German Beginners Fast-Track

Module title	German Beginners Fast-Track
Module code	FLG2130
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Hadaya Chisholm El Saad (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

German Beginners Fast-Track covers the equivalent of German Beginners and Intermediate 1 in one year. It is intended for students who have a successful track record of learning another modern foreign language (e.g. GCSE A*-B grade or equivalent). It may also be suitable for re-starters wanting to review the basics of German language. Students will need to understand basic terminology for grammatical structures.

You will learn how to understand straightforward written and spoken texts, based on familiar scenarios found in work, study and leisure environments. You will also be able to communicate effectively on a wide range of topics from everyday situations.

It also provides an introduction to the customs, culture and society of the regions and countries in which German is spoken..

Module aims - intentions of the module

German Beginners Fast-Track provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential grammar structures in a communicative context. The module is taught as far as possible in German.

German Beginners Fast-Track aims to:

Provide you with a solid foundation of the basic grammatical structures of German and the linguistic tools to enable you to communicate effectively in everyday situations across the four key language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
Enable participants to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations.
Provide an introduction to the customs, culture and society of the regions/countries in which German is spoken and to develop your awareness of the general social and cultural background of German

German Beginners Fast-Track exit level is broadly equivalent to A2 Basic User level of the Common European Framework.

Students who successfully complete this module will normally progress directly to German Intermediate 2, FLG2330.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of German.
2. Read and comprehend straightforward written and aural texts on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, study, leisure etc in German.
3. Communicate effectively on a broad range of general topics which are familiar or of personal interest, both orally and in writing, and produce short descriptive and narrative texts, formal and informal letters.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Understand the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise your learning with guidance from the tutor.
5. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar and bilingual dictionary, to consolidate your learning.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Make a presentation on a topic pertinent to everyday occurrences in your field and hold a conversation in German which may involve expressing opinions and making value judgments.
7. Make progress through developing skills of self-study and application and develop an awareness of and sensitivity to a foreign culture.

Syllabus plan

The module will cover some or all of the following topics:

Main Topics (non-exhaustive):

Greeting others and introducing oneself
Daily Routines
Family&Friends
Healthy eating
This is our house / flat
Understanding directions and talking about locations in a town
Shopping - buying and describing items of clothing
Talking about past / future dates
travel and accommodation
school
education and professions
TV programmes
the world of work
Expressing likes and dislikes
Growing up now and in the past

Main grammar (non-exhaustive):

Alphabet and numbers
word order in sentences
questions & polite Imperatives
conjugation in the present tense
Genders of nouns
possessive pronouns
Objects and their genders
use of possessive pronouns
informal & formal ways of addressing people
Expressing likes & dislikes - gern/lieber/am liebsten; ein/kein
verbs + direct object,
The time; the days of the week
Use of modal verbs prepositions + accusative or dative,
Adjective endings in front of nouns,
'Es gibt' (There is / are) ... + Accusative
adjectives in attributive/ predicative position
Use of the informal Imperative
prepositions 'zum'/'zur' + Dative
Demonstrative adjectives
subordinate clauses introduced by 'dass'
use of the past tense forms (past tense of haben / sein + past participle of the verb)
Verbs with prefixes
direct/ indirect objects
dative pronouns
adverbs of time
ordinal numbers
Weak and strong verbs in the past tense - past participles
Use of past and future tense forms
Use of the prefect tense in talking about the past

Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as pair / group work and role playing, and include the study of texts, oral development work and listening comprehension exercises.

You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class and we provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as a successful language learner. You will receive regular feedback on your progress from class activities, homework assignments etc.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
88	212	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	88	Language classes
Guided Independent Study	212	Consolidate class work by learning vocabulary and structures and by reading, watching or listening to material in German. Prepare exercises and activities for class, write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video/DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
4 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking.	Variable	1-5,7	Written and oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	25	25

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Portfolio	50	As described on the ELE page	1-5; 7	Written and oral
Oral Examination	25	Approx. 10 minutes.	1,3-7	Written and oral
Written Examination	25	1.5 hours	1-5, 7	Written and oral
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Portfolio	Portfolio	1-5; 7	Referral/Deferral period
Oral examination	Oral examination	1, 3-7	Referral/Deferral period
Written examination	Written examination	1-5,7	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Begegnungen: Kurs-Und Arbeitsbuch A1 + MIT 2 CDs, Schubert Verlag (1 Oct 2008)
Begegnungen: Kurs-Und Arbeitsbuch A2 + MIT 2 CD's, Schubert Verlag (1 Oct 2008)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11267

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Jones/Lawlor, Practice in German Grammar, Nelson Thornes Ltd; 2 Rev Ed edition,
2001 Dictionary: Collins/Robert German Dictionary or similar.

Key words search

German Beginners Fast-Track; German Beginners; German Ab Initio; German

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	06/02/2012
Last revision date	28/07/2020