German Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad I

Exercises in German language to enhance communicative abilities, to understand and converse with native speakers. Grammar review focusing on special problems. Emphasis on reading, syntax and composition relating to current newspaper articles, literary texts, films, and cultural events.

STUDENT PROFILE



Students who enter this course are expected to have mastered most of the outcomes of the Independent Abroad level as defined by the IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. Among other characteristics, these students must be able to converse at a rate of speed approaching normal conversation. They should be creative, spontaneous and self-reliant as they solve problems, interpret texts, negotiate, express their opinions, likes and dislikes in the culture. Although they still are liable to make errors and experience communication breakdowns, these students tend to resolve these challenges on their own. Students who enter this level should already be able to understand a variety of colloquial expressions and slang, and should also be able to understand a wide variety of native speakers from different backgrounds.

Students entering this level should be able to succeed in a range of moderately complex university courses designed for native speakers. Before registering, they should consult with the appropriate IES Abroad academic adviser on course selection.

By the end of this course, students will have started to acquire the subtlety of expression and control of complex structures that characterize Competent Abroad learners. However, Emerging Competent Abroad learners have only partial mastery of these structures and quite often resort to simpler and more direct modes of expression, particularly when negotiating linguistically difficult or unfamiliar situations. Students at this level begin to understand local cultural attitudes, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns. However, there may be some gaps and inconsistencies in their knowledge compared to those who have spent more time living and working in the local context.

In this course students will work with authentic texts from a wide array of media in order to gain proficiency in dealing with different genres, and to reflect on cultural similarities and differences. Students will, for example, read newspaper articles, watch videos on current issues and listen to audio files. They will also review German grammar and style, expand their vocabulary, and read and write German on a regular basis.

Special emphasis will be laid on:

1. Conversation practice in current topic discussions.

2. Broadening of vocabulary to participate in discussions on a higher level.

3. Listening comprehension exercises in video and audio presentations.

4. Pronunciation refinement.

5. Reading of literary texts and current news media reports, as well as non-fiction related to Austrian culture.

6. Composition practice in essays, synopses etc.

7. Review of complex German grammar and syntax.