Practical language learning in the region/Word in culture - German A2 3224-SWKNA2
German communication workshops on the level A2 are aimed at
activating the skills of linguistic expression and communication in foreign
language as well as to enrich German vocabulary. The course is proposed
in the form of conversation/discussion on different topics offered for
students, pertaining the everyday life (including colloquial speech and
other styles not considered by textbooks), cultural events and
communication in future jobs according to the profile of a graduate.
The thematic scope of the course comprises new lexis connected with
basic communicative situations as well as cultural events/selected cultural
elements of the countries from the relevant language area (cultural events,
peculiarities).
1. Let's get to know each other (welcome, farewell, question about
well-being)
2. Let's talk about yourself and others: family, friends (providing
information, formulating questions)
3. In a German restaurant: menu (typical German cuisine), how to
place an order and pay
4. Journey through German-speaking countries (based on video
materials, real-life information)
5. In Berlin: monuments, how to spend free time (based on video
materials, real-life information)
6. Cultural events (which to choose, expressing proposals, consents,
refusals)
7. How to write an email / post card (holiday, appointment,
cancellation of a meeting)
8. How to answer the phone and fill out a form: simple
communication situations
9. Going shopping (asking for advice, expressing preferences)
10. Should students work? (reading a job offer, job opportunities in
German-speaking countries, obtaining information via telephone)
11. Expressing opinions, argumentation (selected situations)
12. Is anything wrong with you? A visit to the doctor, travelling by
plane, at the airport in Berlin
13. On a business trip abroad: schedule of meetings and activities
14. Once upon a time. Working with a German fairy tale (cultural
studies component)
15. Forecasting and planning: Future time, expressing intentions
16. Celebrating, making wishes and giving presents (culturalist
component)
17. In my opinion: Discussing and arguing
18. Blog about travelling in German-speaking countries: Description
of experiences and events in the past tense
19. Week at work: Dates, hours (repeating numerals)
20. Working with a German song (cultural studies component)
21. Watching a German movie (optional)
22. Talking about the film watched, writing a short review
23. What have you recently read? - Meeting with German literature
24. Do they speak German in Austria?; Regional differences in
language use (cultural studies component)
25. Foreign languages: How to learn them effectively?
26. Studying in Germany: Is it worth it? How to cope with it?
27. At the bank, at the office: Formal conversations
28. Facebook and real life. Online connections
29. How to express positive and negative emotions
30. Solving problems, making compromises: Conversational exercises
There are also other topics related to students' interests / proposed by
students.
Course is conducted through discussing different topics based on priorly
given texts or handouts delivered by the lecturer, working in groups and
pairs, individual work (substantially supported by the lecturer).
Training of different language skills will be conducted as follows:
Speaking: individual monologic utterances related to the topics which
were discussed during the semester, dialogs, role-playing-games.
Listening: different types of texts (dialog, monolog w various
communicational situations) and tasks adjusted to the level.
The use of a language: vocabulary and grammar exercises indicating the
degree of proficiency in the course content.
Writing: an opinion in the written form related to the topics which were
discussed during the semester.
Student workload includes:
Classroom participation – 30 hours (1 ECTS)
Preparing for classes – 30 hours (1 ECTS)
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
A student is practicing without having to fear his/her speech
communication on the basic level:
On completing the course, the student:
KNOWLEDGE:
- makes use of knowledge, acquired during the course, of culture of
a given lingusitic region;
- a graduate knows and understands at an basic level the
sophisticated nature of a language;
- one has basic vocabulary necessary to manage in language
environment (See: Full description);
- one has basic knowledge about the description of a language
system;
- one knows selected issues (See: Full description).
SKILLS:
- communicates rather easily/at the basic level on topics and tasks
included in Full description;
- identifies information in a variety of simple texts, necessary to fulfill
non-lingustic objectives;
- makes analysis, synthesis and interpretation of information contained
in simple texts and everyday material;
- presents, both orally and in writing, facts and opinions, giving reasons,
in a simple way, for taking decisions.
COMPETENCES:
- one is able to collaborate in pair as well as in a group of people;
- one knows learning strategies and understands the need for
lifelong learning;
- one knows basic social norms and their relevant verbal and
nonverbal reactions which are obligatory in the definite cultural
and linguistic area;
- one detects cultural differences and demonstrates the tolerance for
users of other languages.
Assessment criteria
I. The organization of classes:
According to The detailed rules of studies at the Faculty of Applied
Linguistics (The Resolution No. 114 by the Faculty of Applied
Linguistics Board of 19 December, 2017):
1) Attendance at all classes, covered by the plan, shall be compulsory (§
9 (2)).
2) It is not possible to have a resit if the reason of failing the credit was
noncompliance with the requirement to participate in them. In such a
case a student can be conditionally registered in an successive stage of
study and can repeat the failed course.
According to the University Foreign Language Teaching System (the
Resolution No. 119 from 17 June, 2009).
3) In case of 30 hours in semester, 2 absences without justifying are
acceptable. Missed classes must be made up in accordance with the
requirements of the lecturer. The requirements are provided by the
lecturer during the first class.
II. Assessment criteria:
The final mark comprises the following elements:
Substantive participation in the class (40%)
Presentation of the topic fixed by the lecturer (60%)
It must be taken into account that in order to complete the course
successfully a student needs to demonstrate achievements in every the
above mentioned categories (a student who receives the 0% in one of
the categories, won't complete the course, which means that he/she did
not demonstrate any activity in none of them).
The unsatisfactory grade can be awarded as a result of unsatisfactory
learning achievements based on partial grades.
Grading system:
99 – 100% - 5 (excellent)
93 - 98% - 5 (very good)
87 - 92% - 4,5 (fairly good)
77 - 86% - 4 (good)
71 - 76% - 3,5 (satisfactory plus)
60 - 70% - 3 (satisfactory)
Additionally, the workshop lecturer introduces the detailed principles and
criteria of credit during the first class.
Bibliography
1. Grammatik und Konversation.
Arbeitsblätter für den Deutschunterricht,
Klett, 2014
2. Grammatik aktiv, Cornelsen, 2018
3. Treffpunkt Berlin, Klett, 2003
4. Schritte International, Huber 2018
5. Wechselspiele, Langenscheidt, 2001
6. https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/s-
2055
and others.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: