Christina Heinemann (christina.heinemann@hu-berlin.de)
Description:
Students who enter this level are able to accomplish everyday needs required to live in a new culture. In this course, students will begin to develop independence and autonomy so that, when communication does break down, they have some tools at their disposal to resolve these challenges independently. Students should welcome correction and guidance from their instructors, hosts, and others in the community as they progress.
By the end of this course, students will begin to converse at a rate of speed approaching normal conversation. They will start to become creative, spontaneous, and self-reliant as they solve problems, interpret texts, negotiate, and express their opinions, likes, and dislikes in the culture. Although students will make errors and experience communication breakdowns, they are sometimes able to resolve these on their own. Students will understand some colloquial expressions and slang, and will begin to understand a wider variety of native speakers from different backgrounds. By the end of this level, students will be capable of achieving the learning outcomes outlined below.
Prerequisites:
Proficiency at a level equivalent to IES Abroad’s Emerging Independent Abroad, as determined by placement test.
Attendance policy:
Attendance at all IES Abroad courses, including field studies and excursions is necessary and mandatory. Unexcused absences will count against the grade. Any student who has more than three (3) unexcused absences will receive an “F” as the final grade in the course. Absences due to sickness, religious observances, and family emergencies may be excusable at the discretion of the Center Director.
In the case of an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Academic Officer of the absence with relevant documentation (e.g. a doctor’s note).
Missed tests cannot be taken at another point in time except in case of documented illness!
The use of laptop or notebook microcomputers during class sessions is only permitted with prior permission from the course instructor. Cell phones are to be switched off. Students are expected to be on time for class, since late arrivals can be distracting for the instructor and disruptive for the class.
Learning outcomes:
Students who are placed in this level should have achieved the outcomes in the Emerging Independent Abroad level as defined by the IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication.
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve some of the outcomes for the Independent Abroad level as defined by the MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. The key learning outcomes from the MAP are summarized below.
I. Intercultural Communication
A. Students will begin to identify at a basic level key host cultures, subcultures, habits, norms, and behaviors in a variety of settings, and they will be aware of the risk that generalizations can lead to stereotypes.
B. Students will start to identify their own cultural beliefs, behaviors, and values by contrasting and comparing them with those of the host cultures.
C. Students will be able to identify some gestures and body language, and they may be able to integrate some of those nonverbal actions into their interactions with native speakers.
II. Listening
A. Students will be able to understand some spoken communications of moderate complexity (media, speeches, music, conversations, etc.) on a wide range of concrete everyday topics as well as abstract topics covered in classes.
B. Students will begin to understand native speakers from a variety of backgrounds and limited experience with non-native speakers, and they will comprehend common colloquial expressions and slang.
III. Speaking
A. Students will be able to speak on and discuss concrete everyday and personal topics, abstract topics covered in classes, as well as other topics of particular interest to them.
B. Students will be able to participate and respond actively in a variety of interactions.
C. Students will be able to give short presentations on topics related to the host culture.
IV. Reading
A. Students will be able to read and understand articles, stories, and online texts using background knowledge to aid their comprehension.
B. Students will begin to read and understand the key ideas of academic texts on familiar topics with assistance.
V. Writing
A. Students will be able to meet many everyday writing needs (notes, text messages, formal and informal letters, emails, chats, online forums).
B. Students will be able to write essays for class that narrate, describe, report, compare, contrast, and summarize on a wide range of topics with developing degrees of grammatical and lexical accuracy.
C. Students will be able to edit their own and their peers’ writing for common errors covered in class.
Method of presentation:
Readings, discussions, small group work, partner work, short presentations (combined with the paper compulsory); individual studies, research, homework (mainly written), usage of the Mediothek at the language center of Humboldt University.
Required work and form of assessment:
Midterm exam 20%
Final exam 25%
Paper 25%
Oral 30%
content:
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding Learning Outcome(s)
Week 1
1. Functional:
Introducing yourself
Addressing People with du or Sie, using academic titles
E-mails, upper and lower case
Using a monolingual dictionary
2. Grammatical:
Sentence structure, word order
The present tense
Separable-prefix verbs
3. Vocabulary:
Idioms and proverbs: beginning
Prefix an-
National anthem
current events
4. Culture:
Forms of addressing people
Use of academic titles
E-Mails
History of the German National anthem
National holiday
Oktoberfest
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Writing E-mails
Writing essays
Working with a monolingual dictionary
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
Field study: getting to know the German Holiday of Reunification and "Oktoberfest" in Berlin
I A, B
II A
III A
IV A
V A, B
Week 2
1. Functional:
Asking for information, stating an opinion and giving reasons (in oral and written form), making assumptions
Training of reading comprehension
Summarizing texts
Correcting language errors
Pronunciation
2. Grammatical:
Declension of nouns and adjectivs
The simple past tense
Yes-/ no-questions
3. Vocabulary:
When do you say what? - Menschen vs. Leute
Adjectives + antonyms: human character traits
Biography
Phrases
Current events
4. Culture:
Popular hereos of the Germans
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Writing E-mails
Writing and revising essays
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
Field study:
Survey: "Popular heroes of the Germans"
I A, B, C
II A
III A, B
IV A
V A, B, C
Week 3
1. Functional:
Reporting, paraphrasing, agreeing, disagreeing
Training of reading comprehension
Summarizing texts
Correcting language errors
Pronunciation
2. Grammatical:
Present and past participle
Present and past participles used as adjectives
Adjectives and participle used as nouns
3. Vocabulary:
Languages and dialects
Learning strategies and learning habits
Compounds
Phrases
Current events
4. Culture:
Language – Barrier or Bridge?
Multilingualism in Europe
Dialects
Semester start at Humboldt University
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Writing E-mails
Writing and revising essays
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B
IV A
V A, B, C
Week 4
1. Functional:
Giving opinions, agreeing, disagreeing
Training of reading comprehension
Summarizing texts
Correcting language errors
Instructions on how to write the final Paper
2. Grammatical:
Dative and Accusative Verbs
Word order
3. Vocabulary:
The verbs lernen and studieren
Verbs with -ieren
University life
Phrases
current events
4. Culture:
Educational system
choice of profession and studies
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Writing E-mails
Writing and revising essays
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
Field study: Survey: "Academic studies or vocational training?"
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Writing E-mails
Revising essays
Review for Midterm
Field study:
Halloween
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 6
Midterm exams: Leseverstehen + Lexik/Grammatik
Week 7
1. Functional:
Giving a presentation: introducing the paper subject
Taking notes during presentations
Giving feedback
Summarizing texts
2. Grammatical:
Subjunctive I: indirect speech
3. Vocabulary:
The verbs kennen and wissen
Everyday life and applied geography
Collection of words for the final paper
current events
4. Culture:
Typical German?
Naturalization Test
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Presentations
Working on the final paper
Field study:
Karneval
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 8
1. Functional:
Training listening comprehension
Summarizing texts
stating an opinion, reporting
2. Grammatical:
The relative clause
Subordinated clauses
3. Vocabulary:
Current events
Song texts
Restaurant, celebrating, eating, recipes
Distinction: literal and figurative meaning
4. Culture:
Personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Visiting a restaurant
Holidays, Traditions
Working on the final paper
Field study:
Celebrating Thanksgiving in a German Restaurant
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 9
1. Functional:
Training listening comprehension
Summarizing texts
stating an opinion, reporting
Correcting language errors
2. Grammatical:
Distinction: Passive voice with the auxiliary werden and sein
Consultations: final paper
3. Vocabulary:
Berlin
current events
Consultations: final paper
4. Culture:
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Advent season in Berlin
Working on the final paper
Field study:
Christmas Markets
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 10
1. Functional:
Training listening comprehension
Summarizing texts
Course Evaluation, Feedback
Review on the semester in Berlin
2. Grammatical:
Verbs with prepositions
3. Vocabulary:
Migration
Compounds of adjectives
song texts
current events
4. Culture:
Migration, Integration
personal observations on everyday life and current events in the host culture
Working on the final paper
Review for Final exam
Field study:
6 th December – St. Nicolaus' Day
Christmas party in the classroom
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 11
Final exams: Hörverstehen + Lexik/Grammatik
Field studies and cultural topics will vary by season and by current events in Berlin.
Required readings:
Provided by instructor
Recommended readings:
Dreyer-Schmitt: Lehr- und Übungsbuch der deutschen Grammatik, Verlag für Deutsch
Helbig/Buscha: Deutsche Grammatik. Ein Handbuch für den Ausländerunterricht, Langenscheidt
Rug-Tomaszewski: Grammatik mit Sinn und Verstand, Klett Edition Deutsch
Heidermann: Grammatiktraining Grundstufe, Verlag für Deutsch
Stalb: Deutsch für Studenten, Verlag für Deutsch
Busse/Westermann: Deutsch üben: "mir oder mich?", Verlag für Deutsch
Heringer: Deutsch Express, Cornelsen Verlag
Tageszeitungen, Zeitschriften
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Christina Heinemann has been teaching German as a Foreign Language for fifteen years in adult education. She studied translation science and German as a Foreign Language at the University of Leipzig and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Christina works at the Humboldt University Language Center "ZE Sprachenzentrum" as well as at the "Institut für Sprachvermittlung" (institute for language teaching) in Berlin. Previously, she taught language courses of all levels at the Herder Institute at the University of Leipzig and the "Studienkolleg Sachsen" in Leipzig.
Students who enter this level are able to accomplish everyday needs required to live in a new culture. In this course, students will begin to develop independence and autonomy so that, when communication does break down, they have some tools at their disposal to resolve these challenges independently. Students should welcome correction and guidance from their instructors, hosts, and others in the community as they progress.
By the end of this course, students will begin to converse at a rate of speed approaching normal conversation. They will start to become creative, spontaneous, and self-reliant as they solve problems, interpret texts, negotiate, and express their opinions, likes, and dislikes in the culture. Although students will make errors and experience communication breakdowns, they are sometimes able to resolve these on their own. Students will understand some colloquial expressions and slang, and will begin to understand a wider variety of native speakers from different backgrounds. By the end of this level, students will be capable of achieving the learning outcomes outlined below.
Proficiency at a level equivalent to IES Abroad’s Emerging Independent Abroad, as determined by placement test.
Attendance at all IES Abroad courses, including field studies and excursions is necessary and mandatory. Unexcused absences will count against the grade. Any student who has more than three (3) unexcused absences will receive an “F” as the final grade in the course. Absences due to sickness, religious observances, and family emergencies may be excusable at the discretion of the Center Director.
In the case of an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Academic Officer of the absence with relevant documentation (e.g. a doctor’s note).
Missed tests cannot be taken at another point in time except in case of documented illness!
The use of laptop or notebook microcomputers during class sessions is only permitted with prior permission from the course instructor. Cell phones are to be switched off. Students are expected to be on time for class, since late arrivals can be distracting for the instructor and disruptive for the class.
Students who are placed in this level should have achieved the outcomes in the Emerging Independent Abroad level as defined by the IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication.
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve some of the outcomes for the Independent Abroad level as defined by the MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. The key learning outcomes from the MAP are summarized below.
I. Intercultural Communication
A. Students will begin to identify at a basic level key host cultures, subcultures, habits, norms, and behaviors in a variety of settings, and they will be aware of the risk that generalizations can lead to stereotypes.
B. Students will start to identify their own cultural beliefs, behaviors, and values by contrasting and comparing them with those of the host cultures.
C. Students will be able to identify some gestures and body language, and they may be able to integrate some of those nonverbal actions into their interactions with native speakers.
II. Listening
A. Students will be able to understand some spoken communications of moderate complexity (media, speeches, music, conversations, etc.) on a wide range of concrete everyday topics as well as abstract topics covered in classes.
B. Students will begin to understand native speakers from a variety of backgrounds and limited experience with non-native speakers, and they will comprehend common colloquial expressions and slang.
III. Speaking
A. Students will be able to speak on and discuss concrete everyday and personal topics, abstract topics covered in classes, as well as other topics of particular interest to them.
B. Students will be able to participate and respond actively in a variety of interactions.
C. Students will be able to give short presentations on topics related to the host culture.
IV. Reading
A. Students will be able to read and understand articles, stories, and online texts using background knowledge to aid their comprehension.
B. Students will begin to read and understand the key ideas of academic texts on familiar topics with assistance.
V. Writing
A. Students will be able to meet many everyday writing needs (notes, text messages, formal and informal letters, emails, chats, online forums).
B. Students will be able to write essays for class that narrate, describe, report, compare, contrast, and summarize on a wide range of topics with developing degrees of grammatical and lexical accuracy.
C. Students will be able to edit their own and their peers’ writing for common errors covered in class.
Readings, discussions, small group work, partner work, short presentations (combined with the paper compulsory); individual studies, research, homework (mainly written), usage of the Mediothek at the language center of Humboldt University.
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding Learning Outcome(s)
Week 1
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Writing E-mails
Writing essays
Working with a monolingual dictionary
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
Field study: getting to know the German Holiday of Reunification and "Oktoberfest" in Berlin
I A, B
II A
III A
IV A
V A, B
Week 2
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Writing E-mails
Writing and revising essays
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
Field study:
Survey: "Popular heroes of the Germans"
I A, B, C
II A
III A, B
IV A
V A, B, C
Week 3
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Writing E-mails
Writing and revising essays
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B
IV A
V A, B, C
Week 4
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Writing E-mails
Writing and revising essays
Vocabulary consolidation and enlargement
Field study: Survey: "Academic studies or vocational training?"
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 5
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Writing E-mails
Revising essays
Review for Midterm
Field study:
Halloween
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 6
Midterm exams: Leseverstehen + Lexik/Grammatik
Week 7
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Presentations
Working on the final paper
Field study:
Karneval
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 8
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Working on the final paper
Field study:
Celebrating Thanksgiving in a German Restaurant
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 9
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Working on the final paper
Field study:
Christmas Markets
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 10
1. Functional:
2. Grammatical:
3. Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
Working on the final paper
Review for Final exam
Field study:
6 th December – St. Nicolaus' Day
Christmas party in the classroom
I A, B, C
II A, B
III A, B, C
IV A, B
V A, B, C
Week 11
Final exams: Hörverstehen + Lexik/Grammatik
Field studies and cultural topics will vary by season and by current events in Berlin.
Provided by instructor
Christina Heinemann has been teaching German as a Foreign Language for fifteen years in adult education. She studied translation science and German as a Foreign Language at the University of Leipzig and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Christina works at the Humboldt University Language Center "ZE Sprachenzentrum" as well as at the "Institut für Sprachvermittlung" (institute for language teaching) in Berlin. Previously, she taught language courses of all levels at the Herder Institute at the University of Leipzig and the "Studienkolleg Sachsen" in Leipzig.