101 Elementary __German_I______
THIS COURSE FULFILLS FOUR CREDITS OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES CORE REQUIREMENT IN THE HUMANTITIES AREA OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course:Elementary German I
Instructorand Contact Information:Dr. Lilian Ramos
Somsen 319F
Tel: 457-5168
Textbooks:Deutsch Na Klar by DiDonate, Clyde and Vansant, 5th ed.
Workbook and Lab Manual to accompany Deutsch Na Klar
English Grammar for Students of German (recommended)
Course Description and Material to Covered:. The course incorporates aural comprehension, speaking reading, writing and cultural topics where German is spoken and the essential differences and similarities between these countries and the United States or Canada. The target language will be used as much as possible. The course will also focus on DVD and orally-based language instruction.
Assessment:Chapter tests, online quizzes, workbook and other written assignments, oral presentations and a semester final exam.
Composition of Grade:
Points or percentages assigned for the following categories:
Class participation and attendance
Chapter tests
Online quizzes
Workbook assignments
Semester exam
Grade Scale:
A (100-90%)
B (89-80%)
C (79-70%)
D (69-60%)
F (59-0%)
Pass/No credit option: “D” or higher
Retro-active credit policy:
The department recommends that students who meet the prerequisites for French, German, or Spanish 101, 102, or 201 enroll in the next higher elementary or intermediate course. By earning a grade of “A” or “B” in WSU’s language courses 102, 201, or 202, students may obtain retroactive credit for course 101 and any sequel courses below the course in which they earned the “A” or “B.” Qualifying students may apply for retroactive credit by completing the appropriate form(s) and paying a fee of $5 per credit in order to receive a grade of “P” (pass) in the appropriate course(s). For information about credit by examination, see page 23 of the course catalog. The foreign language faculty reserves the right to depart from these guidelines when warranted by exceptional circumstances.
Attendance Policy:Students are assigned points for each class session and must present documentation if an absence is to be excused. Excused absences consist of illness, emergency or university-sponsored events. Students are allowed one unexcused absence without penalty.
Assessment/Assignment Make-Up Policy:Exams and quizzes cannot be made up and late work will not be accepted unless an absence is excused.
Academic Dishonesty Policy:Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated and will be addressed according to university policy.
Electronic Device Policy:Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class and laptops are to used only for in-class assignments and for note-taking. Violations will result in points being deducted accordingly.
Student Learning Curriculum Outcomes:
Upon graduation, students earning this degree should be able to:
LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND VOCABULARY
1. Identify the forms and uses of various verb tenses and moods as appropriate in given contexts.
2. Select grammatically correct words, phrases or sentences, including idiomatic expressions, to complete given sentences and passages.
3. Construct sentences from specified elements, (e.g., words, phrases, and clauses).
4. Apply conventions of spelling, capitalization, punctuation and format as appropriate for given contexts.
5. Understand language as a system.
LISTENING
1. Derive essential information from oral messages in real-life situations.
2. Respond appropriately to nonverbal cues as they relate to verbal messages.
SPEAKING
In response to a given prompt, appropriately and effectively communicate a message, provide information or description, and tell a story.
READING
Demonstrate comprehension of everyday authentic materials such as instructions, newspapers, commonly used reference works, advertising copy, menus, transportation schedules, travel guides, etc.
WRITING
In response to an assignedtopic, write a well-organized, cohesive passage of several paragraphs (approximately 200-250 words) that carries out a specific task such as narrating an event in the appropriate tense(s); describing a person, place or thing; analyzing a situation or text; persuading through rational argumentation.
University Studies Humanities Requirement Outcomes:
- Identify and understand specific elements and assumptions of a particular Humanities discipline
Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources (e.g. media and online materials), and a variety of assessments (e.g. tests, quizzes, drills, presentations, feedback, and collaborative learning), students will:
- understand language as a system
- practice and master the sounds of L2 (Target language)
- study grammatical concepts and analysis
- gain level-appropriate proficiency in the target language
- appreciate the two-fold nature of language learning (cognitive and behavioral response)
- correct L1 (native language) interference
- consciously analyze features of language that are automatic in L1
- contrast with those features which must be acquired in L2
- comprehend language as the clearest and most fundamental reflection of a culture, civilization, and social reality
- Understand how historical context, cultural values, and gender influence
perceptions and interpretations
Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources, and a variety of assessments, students will:
- learn that native speakers classify, define, structure, and conceptualize the world in categories that may differ from those of the students
- discuss how these categories establish and reflect different cultural, social, historical, and gender expectations
- explore through examples “invisible” cultural differences and deal with them constructively and creatively
- study the contemporary cultures of the ____German______-speaking world
with regard to historical, social, and linguistic differences despite the “common” language
- Understand the role of critical analysis (e.g. aesthetic, historical,
literary, philosophical, rhetorical) in interpreting and evaluating expressions of human experience
Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources, and a variety of assessments, students will:
- consistently compare and analyze the target language and variant cultures in order to produce culturally accurate interpretations of aesthetic, social, historical, and linguistic material
- acquire the ability to understand and speak L2 actively
- perceive and experience the world through the medium of a new language and culture
- view their native language and culture with greater objectivity
- learn to differentiate the subtleties distinguishing the cultures of the _____German_____-speaking world