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FUBiS Term III: German Language Semi-Intensive Intermediate 2
(Course # 3.07)
|
Type: |
A Track |
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Language: |
German |
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Contact hours: |
72 (6 contact hours per day) |
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Credit Points: |
4 Credit Points |
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Capacity: |
15 |
Course description
Course Objectives
This course is designed to optimize your competence in writing and speaking, to increase significantly your vocabulary, to deepen grammar usage, and to successfully use consistent self-correction. Furthermore, the course helps you to develop effective reading and listening strategies in German across literary genres and media as you interpret and analyze cultural, political, and historical moments in German-speaking countries and compare them with your own cultural practices. This course is organized around content- based modules and may include a literary text and/or film.
Textbook
Erkundungen Deutsch als Fremdsprache B2, Anne Buscha, Susanne Raven und Gisela Linthout, Schubert Verlag, 2008.
Daily Lesson and Excursion
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are lessons. Since the historical and cultural life of Berlin enriches the content of the course two Wednesdays offer a course-related excursion.
Participation
Each class consists of six teaching modules (45 minutes each). If you miss eight modules your entire course grade will drop by one grade. We discourage late arrival. Coming late to class six times (up to 20 minutes) also will drop your course grade. Missing 20 modules result in failing the class.
Participation includes more than simply coming to class and arriving on time. Active participation reflects the quality of participation and includes consistent interest in learning the language, which involves participating productively in the excursions.
What is active participation?
- Being prepared for class including completed homework assignments,
- regularly volunteering with constructive comments (more isn’t always better),
- contributing productively to group work,
- sharing ideas
- and listening to and respecting the ideas and comments of your peers.
Evaluation:
| Active participation and homework | 200 points |
| Oral presentation | 100 points |
| Essay | 100 points |
| Reflective journal | 100 points |
| Midterm | 100 points |
| Final Examination | 200 points |
| Group project | 200 points |
| Maximum Score | 1,000 points |
Oral Presentation
You prepare a 10-minute oral presentation, in which you introduce and delineate a certain aspect about Berlin or the region. Focus and content of you presentation can be discussed during office hours. Most importantly, you will prepare a handout for your peers listing unfamiliar vocabulary and posing questions. You are practicing to speak freely and cannot read the oral presentation.
Essay
In this course you write one essay (450 – 600 words), which is initially returned by the instructor with suggestions for improvement and must be re-submitted. The first version of the essay is worth 80 points and the rewrite 20 points for a total of 100 points. Please submit your essay typed, double-spaced, and 12 font. Do not hand in rough drafts
When writing your essay you will strive first and foremost for clarity (organization and style) and accuracy (grammar and syntax). You are encouraged to incorporate complex constructions, but please concentrate on syntactic and grammatical accuracy. Proofread your essay to insure that you have not made careless errors. For example, you might look for:
- subject-verb agreement,
- tense of verb,
- gender,
- case,
- adjective endings,
- word order,
- and literal first-language translations.
Reflective Journal
Developing writing competence is one of the foci of this course. Throughout the weeks you will write three journal entries. Your instructor purely for content comments these creative exercises. No corrections will be made.
- The aim of the journal is not to facilitate a therapeutic forum for you; instead you will develop a self-reflective voice and verbalize your impressions in written form, becoming more comfortable and secure in creating with the German language.
- Therefore, in your first entry you create a collage that represents you and the things important to you. In addition, you will explain in writing why you chose the images, symbols, photos, etc., to describe who you are today.
- In the last entry, you might reflect upon your experiences in Berlin or describe your relationship to the German language.
Midterm and Final
You will write a midterm and a final consisting of the following sections: listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and composition based on course themes.
Group Project
The creative group project is thematically linked to course content and includes a 15-minute oral presentation. You will work with peers and present the group’s work during the last week of instruction. Most importantly: you introduce and delineate a certain aspect about Berlin and share some of your impressions.
Possible ideas may include:
- course newspaper,
- sketch or parody,
- PowerPoint presentation,
- dance performance,
- song or poem,
- children’s book
- and game (Monopoly, Jeopardy, etc.)
Official FUBiS Grading scale
|
Freie Universität Berlin grading |
Recommended US grade |
Points (German classes only)* |
|
1,0 |
A |
1000 – 970 |
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1,3 |
A |
969 – 920 |
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1,7 |
A- |
919 – 900 |
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2,0 |
B+ |
899 – 880 |
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2,3 |
B |
879 – 830 |
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2,7 |
B- |
829 – 800 |
|
3,0 |
C+ |
799 – 780 |
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3,3 |
C |
779 – 730 |
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3,7 |
C- |
729 – 700 |
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4,0 |
D |
699 – 680 |
|
failed (> 4,0) |
F |
< 680 |
* The final grade in the German language classes is determined by the points achieved at the end of the course.
Student profile
Intermediate 2
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