GERMAN 102

Course Description

Develops further the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing to a proficiency level regarded as basic communication in German. GERMAN 102 is for students who have completed GERMAN 101 or the equivalent. Students earn two General Education Points for Basic Communication in a Second Language and one General Education Point for Cultures and Diversity. German language study is taught in its cultural context, including history, culture, diversity, and comparison with students’ native culture. Practice in language laboratory and / or use of electronic language-learning media is required. Students must have passed GERMAN 101 or the equivalent in order to enroll in GERMAN 102. GERMAN 102 is offered every semester.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: By the end of GERMAN 102, students attain a functioning ability to communicate in German in speaking, writing, listening and reading. Students learn language skills on the basis of selected cultural topics. Objectives are based on the Novice-High level of proficiency as described in the standards of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL).

Specific Goals of German 102:

Speaking and Writing Ability

◊ handle selected rudimentary tasks and social situations requiring an exchange of basic information related to

        a. work,
        b. school,
        c. recreation,
        d. self, family, home,
        e. daily activities,
        f. interests and personal preferences,
        g. physical and social needs, such as food, shopping, travel and lodging;

◊ narrate and describe in familiar areas (personal information, common events) in the present tense and in the present perfect tense;

◊ begin to use cohesive devices (conjunctions, etc.) in connected discourse of more than one sentence or phrase;

◊ respond to direct questions or requests for information and ask a variety of questions to obtain simple information to satisfy basic needs, such as directions, prices and services;

◊ use elements and conversational input to make utterances of sentence length and some strings of sentences;

Reading and Listening Ability

◊ skim and scan for information from texts at the novice-high level;

◊ decifer survival texts, such as schedules and signs;

◊ understand and participate in basic conversational exchanges related to the desired speaking ability.

Methods

  • With a recommended class size of twenty students or fewer, German 102 will further develop German language skills through a variety of activities, including use of electronic and print media.
  • Students are required to bring the textbook and notebook to class every day. Those who do not bring the materials will not be permitted to participate in class.
  • Students must have the textbook out and ready by the start of every class session.
  • Class sessions will be devoted to maximizing the amount of German spoken.
  • Many assignments are due before covering the material in the class session. The textbook gives ample explanations. These assignments are preparation for class, rather than follow-ups.
  • A good amount of paired and group work will take place during class, in order to emphasize speaking.
  • Written and recorded assignments must be submitted on BOLT; no assignments are accepted as email attachments.
  • Some assignments may include collaborative activities outside regular class sessions.
  • It will be assumed that all students in this course will study abroad soon, therefore the course is designed to help prepare students for experience of living and studying in Germany.
Activities
  1. Study: Students are expected to study and learn the material, taking responsibility for their own learning. Attendance in class and completing assignments is not enough preparation to master the material. Students are expected to spend one hour outside of classtime to prepare for each class session (six hours per week).
  2. Collaboration: Students work with another student in class and in small groups for both homework assignments and for in-class activities. Students may also grade each other on their performances.
  3. Role Playing: Students will perform role-playing activities. Situations will relate to the topics at hand and will be both prepared and extemporaneous.
  4. Presentations: Students may be required to make presentations in German. These could include forms such as simple oral reports, "show-and-tell," and power-point presentations.
  5. Reading and Listening: Reading and video assignments will increase in length and complexity as the semester progresses.
  6. Writing: Students will compose essays of slightly increasing length and complexity as the semester progresses. Unless otherwise instructed, essays will be submitted as MS-Word documents in the designated "assignment" folder on BOLT; no other format is acceptable. Essays may possibly receive a grade only after the second corrected draft.
  7. Grammar: Lessons on linguistic structures will be integrated with the topics.
  8. Social Application: Students may be required to meet with fellow students and possibly with German exchange students outside of class in order to prepare some assignments. The app CircleIn is highly recommended to enhance the social application:
    New Studying Resource: CircleIn

    Bloomsburg University has made CircleIn, an all-in-one studying app and website, available to all BU students. When students wish to talk to other students in class for clarifications, practice, or get help from others in class, this app is an ideal platform. By using CircleIn students can earn rewards and scholarships.

    Link to login instructions

    Link to CircleIn app.

Standards of Conduct

Any act of misrepresentation or conflict with the order of the course, including, but not limited to plagiarism, cheating on tests, false excuses for absence, disruption of class, or engaging in activity during class other than the work at hand, constitutes academic misconduct. (See BU Policy #3512 "Academic Integrity.")

The following are some examples of disruptive acts during class:

  • Unless used for an in-class assignment, Cell phones must be OFF and put away. If you use a cell phone in any way during class, you be ejected from class and will be counted absent.
  • Using a portable computer without permission (except for online class sessions),
  • Talking that interferes with class participation,
  • Not taking notes or not participating in class activities,
  • Reading a newspaper,
  • Eating,
  • Sleeping,
  • Using smokeless tobacco,
  • Playing music on a portable electronic device,
  • Doing homework not related to the tasks at hand.
The instructor will request those who are disruptive to leave the classroom. If the request is ignored or contested, University Police will be called to provide assistance. For online sessions, the instructor will remove disruptive students from the class session.

Any and every act of misconduct will affect grades; in the worst cases, such as plagiarism or cheating, students will fail the course.

Students who commit an act of academic misconduct will be subject to sanctions as stipulated by the university. See BU Policy 4802 secton H.

Link: Masking Policy fall 2021

Attendance policy:

  1. (PRP 3506) "Regular classroom attendance is expected of all students. However, a student will be afforded reasonable assistance by a faculty member when class work is missed as a result of extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control, such as but not limited to: personal illness, death or critical illness in the immediate family, participation in a college-sponsored co-curricular activity. Mutually satisfactory arrangements for assistance must be made by the student when the activity is announced. Instructors are encouraged to use their professional judgment in deciding the legitimacy of each case and may request the student to provide official documentation to verify the reasons for the absence. The instructor is not required to give makeup examinations or review other class work missed as a result of unauthorized absences other than those authorized by this policy."

    NOTE: The Student Health Center does not issue student illness excuses for missed classes.

  2. For every excused absence the student is responsible for furnishing adequate documentation.

  3. Every unexcused absence will diminish the student's grade.

  4. Students are responsible for classwork and assignments whether an absence is excused or not.

  5. Students can be marked as absent if late for class.

Basic Information

  • Credits: 3
  • Time: GERMAN 102-01: Tuesday and Thursday: 09:30AM-10:45AM.
  • Location: Arts and Administration Room 177
  • Department: Languages and Cultures
  • Prerequisites: GERMAN 101 or the equivalent
  • Attendance Policy: Required to attend every class session

Luke Springman

Professor of German

Office: Art and Administration 263
Email: lspringm@bloomu.edu (preferred method of contact)
tel. 389-4251
Website: BU German Program

Office Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
08:00AM - 08:50AM

And by appointment

Grading

◊ Attendance and regular active participation is essential. Every absence and lack of preparation will diminish the final grade.

◊ Students are responsible for checking the BOLT calendar for any and all assignments posted on BOLT, to be completed by the due date.

◊ Students are responsible for any and all assignments sent to their BU email address (University policy).

◊ Written essays must be submitted as an MS-Word document in the disignated folder on BOLT. No assignments will be accepted as email attachments. Each chapter composition may be factored as a percentage of the chapter test.

◊ Voice recordings will be submitted on BOLT using the BOLT recording tool. ◊ Students may be required to use the resources in the Language Laboratory in the Department of Languages and Cultures, except when pandemic precautions prevent use of computer labs.

◊ Assignments are accepted on the due date only, unless there is compelling need to submit a late assignment.

◊ Students are responsible for all computer assignments and must use a computer that can access and operate all the required files and functions. The language laboratory is available for all computer activities, except when pandemic precautions prevent use of computer labs.

◊ Two hours of preparation is expected for each hour in class--six hours of preparation per week.

◊ Students are expected to study the material. Completing assignments and attending class are only part of the learning process. The textbook gives ample explanations. Many assignments are preparation for class activities and will be due before the material is covered in class.

Attitude will contribute significantly to the final grade, even though it is not evaluated in quantative terms.

◊ The final exam is scheduled for GERMAN 102-01: Tuesday, 10 May 2022, 08:00-10:00AM.

◊ Grades posted on BOLT do not represent the official grade record; grades posted on BOLT allow students to gauge their progress during the semester.

◊ No extra credit assignments will be given.

◊ These procedures are subject to change at any time.

 

Grade distribution (tentative):

◊ Projects, essays, quizzes and assignments: 25%

◊ Active participation in class and in other activities: 25%

◊ Tests and oral interviews: 25%

◊ Final: 25%

Required Textbooks

◊ GERMAN 102 textbook from the BU bookstore. Only the latest printed textbook is allowed. Printing pages off the website or using a previous edition of the textbook is not acceptable. It is required to bring the hard copy of the textbook and a loose-leaf binder to class every day.

Online Textbook for GERMAN 102 Links to audio and visual materials, as well at links for other resources are accessed here.

◊ Standard 8½" by 11" lined writing paper, either loose-leaf in a binder or a bound notebook.

◊ Exercises, quizzes, and other assignments will be posted on BOLT.

◊ Internet sites and apps as needed.

◊ Supplementary materials furnished by the instructor at no cost.

 



Lesson Plan

The lesson plan only sets approximate goals and can be changed at any time.

For the complete tentative schedule of lessons: GERMAN 102 calendar