GERMAN 203 / 206

Course Description

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: Develops the four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Basic grammar is reviewed and new grammatical concepts are presented. German cultural history is given additional emphasis. Students studying German should begin to synthesize their acquired linguistic and cultural knowledge toward an understanding of their native language and culture. This course is also designed to help prepare those students who would like to visit or study abroad in a German-speaking country. The three hours lecture per week and assignments employ a variety of learning activities. GERMAN 203 differs from GERMAN 204 in the selection of topic areas. GERMAN 203 is a required course for the major and minor in Languages and Cultures: German, but is open to all students. It satisfies General Education Requirements: 2 GEPs for Goal 1 - Communication and 1 GEP for Goal 7 - Arts and Humanities. This course is offered once per year. Prerequisites: GERMAN 102 (German 2), or placement through the German Language Placement Test, or permission of the instructor.

IMPORTANT: Students who complete GERMAN 203 with at least a grade of "C" receive automatic credit for GERMAN 102 at no cost.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: By the end of the course, students will be able to

  1. handle uncomplicated tasks and social situations requiring an exchange of basic information related to work, school, recreation, personal interests and areas of competence, self, family, home, daily activities, interests and personal preferences, physical and social needs, such as food, shopping, travel and lodging;
  2. narrate and describe in familiar areas (personal information, common events) in major time frames;
  3. use cohesive devices (conjunctions, etc.);
  4. 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;
  5. create with the language by combining and recombining known elements.
  6. be able to answer content questions for graded texts in complete sentences;
  7. skim and scan for information from authentic internet news sites, texts, and videos;
  8. decifer survival texts, such as schedules and signs;
  9. ask and answer questions at the desired speaking ability;
  10. attain at least novice-high proficiency according to the ACTFL scale;
  11. acquire fundamental knowledge about the cultural history of German-speaking countries.

Methods

  • With a recommended class size of twenty students or fewer, German 203 / 206 will develop German language skills through a variety of activities, including use of electronic and print media.
  • Students are required to bring the hard copy of the textbook and a 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.
  • A good amount of paired and group work will take place during class.
  • Written and recorded assignments will usually be submitted electronically.
  • 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 ten hours per week outside of classtime to prepare.
  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.
    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:

  • Talking that interferes with class participation,
  • Not taking notes or not participating in class activities,
  • Unless used for an in-class assignment, Cell phones must be OFF and put away. Any unpermitted use of an electronic device will result in dismissal from class and a diminished participation grade.
  • Using a portable computer without permission,
  • 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.

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.

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: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00PM to 12:50PM.
  • Location: Arts and Administration Building 176
  • Department: Languages and Cultures
  • Prerequisites: GERMAN 102 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, Wednesday, and Friday
08:00AM - 09:00AM

Monday and Wednesday
01:00PM - 02:00PM

And by appointment

Grading
  1. Attendance and regular participation is essential. Every absence will diminish the final grade.
  2. Students are responsible for any and all assignments sent to their BU email address.
  3. 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 and the final exam.
  4. Voice recordings will be submitted on BOLT and must use the recording tool on BOLT.
  5. Students may be required to use the resources in the Language Laboratory in the Department of Languages and Cultures.
  6. Assignments are accepted on the due date only, unless there is compelling need to submit a late assignment.
  7. 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.
  8. Two hours of preparation is expected for each hour in class--six hours of preparation per week.
  9. Students are expected to study the material. Completing assignments and attending class are only part of the learning process.
  10. Attitude will contribute significantly to the final grade, even though it is not evaluated in quantative terms.
  11. The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 December 2021, 12:30PM-2:30PM in Arts and Administration 176.

  12. Grade distribution (tentative):
    1. Projects, essays, quizzes and assignments: 25%
    2. Active participation in class and in other activities: 25%
    3. Tests and oral interviews: 25%
    4. Final: 25%
  13. Grades posted on BOLT do not represent the official grade record; grades posted on BOLT allow students to gauge their progress during the semester.
  14. These procedures are subject to change at any time.

Textbooks

  1. Textbook: hard copy available in the BU bookstore. IT IS REQUIRED TO BRING THE HARD-COPY TEXTBOOK TO EVERY CLASS SESSION.
  2. Online Textbook: Online Textbook
  3. There will be four chapters.
  4. Standard 8½" by 11" lined writing paper, either loose-leaf in a binder or a bound notebook.
  5. Exercises, quizzes, and other assignments will be posted on BOLT and on the textbook's website.
  6. Internet sites and apps as needed.
  7. Supplementary materials furnished by the instructor at no cost.

 

Lesson Plan

Link to Course Calendar

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

Kapitel 9

Deutschland und die USA im Vergleich

  • Theme: Comparative culture between Germany and the USA
  • General review of elementary structures, such as verbs in the present tense, nouns and cases, time expressions.
  • Monday, 23 August 2021: introduction
  • Monday, 20 September 2021: test for Kapitel 9

Kapitel 10

Migration und die Multikulturelle Gesellschaft

  • Theme: Immigration in Germany and Cultural Diversity
  • Continued review of elementary German, such as the perfect tense, verbal collocations, conjunctions, and comparative forms.
  • Mittwoch, den 22. September 2021: Beginn Kapitel 10
  • Mittwoch, den 13. Oktober 2021: Test für Kapitel 10

Kapitel 11

Deutsche Geschichte, Deutschland in der Geschichte

  • Theme: German history
  • Structures include preterite tense, conjunctions expressing goal and purpose, temporal relations (adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions), subjunctive mood. Describing people and things; hypothetical situations - part 1; vocations; interviewing; the city of Vienna.

    • Freitag, den 15 Oktober: Beginn Kapitel 11
    • Mittwoch, den 10. November: Test für Kapitel 11

Kapitel 12

Deutsche Literatur:

  • Theme: introduction to literary texts
  • Structures include: special uses of adjectives, present participles, review of comparatives and superlatives, relative constructions, review of "da"- and "wo"-compounds, subjunctive.
Narrating past events; expressing possession and ownership; holidays and vacations.

  • Freitag, den 12. November: Beginn Kapitel 12
  • Freitag, den 3. Dezember: Letzte Sitzung
  • Mittwoch, den 8. Dezember: Exam für GERMAN 203-01 / 206-01 12:30PM - 2.30 PM