German

Prerequisite for entry

For complete beginners or those who have had only very little contact with the language.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to function at a basic everyday survival level (basic vocabulary, grammar, morphology, syntax and phonetics). Students should be able to communicate in and understand German on a number of practical everyday matters. Language learning skills, including autonomous learning will be introduced. Some transferable skills will also be covered. 

Functions

• Greetings and farewells. Saying who you are. Saying where you come from. Asking others who they are and where they come from.
• Saying how you are. Talking about nationality, language and about personal details.
• Talking about towns and cities. Speaking and asking about jobs and study.
• Talking about leisure pursuits. Stating likes and dislikes. Talking about family relationships.
• Asking the way. Ordering food and drinks. Shopping: asking / giving prices. Saying how often you do things.
• Booking a hotel room. Telling the time. Talking about daily routines. Making appointments. 

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Nationality
• Personal details and occupation
• Work and study
• Family and leisure time
• Shopping, eating and food
• Time and appointments 

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of German 

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Alphabet
• Numbers
• Personal pronouns
• Verb endings in the present tense
• Verbs with vowel change
• Possessive adjectives
• Plural of nouns
• The accusative case
• The imperative
• Seperable verbs
• Modal verbs: können, müssen
• Word order 

Learning resources

• Course Book: Willkommen! Beginner’s course. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke. 3rd edition. (chapter 1 - 6) ISBN: 978 1473 67265 9
• Activity book: Willkommen! Beginner’s course. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke.  ISBN: 978 1473 672666 

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 1, a GCSE a long time ago, or equivalent experience. This course is not suitable for complete beginners.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to function at a basic everyday survival level (basic vocabulary and grammar). Students should be able to communicate in and understand German on a number of practical everyday matters. Language learning skills, including autonomous learning will be enhanced. Some transferable skills will also be covered. 

Functions

• Buying consumer goods. Talking about daily routines and work. Travelling around town.
• Talking about recent events. Talking about the more distant past. Describing purchases.
• Saying where people live and what their homes are like. Making comparisons. Discussing the pros and cons of city vs. country life. Describing price and location of hotels.
• Describing items of personal appearance. Discussing appropriate clothes and gifts. Offering help and advice.
• Talking about past holidays. Reporting weather conditions. Discussing health.
• Telephoning. Writing a CV. Talking about German-speaking countries. Expressing opinions on the German language. 

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Consumer goods. Daily routines. Travelling.
• Purchases. Recent events. The past.
• City vs. country. Price and location of hotels.
• Personal appearance, clothes and gifts.
• Past holidays. Weather conditions. Health.
• Telephoning. CV. Life in German-speaking countries. 

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of German 

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Prepositions with accusative and dative, preposition with the dative
• Present perfect tense
• Adjectival endings
• The dative case
• Comparative and superlative
• Direct and indirect objects
• Personal pronouns in the dative
• Prepositions and places
• Modal verbs
• wenn clauses, dass clauses
• Weak nouns 

Learning resources

• Course Book: Willkommen! Beginner’s course. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke. 3rd edition. (chapter 7-12) ISBN: 978 1473 67265 9
• Activity book: Willkommen! Beginner’s course. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke.  ISBN: 978 1473 672666 

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 1+, a GCSE a while ago, or equivalent experience, with knowledge of the main present and present perfect tenses.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to give students an opportunity to revise their survival skills and acquire more sophisticated ways of dealing with practical matters.  This includes revision, consolidation of vocabulary and grammatical structures already learnt and exploration an expansion of new vocabulary, grammar, morphology, syntax and phonetics. Cultural awareness will be developed. 

Functions

• Talking about languages; giving reasons, sharing personal details
• Talking about education, studying, careers; discuss future plans
• Talking about life style, leisure time culture; express likes and dislikes
• Talking about the world of work; debate positive and negative aspects of work; work-life balance, job applications
• Talking about the capital city Berlin, trends in tourism, Berlin’s past and present 

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Languages and people
• education
• Life style, leisure time
• work
• The capital city of Berlin and tourism 

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of German 

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Preposition; reflexive verb; dass, weil, obwohl clauses
• Perfect Tense; future tense 
• verbs with preposition (sich ärgern über); questions; infinitive with zu
• More conjunctions; simple past (Präteritum)
• Prepositions with accusative and dative; genitive case 

Learning resources

• Course book: Willkommen! 2. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke. 1st edition. (chapter 1 - 3) ISBN: 978 1471 80515 8
• Activity Book: Willkommen! 2. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke. 1st edition. (chapter 1 - 3) ISBN: 978 1444 165203  

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 2, a GCSE a while ago, or equivalent experience, with knowledge of the main present and present perfect tenses, weil and dass clauses, and the four German cases. 

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students with a good knowledge of basic German to reach an intermediate level and to communicate in and understand German on many practical everyday matters related to various aspects of German culture. 

Functions

• Talking about life in Germany and its regions; national stereotypes; food
• Talking about politics and society; generations; migration
• Talking about fitness, health and travel
• Talking about Germany today, environmental issues; EU; media habits
• Talking about Germany’s position in the world; famous Germans past and present; business cultures 

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Germany’s regions and landscapes
• Politics and society
• Fitness, health, travel
• Germany today; environment issues, EU; media
• Germany’s position in the world; famous Germans, business and industry 

Phonetics

Revision of basic rules of the pronunciation of spoken German

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Question words, welcher etc; adjective endings
• Passive tense; conjunctions: als and wenn; ordinal numbers 
• Subjunctive II; conditional sentences
• Compound nouns; indirect questions; relative clauses
• Pluperfect tense, indirect speech with subjunctive I 

Learning resources

• Course book: Willkommen! 2. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke. 1st edition. chapter 4-6) ISBN: 978 1471 80515 8
• Activity Book: Willkommen! 2. Paul Coggle, Heiner Schenke. 1st edition. (chapter 4-6) ISBN: 978 1444 165203 

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 2+, an A-level a while ago, or equivalent experience. Participants should be able to give instructions, describe events, and talk and write about the past, using the past perfect and the imperfect tenses.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students with a good basic knowledge of German to develop the four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) to an intermediate level. Students should be able to communicate in German in most common situations. Cultural awareness will be developed. Language learning skills, including autonomous learning and how to approach authentic material will be enhanced.

Functions

• Talking about time and history; commenting information
• Talking about problems in daily life; giving advice; justifying something
• Talking about language
• Describing jobs and feelings
• Talking about time and time management

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Speed Dating
• Volunteering
• Culture Train Berlin- Breslau
• Neighbourhood App
• Bilingualism
• History of Computers
• Gender neutral Language
• Language at Work
• Job Portraits
• Humour/ Laughter
• Autism
• Time/ Time Management
• Wellness

Phonetics

Pronunciation exercises

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Main and relative clauses
• Fultur 1
• Infinitive with zu
• Local Wechselpraepositionen
• Perfect/Partizip 2
• Verbs plus prepositions
• Indirect questions
• Modal particle
• Adjective declension
• Comparative/ double conjunctions
• Conditional /Konjunktiv 2
• Negations

Learning resources

• Course book: Weitblick  B1+, Chapter 1-4, Cornelsen , ISBN 978-3-06-120883
• Authentic material (such as German television programs, film extracts, German newspapers or magazines)

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 3, an A-level a while ago, or equivalent experience. Participants should be able to give instructions and describe events, talk about the past and have a basic knowledge of the subjunctive.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students with a good basic knowledge of German to converse reasonably fluently with native speakers and discuss personal, social and current issues using appropriate structures. Cultural awareness will be further developed through an extended use of authentic material.

Functions

• Getting to know people, participate in discussions
• understanding radio reports, advertisements, film tips, commentary, info-grafik
• understanding and analysing newspaper/ internet article, short presentations, radio/ TV reports
• write emails, chats presentations, reports about experiences and biographical events notes
• describing products

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Speed Dating
• Volunteering
• Culture Train Berlin- Breslau
• Neighbourhood App
• Bilingualism
• History of Computers
• Gender neutral Language
• Language at Work
• Job Portraits
• Humour/ Laughter
• Autism
• Time/ Time Management
• Wellness

Phonetics

Pronunciation exercises

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Main and relative clauses
• Fultur 1
• Infinitive with zu
• Local Wechselpraepositionen
• Perfect/Partizip 2
• Verbs plus prepositions
• Indirect questions
• Modal particle
• Adjective declension
• Comparative/ double conjunctions
• Conditional /Konjunktiv 2
• Negations

Learning resources

• Course book: Weitblick  B1+, Chapter 1-4, Cornelsen , ISBN 978-3-06-120883
• Authentic material (such as German television programs, film extracts, German newspapers or magazines)

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 4, a good A-level grade, or equivalent experience. Participants should have a good knowledge of all tenses.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students who already have a good knowledge of German to acquire an advanced level. Students will be able to communicate in all situations within German speaking countries, converse with native speakers and follow debates on a wide range of issues as well as express themselves with more complex and linguistically accurate structures.

Functions

• Expressing a wide range of opinions and reactions (e.g fiction biographies, discussions, news reports)
• Debating, commenting, explaining, describing (e.g. architectural features, graphics, life advice)
• Improving reading skills using authentic material (e.g. understanding short text, autobiographical and literature text, book critics and letters)
• Improving listening skills using authentic material (e,g, radio features, interviews, city portraits, radio plays)

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

Einstieg –  Auf den ersten Blick
Introduction to B2.1

• Einheit 1 – Den Horizont erweitern
  Talk about expectations and experiences, different cultures and overcoming prejudices
• Einheit 2 – Miteinander leben
  Talk about forms of living and lifestyles, relationships in the digital age, problems at work and university
• Einheit 3 – Suchen und finden
  Talk about internet research and finding a dream job
  Discuss suggestions and plan for events
  To talk about finding information, a job
• Einheit 4 – Auf Augenhöhe kommunizieren
  To express critique and react to critics

The course content of this syllabus will be based on the contemporary society and current affairs in German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

Phonetics

Drills on specific structures, Intonation and Pronunciation

Individual corrections during a session

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Modal particle
• Modalverben
• Relative clauses  ohne dass, ohne….zu
• Dative and Accusative Objects
• Verbs in all tenses
• Infinitive clauses, dass ...zu in the presence and past
• Nouns and adjectives with prepositions
• Noun - Verb connections
• Conjunctive 2 without würde

Learning resources

• Weitblick B2.1, Kurs-und Übungsbuch Cornelsen ISBN: 9783061225148 (online version recommended)
• Authentic material (such as German television programs, film extracts, German newspapers or magazines)

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 4, a good A-level grade, or equivalent experience. Participants should have a good knowledge of all tenses.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students who already have a good knowledge of German to acquire an advanced level. Students will be able to communicate in all situations within German speaking countries, converse with native speakers and follow debates on a wide range of issues as well as express themselves with more complex and linguistically accurate structures.

Functions

• Expressing a wide range of opinions and reactions (e.g fiction biographies, discussions, news reports)
• Debating, commenting, explaining, describing (e.g. architectural features, graphics, life advice)
• Improving reading skills using authentic material (e.g. understanding short text, autobiographical and literature text, book critics and letters)
• Improving listening skills using authentic material (e,g, radio features, interviews, city portraits, radio plays)

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

Einstieg –  Auf den ersten Blick
Introduction to B2.1

• Einheit 1 – Den Horizont erweitern
  Talk about expectations and experiences, different cultures and overcoming prejudices
• Einheit 2 – Miteinander leben
  Talk about forms of living and lifestyles, relationships in the digital age, problems at work and university
• Einheit 3 – Suchen und finden
  Talk about internet research and finding a dream job
  Discuss suggestions and plan for events
  To talk about finding information, a job
• Einheit 4 – Auf Augenhöhe kommunizieren
  To express critique and react to critics

The course content of this syllabus will be based on the contemporary society and current affairs in German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

Phonetics

Drills on specific structures, Intonation and Pronunciation

Individual corrections during a session

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Modal particle
• Modalverben
• Relative clauses  ohne dass, ohne….zu
• Dative and Accusative Objects
• Verbs in all tenses
• Infinitive clauses, dass ...zu in the presence and past
• Nouns and adjectives with prepositions
• Noun - Verb connections
• Conjunctive 2 without würde

Learning resources

• Weitblick B2.1, Kurs-und Übungsbuch Cornelsen ISBN: 9783061225148 (online version recommended)
• Authentic material (such as German television programs, film extracts, German newspapers or magazines)

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 4+, a good A-level grade, or equivalent experience. 

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students who have an advanced knowledge of German to acquire a better fluency in the language. Students will be able to follow discussions and debates on current issues as well as communicate in all situations using complex and linguistically more accurate structures. Cultural awareness will be further developed.

Functions

• Ability to interact in any kind of debate, (e.g. making suggestions)
• Presenting one’s ideas clearly and efficiently, (e.g. presenting a job profile, making enquiries about a job offer, telling a story)
• Recognising and using various registers, (e.g. giving an advisory talk)
• Improving reading skills using authentic material, (e.g. understanding a specialist report, popular scientific text)
• Improving listening skills using authentic material, (e.g, Understanding a talk show, a literature scenario)

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

The course content of this syllabus will be based on the contemporary society and current affairs in German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

• über Informationssuche im Internet sprechen; eine Videoreportage über Wikipedia verstehen
• über Erfahrungen und Ziele in der Ausbildung, im Studium und im Beruf sprechen; ein Bewerbungsschreiben verstehen und verfassen
• über Assessment-Center sprechen; Vorschläge diskutieren und sich einigen; eine Veranstaltung planen
• über verbale und nonverbale Kommunikation sprechen; Vermutungen äußern; ein Video über kulturelle Unterschiede bei Gesten verstehen
• über Freizeitaktivitäten und Entspannungsmethoden sprechen; die Gliederung einer Präsentation verstehen; eine Präsentation halten; Feedback geben
• über die Vor- und Nachteile verschiedener Energieformen sprechen; einen Zeitungsartikel über Energiewende und Atomkraft verstehen; Bedingungen ausdrücken; einen Leserbrief schreiben
• einen Romanauszug verstehen; über die Folgen eines Stromausfalls sprechen; die Fortsetzung einer Geschichte schreiben
• kooperatives Schreiben: eine Kettengeschichte schreiben

Phonetics

Drills on specific structures, Intonation and Pronunciation

Individual corrections during a session

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Das Wort es
• Konjunktiv II ohne würde;
• Phonetik: englische Wörter im Deutschen (Anglizismen)
• mit Modalverben Vermutungen ausdrücken; modale Infinitiv- und Nebensätze mit ohne … zu … und ohne dass
• temporale Präposition bei; die modale Präposition mithilfe (von);
• Phonetik: flüssig präsentieren
• Bedingungssätze mit wenn und falls und uneingeleitete Bedingung

Learning resources

• Weitblick B2, Cornelsen online version or hard copy. ISBN 978-3-06-120889-9 based on chapter 3-5. (online version recommended)
• Authentic material (such as German television programs, film extracts, German newspapers or magazines)

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 4+, a good A-level grade, or equivalent experience such as an extended stay in a German speaking country and a very good grasp of the language.

Aims and objectives

The course is designed for advanced level students requiring the language for vocational and professional purposes. It covers topics such as current affairs and the latest trends in the German speaking society. The course will enhance knowledge of German, Austrian, Swiss life, society and business culture using complex and linguistically accurate structures (different types of discourse, register).
Language learning skills, including autonomous learning and how to approach authentic material, will be further enhanced.

Functions

• giving advice
• note-taking and summarising
• expressing and defending views and opinions, critical topic-related comments
• debating and commenting
• suggesting, accepting, refusing
• describing, defining; analysing and evaluating
• composing written pieces of information for different purposes
• preparing and giving presentations on complex topics

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

To be discussed at the first session, also depending on individual interest.

• Arbeitsleben, Arbeitssuche, Bewerbungsprozesse
• Mobilität
• Umwelt
• Neue Technologien
• Nachrichten aus der Politik und Kultur
• Literatur, wenn Interesse besteht
• Medien

Skills

Reading

• reading for gist (skimming), scanning for specific information
• analysis of current topics in major newspapers/magazines and online

Writing

• very short essays, summaries
• analysis and review of articles and other materials
• note-taking
• preparing presentation outlines
• applications

Listening

• audio and film extracts
• plays, presentations and interviews

Speaking

• formal and informal discussions, debates
• role-plays

Linguistic structures

• analysing/comparing texts from various sources
• improving listening and reading skills by dealing with a variety of authentic materials

Grammar (some or all of the following)

• revision of tenses (forms and usage)
• revision and expansion of case system (forms and usage)
• prepositions; verbs with a fixed preposition ; prepositions with case change
• relative clauses
• complex sentences
• passive past and present and passive replacements
• subjunctive II and I
• two-part conjunctions
• grammar of texts

Learning resources

• Authentic material (such as German television programs, film extracts, German newspapers or magazines)

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 5, a good A-level grade, or equivalent experience such as an extended stay in a German speaking country and a very good grasp of the language, with the ability to conduct a conversation without difficulty.

Aims and objectives

The course is designed for advanced level students requiring the language for vocational and professional purposes. The course comprises knowledge and understanding both of the structure of the German language and of the business, social, historical and political contexts in which German is currently used. It enables participants to use their language skills in a wide variety of situations. The course covers recent history, current affairs and the latest issues in German speaking countries as well as other related topics. Cultural awareness will be raised within a European/global context.

The course will enhance knowledge and use of complex structures (a variety of styles and registers from a range of authentic material).

Functions

• expressing complex ideas and opinions, critical topic-related comments
• debating, speculating
• suggesting, accepting, refusing
• describing and paraphrasing, defining, explaining
• composing written pieces of information for different purposes
• conducting short presentations on a variety of topics
• summarising complex/extensive authentic written and audio-visual material
• selecting and editing authentic material autonomously according to relevance and suitability for particular tasks

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

To be discussed at the first session, also depending on individual interest.

• overview of the political and administrative structure of German speaking countries
• demographic developments, gender roles and family life
• the European Union and global affairs
• current affairs: German political, socio-economic and cultural developments
• arts (music, literature, film, art, cultural heritage)

Skills

Reading

• reading for gist (skimming), scanning for specific information
• in depth analysis of complex topics in major newspapers/magazines and specialised publications

Writing

• short essays
• analysis and review of articles
• summaries
• critical comments

Listening

• radio, TV, audio and video recordings, feature films
• directed listening for specific tasks
• presentations, summaries

Speaking

• formal and informal discussions, debates, round table
• presentations
• role-play

Linguistic structures

• analysing/comparing texts from various sources
• recognising and applying different linguistic registers in writing and in speaking
• preparing different types of oral contributions
• improving confidence in using German as a foreign language in a variety of situations
• consolidating and improving listening and reading skills by dealing with a variety of complex authentic materials
• consolidating and improving oral and written linguistic range as well as accuracy in a wide variety of contexts

Grammar (some or all of the following)

• complex sentences and connectors
• verbs and prepositions
• passive and alternative forms
• subjunctive I and II
• revision of adjective declension
• the use of nouns with prepositions versus the use of clauses with a connector
• fixed noun-verb-connections and idiomatic expressions

Learning resources

Books

The following books may be referenced:

• Mittelpunkt C1, Lehrbuch, Klett,  ISBN: 9783126766104
• em neu Abschlusskurs, Kursbuch, Hueber, ISBN 9783195016971
• studio d C1 Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Cornelsen, ISBN 9783060205240

Other resources

• Authentic written material from various sources such as Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, Die Wirtschaftswoche etc.
• Authentic audio and audio-visual material
• German films
• Variety of internet sources

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).