GERMAN 204

Course Description

Develops the four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Basic grammar is reviewed and new grammatical concepts are presented. Contemporary culture in German-speaking countries 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. GERMAN 204 is a required course for the major 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 the equivalent.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: By the end of GERMAN 204, 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 to the Intermediate-Low level of proficiency as described in the standards of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL).

Specific Goals of German 204:

Speaking and Writing Ability

◊ handle selected 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 all time frames;

◊ use cohesive devices (conjunctions, etc.) in connected discourse of several sentences or phrases;

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

◊ demonstrate emerging speaking abilities to use elements and conversational input to manage discursive tasks such as expressing opinions, narrating in various time frames, and describing people and things in increased detail.

Reading and Listening Ability

◊ skim and scan for information from texts at the intermediate-low level;

◊ read texts on contemporary society;

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

◊ For this semester, reading and listening skills will be developed on the basis of the drama by the Swiss author Friedrich Dürrenmatt Die Physiker.

Methods

• With a recommended class size of twenty students or fewer, German 204 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.
• 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.

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. 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.
8. Grammar: Lessons on linguistic structures will be integrated with the topics.