Module details
- Offered to all undergraduates
- Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, 16.00-18.00 (depending on year of study)
- Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
- Two-term module, worth 7.5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit, or Degree Credit where your department allows
German advice
contact the Coordinator:
Ms Christa Saller
020 7594 8754
Room S306, Sherfield Level 3
Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
A communicative module for students with some prior knowledge of the German language and culture of the German-speaking countries.
This module will help you to:
- develop existing basic skills in everyday language use, through revision and consolidation;
- extend your range of vocabulary, simple structures, and introduce more complex constructions;
- provide students with the opportunity to develop all the fundamental language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in German;
- offer an insight into a range of aspects of the culture and daily life in German-speaking countries;
- prepare you to progress towards higher language levels;
- equip you with the necessary tools for independent language learning.
By the end of the module, students should have reached approximately the A2+ standard of the CEFR.
To be eligible for this module, you need to have done one of the following:
- Successfully completed German Level 1
- Gained a German GCSE qualification
- Already achieved A1+ or equivalent on the CEFR.
Download a table of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels (PDF).
Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year.
Information blocks
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- respond to and produce simple, spoken language in familiar contexts;
- respond to and produce simple written texts, applying grammar and vocabulary from the A2-elementary level (CEFR);
- demonstrate intercultural awareness in your handling of everyday social interactions in German and in your use of language;
- use a range of digital language-learning tools, to support your production.
In this module, you will cover the following linguistic structures:
- Declension of the noun and pronoun
- Present, future and perfect tenses of the verb
- Rules of word order
- Imperfect tense of the verb
- Use of prepositions
- Use of adjectives (comparison and adjectival endings)
- Relative and reflexive pronouns
- Subordinate clauses
You will be able to revise and consolidate your knowledge and skills in:
- Culture and customs
- Languages and communication
- Accommodation
- Travel and sights
- Leisure activities
- Health
- Work
- Bank
- Clothes
- Inventions
- Features of modern life (including social and behavioural norms), selected cultural areas and personalities of 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.
Weekly preparation tasks set on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and coursework tasks will give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate your knowledge and skills at your own pace and to develop your awareness of how to use language-learning tools independently. Following a flipped-classroom approach, you will be provided with materials to study independently beforehand, and then will apply these during classroom time, ensuring thus that face-to-face time is devoted for interactional learning and communicative skills acquisition. This approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks and activities, but also seeks to support different learning preferences.
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 (25%): Integrated skills pack, including receptive/ productive skills: reading and writing (c. 120-150 words).
- Coursework (25%): Integrated skills pack in mid-spring term, including receptive/ productive skills: listening and a 3-4-minute speaking task.
- Examination (25%): 1-hour in-class test on the Virtual Learning Environment (BYOD), at the end of spring term, testing grammar/ lexicon awareness and reading/ writing (writing c. 150 words).
- Practical (25%): Oral exam in the summer term, including graded, open conversation on topics seen in class and an unprepared communicative task (approx. 15 minutes, total).
You will complete two pieces of summative coursework (set towards the end of autumn term and mid-spring term), which will include rubrics and revision guidance to ensure you are supported when completing your work and so that you are aware of the assessment expectations. There will also be a 1-hour in-class examination (scheduled at the end of spring term), and one practical - in the form of an oral examination (at the end of spring term or during the summer term). All summative assessments contribute to the final module grade/mark.
Assessment information for students on a course with a year abroad
- 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. The Module options by department page has a full list of the credit options.
- You must be prepared to attend all classes and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.
Coursebook
Relevant reading lists and/or materials will be published on the VLE.
Further information
Further information for Year Abroad/Year in Europe Students
Further information for BSc Hons and MSc Language for Science Degrees
"Good content, well structured. Good transition for people who haven't done Level 1 at Imperial but have done GCSE German a few years ago."