German Level 1

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• respond to and produce a basic range of spoken language in very familiar contexts;
• respond to and produce simple written texts. In these, you will be able to apply your knowledge and skills of grammar and vocabulary at A1-level  (in the Common European Framework of Reference for languages) and demonstrate the relevant level of intercultural awareness in your handling of everyday social interactions in German and your use of language. 
• engage with a basic range of digital language learning tools to support your production.
  

Basic linguistic structures to include:

• present tense;
• imperative;
• personal pronouns;
• articles;
• negatives;
• possessive adjectives;
• declension of nouns and pronouns;
• modal verbs;
• separable verbs;
• perfect tense;
• imperfect of haben/sein;
• word order;
• prepositions, conjunctions.

Topics include:

• making contact;
• directions and travel, opinions, work, training and professions;
• eating and drinking;
• holidays and leisure time;
• the home;
• sickness and health;
• family and relationships;
• giving and understanding information;
• features of modern life, including social and behavioural norms;
• selected cultural areas and personalities of the German-speaking countries.

In line with modern foreign languages communicative and active learning methodologies, the in-class activities you will complete will cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). These will include pair work and groupwork (dialogue practice, information gap exercises, discussion), individual tasks, discovery and formulation of grammatical rules, work with texts, etc. Homework and coursework tasks will give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate your knowledge and skills and to develop your awareness of how to use language learning tools independently. Our approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks and activities, but also seeks to support different learning styles.

Your coursework will be marked and returned within two weeks. Rubrics and revision guidance (how-to guides) will be included as needed with each coursework. You will receive detailed feedback alongside suggestions for improvement and an overall percentage showing your provisional grade for that assessment. 

• Coursework (20%): Mid-autumn term. Integrated skills pack, including reading comprehension, grammatical/lexical awareness tasks & short writing (c.80 words).
• Examination (20%): In-class test, on the virtual learning environment (bring your own device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of autumn term. It will include grammar tasks, reading comprehension and guided writing of approx. 80 words.
• Coursework (20%): Mid-spring term. Integrated skills task-based pack including listening comprehension from video/audio materials and an individual speaking task (approx. 2-3 minutes).
• Examination (20%): In-class test, on the virtual learning environment (bring your own device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of spring term. It will include a grammar/lexicon test, and a writing task of approx. 120-140 words.
• Practical (20%): Oral exam in pairs at the end of spring term, including graded open conversation on topics seen in class and a role-play (approx. 10 minutes in total).  

• 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
• Available to take for credit towards your degree where your department allows. Also available for extra-credit.
• You must be prepared to attend all classes and and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.

Module materials:
DaF kompakt neu A1
Birgit Braun, Margit Doubek et al.
Kurs- und Übungsbuch mit MP3-CD 
A1 
168 Seiten 
978-3-12-676313-4