German 102 - Frühjahr 2009

German 102 Computerlabor
- meets Thursdays - 60 Irvin Hall (ILRC):

SEMESTERPLAN: Willkommen im Seminar Deutsch 102!

1. Course goals:

GER 102 is the second of a four-part, two-year sequence leading to fulfillment of the College of Arts and Science Foreign Language Proficiency requirement. It emphasizes the four primary language skills: listening and reading comprehension, speaking and writing. GER 102 continues work completed in GER 101/111, and fulfills the prerequisite for GER 201. Specifically, you will:

* improve your pronunciation of German
* converse in German on various topics
* expand upon your basic vocabulary and learn more grammatical patterns which underlie all communication in the language
* improve your understanding of spoken German in a broader range of settings, including traveling, shopping, expressing informed opinions, small talk, and reporting
* acquire reading strategies for different kinds of texts, including poetry; you will improve your skills in using a dictionary efficiently
* compose a variety of texts using appropriate style (journal entries, notes, letters, summaries, reports, inquiries)
* learn about aspects of life in German-speaking areas of the world
* become better acquainted with interactive learning resources GREAL offers
* be informed of and encouraged to participate in various the variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities offered by the department
* be prepared to succeed in German 201 and beyond.

2. Materials

Texts:
o Deutsch, Na klar! Di Donato/Clyde/Vansant, 5th ed. 2007
o Deutsch, Na klar! Laboratory Manual, 5th ed. 2007 (paper)
o Deutsch, Na klar! Workbook, 5th ed. 2007 (paper)
o Leichte Beute, Theo Scherling and Elke Burger, 2008 (Langenscheidt) ISBN 97803-468-49755-1
 o Berlin, Berlin Video Series from German TV (on Montgomery server in the ILRC)
o Online materials
o Listening Exercises: Available through ILRC (60 Irvin Hall)
o Handouts: from instructor (as necessary).

3. Policies:

Regular attendance in class and in Computer Lab Sessions is essential for acquisition of all four major language skills. Absence without a verifiable excuse (illness requiring doctor's attention, religious holiday) will affect your grade adversely and, if repeated ("Three strikes and you're out!"), will result in a drop (WF); make travel plans - not an excuse! - accordingly. Late work will not be accepted. Have a friend (or anyone else you can trust) bring in your assignments if you are ill. Day-to-day assignments may vary; students are responsible for all material (Chapters 8-14) in the textbooks (GER 201 to follow!); lab and workbooks are to be completed before each chapter test.

4. Grades

They will be based on quiz/test performance, both written and oral, on essays, and other in and outside of class work. Adjustments to the scale are occasionally necessary.
Chapter quizzes (6) - always cumulative by nature! (6 x 100) -100 = 500
Final examination (departmental - cumulative) 200 = 200
Aufsätze (4) 4 x 25 = 100
Homework (including Workbook, Lab Manual) plus in class work 100 = 100
Pre-tests (6) (7 x 20) -20 = 120
'Journale' (due mondays) 1/wk x 15 wk = 105
Oral exams 2 x 50 = 100
Grade assignment: A=90%, B=80%, C=70%, D=60% Total = 1225

See departmental grading standards statement on departmental website:

http://montgomery.cas.muohio.edu/greal/academic-info/grading/index.html

Activities which enhance learning:
  • Aufsätze: As with all graded work, essays are to be your own work only. You may improve your score by resubmitting selected essays. Essays are to be one to one and a half pages (250 words) printed, double spaced, 12point, 1.25 inch margins. Indicate your name and the word-count next to your name on your essay. See instructor for other details.

  • Workbooks: Workbooks (Lab Manual; Workbook) are to have been completed at the latest on the day of each chapter quiz. Begin working on the material as soon as the chapter is started! I will collect and check the paper workbooks during the classes when we have a test/quiz..

  • Vorprüfungen: Begin learning vocabulary starting on the first day's work on each chapter. Vocabulary building is one of your foremost tasks this semester, as you are still learning the fundamental terms. Without them you will have difficulty understanding texts and conversations and expressing yourself in German. Words and expressions you acquire this semester you will not need to look up next year! See GER website for an electronic vocabulary list!

  • Podcasts: This is an ongoing experiment with the possibilities which developing technologies afford the learner. The intent with the ‘podcasts’ is to present to you the "stuff" of the chapters, the details of the grammar, in a slightly different manner, so that we can use class time for actually using German to do things which use the "stuff" to be learned and practiced. You are expected to listen to the podcasts/web presentations before coming to class so that you will have control of and be able to participate in classroom activities.

  • Journale/Nachrichten aus Deutschland – News in Germany You should learn more about current events in the German politics and culture that you can encounter in online newspapers and magazines.
    Suggested procedure to prepare your “Journale/Nachrichten”:

    1. For each assignment you should select three different articles focusing on Germany.
    2. Print out each article so that you have 'hard copy' to work with, make notes on, and read.
    3. Summarize each in German and make your own comments on the content. Your "news" should contain at least 5 sentences for each article.
    4. Staple together you comments as well as the hard copy and place in your “Journal” folder.
    5. Hand in your completed “Journale/Nachrichten” folder on Mondays.

    Good sources to search for articles and ideas are:
    Rheinische Post: http://www.rp-online.de/ (easy)
    Süddeutsche Zeitung: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/ (moderate)
    Der Spiegel: http://www.spiegel.de/ (challenging)
    Focus: http://www.focus.de/ (challenging)
    When preparing your 'news' articles, you should employ vocabulary you are learning (target vocabulary), and formulate your thoughts in German. I request you complete your 'news' using a word processor. When handing your 'news' in, place in an inexpensive folder for all your 'news' items. Hand in your work in the folder.

  • Keep your work ('News' and Essays) in a folder each so that you can follow your progress and review effectively. Submit your work in folders to keep your work papers all together. Leave all your work (Aufsätze und Journale) in the folders when you hand it in at the time due. The folders will be returned when I have read and commented on them.

  • Oral exams: Some will be conducted by your instructor, some may be administered by other German instructors from the department. Details forthcoming. Make it a point to speak German every day!

  • Interactive Language Resource Center (ILRC: 60 Irvin Hall): Use this facility to complete your "Lab Manual" for each chapter; you will have your Thursday class in the ILRC-Computer Lab to use computer assisted learning resources which have been prepared specifically for the laboratory.

  • Computer Lab Sessions (IRV 60) The computer lab class is an integral part of the GER 102 course, since it provides the fourth credit hour for Ger 102. During the computer lab session, your job is to work on the prepared exercises prepared specifically to help you review relevant vocabulary and grammar covered in the textbook.

  • Berlin, Berlin: You will also access the video series, Berlin, Berlin, on the ILRC web server. Berlin, Berlin has been a very successful German TV show. We will watch the first episode together in class; the following episodes you will watch at home on your own. Link to Berlin, Berlin:

    http://montgomery.cas.muohio.edu/ilrc-online/German/Films%20Movies%20and%20Videos/Berlin-Berlin/01-Landflucht.html
    [ USE your Novell id & pw for login]

  • Co- and Extra-Curricular Activities:
    * The Department provides a wide range of German language activities outside of class. The German Film Series; Stammtisch in Alexander, Hamilton Dining Hall, and elsewhere; Die Kaffeestunde, held at various venues. See flyers!
    * The Wells Hall German Language Community offers many additional activities during the semester: watch for flyers! These include Deutsche Welle TV, concerts, readings, excursions und vieles andere mehr.
    *Stammtisch This is an opportunity to have dinner in a selected dormitory one day per week. Participants from all levels speak German - it helps put the process of learning to speak German in perspective. You are encouraged to speak and no one makes value judgements or is critical if your speaking is not perfect. It is a good meal in a positive atmosphere.
    * See the Wells Hall German Language Floor Webpage for details:     montgomery.cas.muohio.edu/glf/

Advice from past 102 students (verbatim quotes!):
- Study on a regular basis - daily
- Do the workbooks during the Chapter, not at the last minute
- Keep up with the material.
- Start the first day and don't let up.
- Make it a fun challenge!
- Do the work/lab books early
- Get ahead
- Go to the extra curricular activities
- Ask questions always!!
- Remember that what you learn does not end when the class is over for the day. You must be interactive and think of this class in a different way. Say it out loud! Learn the genders.