - make no significant vocabulary errors; - consistently maintain a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare; - be able to vary intonation and place sentence stress correctly in order to express finer shades of meaning; - use consistent and accurate layout, paragraphing, spelling and punctuation; - produce clear, smoothly flowing, well-structured speech, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

Content

Vocabulary extension with particular focus on its appropriate use in context (collocations, register).
Discursive and rhetorical techniques, typical of the target language.
Lexical and structural properties of written vs spoken discourse in the target language.
Special attention will be devoted to the mastery of academic language and the linguistic specificities of scientific discourse.

Teaching methods

30 hours of classes per semester, combining both 'lecture' and exercise sessions. In the lecture parts of the course, theoretical approaches to improve reading will be discussed, as well as various reading techniques. The thematic fields, presented in the form of different types of texts and audio and video recordings, will be commented on and analyzed. In the exercise sessions, the various theoretical approaches presented will be put into practice. The instructors will ensure that equal emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and written expression. In addition to discussions on the themes covered in the lecture part, authentic documents related to the same themes – which may also lead to oral reactions – may be presented.
45 hours of individual study and work per semester, particularly:

• Systematic, personal, and independent study of the vocabulary contained in the course materials;
• Grammar exercises on Moodle;
• Preparation for listening comprehension;
• Preliminary preparation of texts;
• Writing documents;
• Remediation work and additional self-study exercises;
• Updating notes and reviewing, memorizing.

Evaluation methods

Continuous certificative assessment (70% of the final grade) includes:

• Attendance (80% of non-graded tests completed and attendance at sessions) and active participation (interaction, submission of group work, etc.) (10%)
• Regular work on vocabulary (managing the vocabulary list at least three times per semester) (15%)
• Three graded grammar and/or vocabulary tests per semester (15%)
• Completion of projects (individual or group) per semester (30%)

Attendance in class (see above) is a mandatory requirement to be admitted for the January and June exams, according to article 72 of the RGEE.
Final assessment (30% of the final grade) during the January session and the June session, each including parts A and B, which will be successive and separated in time. Part A, which corresponds to basic level, will assess written skills (comprehension and production). In Part B, which corresponds to an advanced level, students will have to demonstrate their oral skills (comprehension and production). Only those who have successfully passed part A are invited to take part B. The final grade is the arithmetic average of the grades for parts A and B. During the June session, students will take the failed parts from the January session. The pass mark is set at 10/20. In case of a second exam enrollment, only the part corresponding to the end-of-semester assessment (30% of the final grade) can be presented.

Other information

Course materials available on moodle.

Bibliography

Apelt, M. (2014), Wortschatz und mehr: Übungen für die Mittel- und Oberstufe. München: Hueber Verlag.

Faculty or entity

> ELAL