GRMN 201*

Intermediate German I

Fall Semester 2012

Wann und wo?

Kurse: 

Section 1: Montag 11:30-13:00 Uhr, Donnerstag 13:00-14:30 Uhr. KINGST 104

Section 2: Montag, 8:30--10.00 Uhr, Donnerstag 10:00-11:30 Uhr. KINGST 308.     

Professorin: Dr. Monika Holzschuh Sator

KIN 411, 613 533-2076, monika.holzschuh@queensu.ca.
Office Hours:  TBA

Study Guide (2011)

  Bücher, die Sie brauchen:

TBA

All course materials are available through the Campus Bookstore.

 Andere Materialien:

Our textbook Kontakte has an Online Learning Center: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073535338/information_center_view0/. Click on 'Student edition'.

• For the audio program in the workbook, which you will need for your homework: choose the chapter you want to work on in the menu on the left side (we start with Kapitel10). Then click on 'Audio Program' under 'More Resources'.
• For the dialogues from the textbook, choose 'Course-wide Content / Textbook audio' and select the appropriate chapter.
• For quizzes on vocab and grammar, cultural informationand the 'Blickkontakte' videos, select the chapter you want to work on in the menu on the left side and then choose from a variety of exercises.

Save a tree.... please do not use title pages for your assignments.

Course Objectives:

German 201 is intended for students withan advanced beginner knowledge of the German language, having completed GRMN 101*/102* or equivalent. We begin with a thorough review and consolidation of the grammar structures and vocabulary acquired in GRMN 101*/102*.While we emphasize oral communication, all four foreign language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) will be addressed. With your active participation, this course will help you expand your German language skills, specifically:

• to have everyday conversationsin German. You will learn how to expand your abilities to function in a German-speaking environment and to express yourself on a number of topics
• to understand speakers of Germanon topics such as leisure-time activities, interests, travelling, being ill or having an accident, life plans etc.
• to acquire reading strategiesin German, strengthening your ability to understand and analyze different kinds of texts with limited dictionary use
•  to writemessages, summaries, take notes, compose short texts, dealing with everyday topics and issues.
• You will alsoreview and continue to acquiregrammatical and syntactic structures and patterns, which underlie all communication in the language.
• The course will provide information aboutvarious aspects of the culturesin German-speaking countries.

Homework: Review, Reading Comprehension (Leo& Co), Kontakte Kapitel 9-12.

• You will be given Lists of Learned Knowledge of the vocabulary and grammarwe are studying for the review session at the beginning of the course, and for each of the Kontakte chapters. Please review and study the appropriate List after each class, at the beginning of your study session.
 
• The course will begin with a thorough review – please complete the exercises as detailed in the handouts: Hausaufgaben zur Wiederholung.
• We will read three short stories from the series Leo & Co (see above). Please complete the exercises detailed in the handouts to accompany these texts.
• We will complete the last three chapters of Kontakte – the homework will be similar to what you are accustomed to from GRMN 101* and 102*:

As review after each class, fill out the corresponding exercises in the Arbeitsbuch (AB). Some of the exercises require you to work with the accompanying audio-program, which you can find on the textbook webpage (described above). Complete the exercises first, and then correct your answers, using a pen of different color and referring to the answer key in the back of the workbook. Self-correction is an important skill you can improve on in this class and will be part of your homework grade. In order to prepare for the next class, read and complete the grammar sections in the Textbuch (TB) as assigned in the study guide. Write your answers on a separate sheet rather than in the textbook, then, again, check your answers in the back of the book (Appendix G, starting on page A-37) and correct them with a pen of different color. Submit these exercises as requested by your instructor. We will occasionally cover some of the TB grammar material during class, so please always bring your answers along.

Work on the specific pages assigned in the Semesterplan (study guide) each day, even if your homework isn't collected on a daily basis. These detailed assignments serve as important complements to review, foster, and expand your daily learning experiences in the classroom.Exposing yourself to German in frequent and short study sessions is a very important and effective language learning strategy; due to the cumulative nature of the material, "cramming" won't work as a long-term study habit. Homework is usually due when a chapter is finished – specific due dates for your homework are given in the Semesterplan. For each chapter, the assignments will be graded as satisfactory only if handed in on time, complete, and appropriately corrected.

Grading and Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is constituted by the five core fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility (see http://www.academicintegrity.org/fundamental_values_project/index.php). These values are central to the building, nurturing and sustaining of an academic community in which all members of the community will thrive. Adherence to the values expressed through academic integrity forms a foundation for the "freedom of inquiry and exchange of ideas" essential to the intellectual life of the University (see the Senate Report on Principles and Priorities). Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulations concerning academic integrity and for ensuring that their assignments conform to the principles of academic integrity.  Information on academic integrity is available in the Arts and Science Calendar (see Academic Regulation 1), on the Arts and Science website (see http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academics/academic-integrity), and from the instructor of this course.

Your final grade will consist of the following components:

Item	Weight
Attendance and participation	10%
Homework   Review: 4% Textbook and workbook exercises (Kap.10-12) 4% Homework to accompany reading (2+2+4): 8% Pronunciation exercise 2%	total: 18%
2 Schreibarbeiten + 3 Skypeprotokolle	12%
Mid-term interview	10%
7 Quizzes	10%
2 tests	30%
Oral project	10%

 Attendance and Participation

Attendance is mandatory and of the utmost importance in making your language learning experience a successful one. Your attendance and participation grade will be lowered by 1% for each unexcused absence in excess of three classes (= 1 week!). Additional marks are taken off if you do not hand in your Skype sessions reports (see Schreibaufgaben) for missed tutorials.Should you have to miss a class, it is your responsibility to catch up on work and assignments. Please ask your fellow students first  – I'll be happy to answer any remaining questions.

Quizzes

There will be a short weekly quiz of approx. 5 minutes in most weeks. Each quiz will test verbs, vocabulary, ability to understand and communicate on the current level of the class, and recently learned grammar structures. The quizzes are meant to help you stay on top of the class material

Tests

The two longer tests are 80 minutes long. They will entail a listening comprehension section, test communicative and writing skills, vocabulary and grammar structures.

Interview          

The oral interview is about 10 minutes in length. You will be asked to sign up for a time during the ninth week of the semester. You will meet with your instructor and have a conversation on the level appropriate to the course.

Schreibaufgaben  

Please make sure to edit your assignments with the help of our list of 'Fehler verboten!'Bewertung: Schreibarbeit Frage 1 / 10 Punkte, Skypeprotokoll a) 2, b / 3 Punkte = /15. 

Skypeprotokoll 1

1. Welche 3 neuen Wörter/Ausdrücke (expressions) haben Sie gelernt?
2. Was hat IhrE PartnerIn an der Uni Halle im Sommer gemacht? (3 Sätze)

Schreibarbeit 1 + Skypeprotokoll 2

Schreibarbeit Waren Sie schon einmal im Krankenhaus? Haben Sie schon einmal einen Unfall gehabt? Erzählen Sie, wie Sie sich fühlen, wenn Sie eine Erkältung oder die Grippe haben. Wählen Sie eins oder 2 dieser 3 Themen und schreiben Sie 10 Sätze!

Skypeprotokoll

1. Welche 3 neuen Wörter/Ausdrücke (expressions) haben Sie gelernt?
2. Was macht IhrE PartnerIn an der Uni Halle, wenn er/sie eine Erkältung hat? (3 Sätze)

Schreibarbeit 2 + Skypeprotokoll 3

Schreibarbeit Bitte schauen Sie sich die Kontaktanzeigen im Arbeitsbuch auf S.296 an („Einen Partner finden" = Aufsatz-Training Kapitel 12). Antworten Sie dann auf eine davon – schreiben Sie 12 Sätze: Warum finden Sie die Person in dieser Anzeige interessant? Sagen Sie kurz, wie Sie aussehen, was Sie gern machen und erzählen Sie über Ihre Pläne für die Zukunft. Wie stellen Sie sich eine Partnerschaft vor? Wollen Sie heiraten, Kinder haben? [Falls Sie die letzten beiden Fragen zu persönlich finden, können Sie ja etwas erfinden...]   

Skypeprotokoll

1. Welche 3 neuen Wörter/Ausdrücke (expressions) haben Sie gelernt?
2. Was möchte IhrE PartnerIn an der Uni Halle werden? Möchte er/sie heiraten,  Kinder haben? (3 Sätze)

Oral Project

In small groups, organize a presentation or skit on a German cultural topic of your choice.It must be presented in German. You may not read directly from a written text. You may use bullet points on note cards if necessary. Bring objects to look at and/or pictures!The grade will be split between content, language and presentation skills. This is a group project; each student has to talk during the actual presentation, preferably for an equal time. Groups will be allocated about 3-4 minutes per member.Please discuss your topic with the instructor before your presentation! You must also submit your script to have grammatical errors corrected. Pick a topic that interests you. Your presentation must build on themes, vocabulary, grammatical structures and cultural information that the course provides. 

Pronunciation Exercise

At any time in weeks 2-5, come to my scheduled office hour and read aloud (with proper pronunciation) the assigned page from Leo& Co.

Final Exam This course has no scheduled exam during the exam period in December.  

Special Arrangements

If you need special arrangements for assignments, please seek advice at Health, Counseling and Disability services. Also speak to your instructor as soon as possible, so that you can be accommodated.

Add/Drop Dates for Half-Courses, Fall Term 2011

Add: 24 September, Drop without academic penalty: 5 November.

Additional Tips

The activities in the classroom are mainly concerned with the acquisition of active communicative skills. You should review the material carefully after each class in order to be able to participate freely in activities. Conscientious learning of grammatical concepts and vocabulary are important as a basis for meaningful practice in real communicative situations.Your instructor will speak German in class. You will not understand every word, but do not worry about this; simply keep listening for words that you do know. A good language learner is a willing guesser who accepts the uncertainty of not understanding every word. But please: never hesitate to ask for clarification of an important concept or if you don't know what to do in an activity.Please make use of your professor's office hours! This time is set aside for you: to help you with any problems or concerns, to catch up, to give you additional practice for a concept that you found difficult, for help with pronunciation etc.

How you can keep learning German over the holidays and beyond...

Here are some great resources on the internet!

• Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster: here you can find the latest news, analysis and current affairs from Germany and around the world: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/.  Viewed worldwide 35 million times per month, most articles are available in both German and English (top right: Wählen Sie aus 30 Sprachen).  Check out 'Deutschkurse' (under 'Deutsch lernen' in the column on the left). There are many interesting features, f.ex. 'Deutsch Interaktiv' – German in 30 Lessons, with over 1000 exercises, videos, audio material and slideshows. A lot of it can be downloaded to your iPod. I highly recommend 'Top Thema mit Vokabeln' and 'Deutsch lernen mit Videos'! There is a new one each week, and they come with tapescript, a glossary and exercises.
• Also highly recommended: the home page of the Goethe-Institut, the most important organization promoting German language and culture:  http://www.goethe.de/lrn/duw/deindex.htm (including chat rooms, e-mail contacts, Second Life and so much more!)
• One of my favorite sites remains German for Music Lovers: http://www.acampitelli.com/ It is not updated regularly, I believe, but has a lot of good information, including a very useful 'Glossary of Grammatical Terms'.
•  Mein Deutschbuch is new, more grammar-oriented, with useful lists http://www.mein-deutschbuch.de/index.php?site=home