Lancaster University

The course aims to enhance students' ability to express themselves fluently and accurately in written German in a variety of registers and at the same time to widen their knowledge and understanding of a range of different aspects of modern German society, politics and culture. Contemporary written materials are used, together with some audio-visual input and a systematic study of German grammar and syntax also forms a specific component of the course.

The GERM201 element comprises of the writing and reading skills and is taken with THE GERM200 element, oral and aural skills. These units cannot be taken separately.  GERM200/201 consists of 3 hours/week covering oral and listening skills as well as grammar, translation and writing skills.

The general aim of GERM201 is to consolidate and build on the linguistic skills acquired in the first year and to equip students with the level of competence and confidence they will require in order to familiarize themselves with the culture and the society of countries where their studied language is spoken.

The course aims to enhance students' linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on reading a variety of sources and on writing fluently and accurately in the language, in a variety of registers.  

A systematic study of the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the language forms a specific component of the course. Contemporary written and audio-visual materials in the L2 language are used throughout the course.

The course also aims to broaden and deepen students' knowledge and understanding of different aspects of modern society, politics and culture, and contemporary issues and institutions and to prepare them for residence abroad.

It is expected that students studying on the GERM200/201 courses wishing to attain a good (2.i/first) level will have elements of B2 (Independent User/Vantage) of the Common European Framework (CEF).

GERM101

Erasmus students:  entry at high B1/B2 of CEF

Building on knowledge acquired in Year 1, GERM201 aims to:

a)      enhance students' ability to understand and translate texts accurately from a variety of (mainly contemporary) sources, and to explore characteristic features of different styles and registers

b)     increase awareness of the structure and variation of the language studied

c)      develop sensitivity to a range of stylistic norms and varieties

d)     help students read, comprehend and summarise the language accurately, in a variety of texts

e)     improve the knowledge of  grammar

f)       expand students' command of modern vocabulary and idiom over a range of different topics

g)     produce written target language that is fluent, expressive, well-formed and grammatically accurate for this level

h)     enhance students' understanding and awareness of some of the current issues in German-speaking countries

i)       prepare students for the social, cultural and linguistic experiences of visiting German-speaking countries and increase their awareness and knowledge of key aspects of their contemporary societies.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

a) convey information and ideas on a variety of topics with reasonable precision

b) read with large degree of independence, and have a broad active reading vocabulary

c) study with greater autonomy and effectiveness

d) communicate confidently in their written language

e) display sensitivity to a greater range of linguistic styles and stimuli

f) understand the language in its broader cultural context

Assessment is by means of a variety of pieces of continuous coursework done over the academic year plus the end of year written examination.

German-English/English-German dictionary (eg COLLINS German Dictionary or the OXFORD-DUDEN German Dictionary)

Durrell, M. (2002) Hammer's German Grammar and Usage. 4^th revised edition. Hodder Arnold.

Durrell, M., Kohl. K. & Loftus, G. (1996) Practising German Grammar: A Workbook for Use with Hammer's German Grammar and Usage. Hodder Arnold

Augsburg/Lancaster Lesebuch available from your tutor.