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Module

GER4082 : Level D (HE Further Advanced) German: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes

  • Offered for Year: 2019/20
  • Module Leader(s): Ms Andrea Wilczynski
  • Lecturer: Mrs Christina Mueller-Stewart
  • Owning School: Modern Languages
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 5
Semester 2 Credit Value: 5
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module aims to:

- build on language skills gained at stages 1, 2 and 3
- provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the German language and with the ability to use it at a high level of proficiency in professional and academic environments.
- prepare students for postgraduate study in areas that make extensive and intensive use of the target language
- focus on further developing students' oral, aural and written competence in the foreign language gained at stages 2 and 3, with a focus on the professional and academic world.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module focuses on two main activities:

- professional oral communication skills
- aural comprehension and written report and/or commentary

In Semester 1, students will be given the opportunity to practise formal oral communication in the target language in a variety of professional and academic contexts, eg. presentations (informative and persuasive); discussions; debates; vivas and interviews (professional and media).

In Semester 2, students will learn to synthesise audio-visual materials in a formal and professional manner. They will practise written communication in the target language through a range of professional and academic tasks, eg. reports, syntheses, commentaries or critical reviews. The audio-visual sources will cover cultural, political, economic and societal themes in relation to the German-speaking world.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
GER4182Level D (HE Further Advanced) German: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes - Exchange Students Semester 1
GER4282Level D (HE Further Advanced) German: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes - Exchange Students Semester 2
GER4085Level D (HE Further Advanced) German: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes - IBM
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Language classes will introduce, model and offer guidance in each of the skills that students are required to practise during the course (e.g. oral presentations, taking part in critical discussions, aural comprehension and commentary, etc.).

Group work will offer students an opportunity to work in small groups (in the target language) under close supervision of the lecturer. These classes will focus on the skills listed in the outline syllabus.

Teaching will be in the target language.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Examination151M50This will test students’ ability to be efficient and persuasive oral communicators in the Target Language *Cont in Rationale below
Aural Examination902M50This examination will test the students’ note taking skills and ability to listen... **Continued in Assessment Rationale below
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Oral Examination1MMock oral exam and viva. Teaching weeks 9-11. This will be a short version of the real exam with individual feedback.
Aural Examination2MMock aural exam. Prior to Easter break. Student will receive feedback at the end of the Easter break.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment of oral is performed in a setting that is as close to a real-life professional or academic situation as possible.

The exercise of aural commentary is assessed by means of an examination to ensure that the students’ output is produced in identical conditions and is their own work.

The oral and aural mock exams help students assess their progress before the formal examinations take place. Formative feedback will be provided regularly.

* (Continued from above)...understand and synthesise authentic video sources under time constraints. For this reason, students cannot control the video source but reasonable adjustments can be made if required as part of a student support plan. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell and grammar checks have been disabled.

** (Continued from above)...and without any notes other than the printout of their PowerPoint/Prezzi/Keynote presentations. In exceptional circumstances, reasonable adjustments to this rule can be made as part of a student support plan.

Reading Lists

Timetable