Mag. Monika Meyer (intensive) and Mag. Birgitta Schöny (regular semester)
Description:
This course is designed for students with little prior knowledge of the language. Students appropriate for this level can already use a few basic words and phrases, and they can understand very simple requests and responses. Students entering this course are also able to read and interpret the basic meaning of simple sentences and phrases. Students who have studied the language in high school or in college but never continued to build their skills may find this level appropriate. Students who have studied multiple languages may also be capable of entering this level. The language assessment process will determine the appropriate level for each individual student.
By the end of the course, the successful student will have built a solid foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening and speaking to accomplish a variety of everyday needs in the host culture as described in the learning outcomes below and should be capable of entering the Emerging Independent Abroad level.
The three weeks intensive is followed by eleven weeks of regular semester instruction. German classes take place on three days; 75 minutes per unit.
Topics covered in the intensive period include: Introduction of pronunciation and basic grammatical structure of the German language, articles, noun gender and cases (Nominative/Accusative), verbs (weak/strong/separable) present, perfect, modal verbs (present/past), question words (wer, wie, woher, wo, wohin), conjunctions (coordinating/subordinating) personal pronouns, negation, adjectives and adverbs (comparison); various exercises to develop the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and the students’ ability to communicate in German in everyday situations at a simple level.
Prerequisites:
Proficiency at a level equivalent to the outcomes mastered through IES Abroad’s IT101, as determined by placement test.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve the outcomes for the Novice 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 be able to meet simple everyday needs using verbal and non-verbal communication, and they will be able to use compensatory strategies when they do not know the word or expression (paraphrasing, repetition, talking around the point, body language etc.).
B. Students can recognize some appropriate and inappropriate expressions and behaviors in the host language.
C. Students will be able to distinguish between simple representations of formality and informality in the language.
D.Students will identify some differences between cultural stereotypes and generalizations between the home culture and the host culture.
E. Students will make some informed comparisons between their host culture and the home culture.
II.Listening
A. Students will be able to understand simple statements, requests, descriptions, and questions in specific cultural context relevant to them (hosts' interactions, exchanges in class, Center interactions, studying, shopping, transportation, meals).
B.Students will be able to use context to understand the gist of some spoken language they overhear, including the media, conversations between others, and
announcements.
III-Speaking
A. Students will be able to use simple phrases appropriately in everyday situations with increasing accuracy (home, the IES Abroad Center, and the community).
B: Students will be able to express simple needs by asking questions, and get what they need in uncomplicated, everyday situations.
IV.Reading
A. Students will be able to identify and understand simple sentences and deduce meaning from context if it is relevant to their studies.
B.Students will be able to interpret main ideas in passages, short texts, and news headlines if they are relevant to them.
C: Students will be able to use simple reading strategies (cognate recognition, skimming and scanning, identification of text types, etc.) in order to interpret main ideas.
V.Writing
A. Students will be able to write short texts about concrete topics, such as themselves, their families, their friends, their likes, dislikes, plans, experiences and their daily routines.
B. Students will be able to send email and text messages, and they can complete short essays on familiar subjects.
C. Students will be able to write with increased accuracy, although using some native language structures.
Method of presentation:
Intensive: Oral pairwork and presentations in class; and written exercises; field trips (Naschmarkt, Kaffeehaus, city walk explaining directions and pointing out places of historical interest)
Regular semester: Classroom dialogues; groupwork; roleplays; reading and listening comprehensions; written practice; and internet research.
Required work and form of assessment:
Regular attendance and participation in class activities; regular assignments; quizzes; oral presentations; intensive, midterm, and final exams.
Oral performances (class work, attendance, presentation of dialogues): 40%
Homework: 10%
Tests and quizzes: 25%
Final (written): 25%
Work and exams in the intensive part of the course count for one third of the overall grade.
content:
INTENSIVE
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding
Learning
Outcomes
Week 1
Unit 1
1.Functional:
Talking about personal identity and origin.
Useful class language and phrases
Talking about languages and the importance of learning a second language.
Composition: Write a text about your best friend(s)!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 6
UNIT 7
Work and profession
Functional: Talking about students’ dream jobs and future occupation
Grammatical: possessive pronouns in nominative case
Vocabulary: various professions
MIDTERM EXAM
Reading texts about Austrians, working for different companies
Listening to people and their different jobs
Fill-in exercises: possessive pronouns
Composition: Write about your job(s) in Austria or in America!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 7
UNIT 7
Telephone conversations
Functional: Talking on the phone to friends and strangers
Grammatical: revision of the present perfect tense; adjectives used as nouns
Vocabulary: typical german phrases
Cultural: typical expressions when talking on the phone to friends and strangers
Listening to telephone conversations (formal and informal)
Inventing several telephone conversations and playing them in class
Fill-in exercises: adjectives used as nouns
Composition: Write a telephone conversation (formal or informal)!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D.
II.A.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A.
V.A., V.B.
Week 8 + part of week 9
UNIT 8
Outland
Functional: Talking about studying abroad or moving to other countries
Grammatical: compound verbs; wenn, wann, als
Vocabulary: feelings; different cultures
Cultural: experience of different cultures
Reading short texts about people going to other countries
Listening to people going to other countries
Talking about past experiences in other countries Talking about the home country and what is surprising for visitors
Fill-in exercises: wenn-wann-als
Training of compound verbs
Composition: Write an essay about your first time in a foreign country!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 9
The City hall (field trip)
Functional: Talking about the City hall; expressing opinion
Grammatical: (nicht) gefallen + Dativ
Vocabulary: city hall
Cultural: City hall
Reading a text about the City hall!
Talking about the City hall, likes and dislikes
Fill-in exercises: vocabulary
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
Week 10
What is luck?
Functional: Talking about luck, superstition and lucky charms
Grammatical: possessive pronouns in all cases
Vocabulary: common proverbs, lucky charms
Cultural: lucky charms in different cultures; proverbs
Reading short statements about people`s feelings about luck and lucky charms
Composition: Write about a lucky charm! Are you superstitious?
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D.
II.A.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 11
UNIT 10
Home
Functional: Talking about what home means to the students, different opinions --- discussion
Grammatical: connecting words: darum, deshalb, deswegen, aus diesem Grund ↔ trotzdem; damit
Vocabulary: different feelings, homeland, flat, furniture
Cultural: different understandings of home
Reading and listening to people`s feelings and understandings about home
Fill-in exercises: connecting words
Composition: What does home mean to you?
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 12
FINAL EXAM
Required readings:
Optimal A2 Lehrbuch Kapitel 1, 2, 3 (selected); handouts made up by the teacher or from a CD ROM (Optimal A2 handbook for teachers), according to students` needs.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Mag. Sibylle Monika Meyer has earned her degree of Magister for English and German as a Foreign Language at the University of Vienna. Since 2007 she has been teaching German to Novice I (Intensive Program) at IES Vienna. In 2009 she also taught Novice III, both Intensive Program and semester. From 2007 - 2010 she worked at the International Summer School at Schloss Traunsee in Gmunden teaching both English and German. She has worked as a supervisor for Cambridge Exams for the British Council in Vienna since 2007 and was trained as an oral examiner in 2009 and presently examina for Cambridge University at various levels.
Mag. Birgitta Schöny earned her degree at the University of Vienna in German and Russian. During her studies she worked 4 months as a lector in Baku (Azerbaijan) and 5 months in Moscow (Russia). Since 2004 she has been working at IES Vienna teaching Novice III and Emerging Independent I.
German Language in Context: Novice Abroad III
This course is designed for students with little prior knowledge of the language. Students appropriate for this level can already use a few basic words and phrases, and they can understand very simple requests and responses. Students entering this course are also able to read and interpret the basic meaning of simple sentences and phrases. Students who have studied the language in high school or in college but never continued to build their skills may find this level appropriate. Students who have studied multiple languages may also be capable of entering this level. The language assessment process will determine the appropriate level for each individual student.
By the end of the course, the successful student will have built a solid foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening and speaking to accomplish a variety of everyday needs in the host culture as described in the learning outcomes below and should be capable of entering the Emerging Independent Abroad level.
The three weeks intensive is followed by eleven weeks of regular semester instruction. German classes take place on three days; 75 minutes per unit.
Topics covered in the intensive period include: Introduction of pronunciation and basic grammatical structure of the German language, articles, noun gender and cases (Nominative/Accusative), verbs (weak/strong/separable) present, perfect, modal verbs (present/past), question words (wer, wie, woher, wo, wohin), conjunctions (coordinating/subordinating) personal pronouns, negation, adjectives and adverbs (comparison); various exercises to develop the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and the students’ ability to communicate in German in everyday situations at a simple level.
Proficiency at a level equivalent to the outcomes mastered through IES Abroad’s IT101, as determined by placement test.
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve the outcomes for the Novice 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 be able to meet simple everyday needs using verbal and non-verbal communication, and they will be able to use compensatory strategies when they do not know the word or expression (paraphrasing, repetition, talking around the point, body language etc.).
B. Students can recognize some appropriate and inappropriate expressions and behaviors in the host language.
C. Students will be able to distinguish between simple representations of formality and informality in the language.
D.Students will identify some differences between cultural stereotypes and generalizations between the home culture and the host culture.
E. Students will make some informed comparisons between their host culture and the home culture.
II.Listening
A. Students will be able to understand simple statements, requests, descriptions, and questions in specific cultural context relevant to them (hosts' interactions, exchanges in class, Center interactions, studying, shopping, transportation, meals).
B.Students will be able to use context to understand the gist of some spoken language they overhear, including the media, conversations between others, and
announcements.
III-Speaking
A. Students will be able to use simple phrases appropriately in everyday situations with increasing accuracy (home, the IES Abroad Center, and the community).
B: Students will be able to express simple needs by asking questions, and get what they need in uncomplicated, everyday situations.
IV.Reading
A. Students will be able to identify and understand simple sentences and deduce meaning from context if it is relevant to their studies.
B.Students will be able to interpret main ideas in passages, short texts, and news headlines if they are relevant to them.
C: Students will be able to use simple reading strategies (cognate recognition, skimming and scanning, identification of text types, etc.) in order to interpret main ideas.
V.Writing
A. Students will be able to write short texts about concrete topics, such as themselves, their families, their friends, their likes, dislikes, plans, experiences and their daily routines.
B. Students will be able to send email and text messages, and they can complete short essays on familiar subjects.
C. Students will be able to write with increased accuracy, although using some native language structures.
Intensive: Oral pairwork and presentations in class; and written exercises; field trips (Naschmarkt, Kaffeehaus, city walk explaining directions and pointing out places of historical interest)
Regular semester: Classroom dialogues; groupwork; roleplays; reading and listening comprehensions; written practice; and internet research.
Regular attendance and participation in class activities; regular assignments; quizzes; oral presentations; intensive, midterm, and final exams.
Oral performances (class work, attendance, presentation of dialogues): 40%
Homework: 10%
Tests and quizzes: 25%
Final (written): 25%
Work and exams in the intensive part of the course count for one third of the overall grade.
INTENSIVE
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding
Learning
Outcomes
Week 1
Unit 1
1.Functional:
2.Grammatical:
3.Vocabulary:
4. Culture:
1st Test
I.A, I.C, I.D, II.A, III.A, III.B, IV.A, IV.B, V.A, V.B
Week 2
Unit 2
1.Functional:
2.Grammatical:
Time
3.Vocabulary:
4.Cultural:
Quiz in the coffee house
2nd Test
I.A, I.B., I.C.,I.D.;
II.A., II.B.;
III.A., III.B.
III.A., III.B.;
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.;
V.A., V.B.;
Week 3
Unit 3
1.Functional:
2.Grammatical:
3.Vocabulary:
4.Cultural:
Oral Tests (dialogues) on
Questions on grammar
Final Test (Intensive)
I.A, I.B, I.D, II.A, II.B, III.A, III.B, IV.A, IV.B, IV.C, V.B.
REGULAR SEMESTER
WEEK
CONTENT
ASSIGNMENTS
CORRESPONDING LEARNING OUTCOMES
Week 1
Travelling in Europe
Functional: Talking about the last holiday
Grammatical: review of present perfect tense, question words: Wo? Wohin? Woher?; prepositions nach, in (acc. oder dat.), aus, von
Vocabulary: countries and cities; verbs of motion
Cultural: countries, capitals and famous cities in Europe
I.A., I.B., I.C., I.D.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B.
Week 2
UNIT 4
Education
Functional: Talking about education, Austrian educational system, about a typical school day and study stay
Grammatical: adjective endings (after der- and ein-words); various time expressions
Vocabulary: school, subjects, internships; time expressions
Cultural: Austrian educational system versus American educational system
Fill-in exercises: adjective endings
Composition:
●Write a profile about yourself!
● Write a short essay about your old school and education
● Write about your (language) study stay!
I.A., I..B., I.C., I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 3
Functional: Talking about the (next) weekend
Grammatical: future tense
Vocabulary: leisure time activities in cities, especially in Vienna
Cultural: activities in Vienna (sights, buildings, theatres…)
Composition: Write an email about your plans for the next weekend (using some Austrian expressions)!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 4
UNIT 5
Berlin
Functional: Talking about Berlin and its history, about sights and favorite places in cities. Presenting the favorite places!
Grammatical: Two-way-prepositions; preterite
Vocabulary: sights in Berlin/Vienna; adjectives
Cultural: Berlin and its sights and history
Composition: Write a text about one of your favorite places!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B.
Week 5
UNIT 6
Friends
Functional: Talking about friendship in general and (best) friends
Grammatical: reciprocal verbs; relative clauses (nominative, accusative)
Vocabulary: friends, hobbies, cultural differences; expressing the opinion
Cultural: friendship in America and Europe
Composition: Write a text about your best friend(s)!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 6
UNIT 7
Work and profession
Functional: Talking about students’ dream jobs and future occupation
Grammatical: possessive pronouns in nominative case
Vocabulary: various professions
MIDTERM EXAM
Composition: Write about your job(s) in Austria or in America!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 7
UNIT 7
Telephone conversations
Functional: Talking on the phone to friends and strangers
Grammatical: revision of the present perfect tense; adjectives used as nouns
Vocabulary: typical german phrases
Cultural: typical expressions when talking on the phone to friends and strangers
Composition: Write a telephone conversation (formal or informal)!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D.
II.A.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A.
V.A., V.B.
Week 8 + part of week 9
UNIT 8
Outland
Functional: Talking about studying abroad or moving to other countries
Grammatical: compound verbs; wenn, wann, als
Vocabulary: feelings; different cultures
Cultural: experience of different cultures
Composition: Write an essay about your first time in a foreign country!
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 9
The City hall (field trip)
Functional: Talking about the City hall; expressing opinion
Grammatical: (nicht) gefallen + Dativ
Vocabulary: city hall
Cultural: City hall
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
Week 10
What is luck?
Functional: Talking about luck, superstition and lucky charms
Grammatical: possessive pronouns in all cases
Vocabulary: common proverbs, lucky charms
Cultural: lucky charms in different cultures; proverbs
Reading short statements about people`s feelings about luck and lucky charms
Composition: Write about a lucky charm! Are you superstitious?
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D.
II.A.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 11
UNIT 10
Home
Functional: Talking about what home means to the students, different opinions --- discussion
Grammatical: connecting words: darum, deshalb, deswegen, aus diesem Grund ↔ trotzdem; damit
Vocabulary: different feelings, homeland, flat, furniture
Cultural: different understandings of home
Reading and listening to people`s feelings and understandings about home
Fill-in exercises: connecting words
Composition: What does home mean to you?
I.A., I.B., I.C.,I.D., I.E.
II.A., II.B.
III.A., III.B.
IV.A., IV.B., IV.C.
V.A., V.B., V.C.
Week 12
FINAL EXAM
Optimal A2 Lehrbuch Kapitel 1, 2, 3 (selected); handouts made up by the teacher or from a CD ROM (Optimal A2 handbook for teachers), according to students` needs.
Mag. Sibylle Monika Meyer has earned her degree of Magister for English and German as a Foreign Language at the University of Vienna. Since 2007 she has been teaching German to Novice I (Intensive Program) at IES Vienna. In 2009 she also taught Novice III, both Intensive Program and semester. From 2007 - 2010 she worked at the International Summer School at Schloss Traunsee in Gmunden teaching both English and German. She has worked as a supervisor for Cambridge Exams for the British Council in Vienna since 2007 and was trained as an oral examiner in 2009 and presently examina for Cambridge University at various levels.
Mag. Birgitta Schöny earned her degree at the University of Vienna in German and Russian. During her studies she worked 4 months as a lector in Baku (Azerbaijan) and 5 months in Moscow (Russia). Since 2004 she has been working at IES Vienna teaching Novice III and Emerging Independent I.