German 313
Conversation and Composition
Section 001 9:25-10:40
Section 090 4:00-5:15
dienstags und donnerstags Bell 414
montags und mittwochs Bell 414
Herbst 2005
I
Instructor:
Office
Stephen Della Lana, M.A.T.
J.C. Long Building, Room 423
9 Liberty St.
Office Tel.
953-5774
German dept. office phone 953-5713
E-mail:
[email protected]
Office Hours:
MW 2-4, Th 3-4
*The above posted office hours indicate the times at which I will certainly be in my office. If these hours do not fit into
your schedule, please speak with me so that I can arrange to meet with you at a more convenient time. Please all feel free
to E-mail me as I check my messages every day.
Required Texts: Wells, Larry D. Mitlesen – Mitteilen, 2004, 3rd Edition, New York: Holt,
Rinehart and Winston.
Sparks, Kimberly and Van Horn Vail, German in Review, 2004, 4thd edition, Boston: Heinle and
Heinle
Recommended text: Zorach, Cecile and Charlotte Melin, 1994 English Grammar for Students
of German, 3rd ed. Ann Arbor, MI: The Olivia and Hill Press
A good German-English dictionary is indispensable. Some good on-line German-English
dictionaries are http://dict.leo.org and http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de
Course overview and goals:
German 313 Composition and Conversation expands GRMN 201-202 in
developing more advanced communication skills in German. We will focus on
the four areas of proficiency (listening, reading, speaking and writing) with
particular emphasis on speaking. To this end, the following goals should be met
1. Understand general themes in the German-speaking world:
2. Improve oral proficiency in German:
In class discussions and presentations
Through research and presentation of topics relevant to the modern
German- speaking world
Taking a stand on a controversial topic
Asking and answering questions
Forming and stating your opinion
Expressing thoughts in terms of paragraphs, rather than individual words
discussing more abstract topics by moving the communicative context
from oneself and one’s immediate surroundings to more abstract ideas
3. Improve grammatical competence:
Through speaking, writing and through discrete grammatical exercises in class
Be able to use grammatical structures as a blueprint for oral and written
proficiency, i.e. being able to relate events in the present, past, future or in terms
of unreal situations in the present or past.
4. Improve listening comprehension:
Through news reports, authentic materials and guest speaker(s)
5. Expand vocabulary:
Including definite articles of nouns, verb forms and correct usage of idiomatic
terms and expressions
6. Improve reading comprehension:
Through the use of authentic texts, articles from the internet and in the textbook
Benotung (Grading):
Ihre Note für den Kurs wird aus den folgenden Kriterien zusammengesetzt:
10 Hausaufgaben (homework)
10%
Anwesenheit/Teilnahme(Attendance and Participation)
10%
Sprachliche Fortschritte (Progress and improvement)
10%
5 Vokabelprüfungen
(Vocabulary quizzes)
10%
5 Grammatikprüfungen
10%
1 Aufsatz
5%
8 Präsentationen
35%
Mündliche Prüfung (oral exit exam)
10%
Grading scale: 90-100 A, 87-90 B+, 80-87 B, 77-80 C+, 70-77 C, 65-70 D, 0-64 F
Kurzreferate (oral reports)
You will conduct short, oral reports in front of the class, almost on a weekly basis
topics for these are indicated on the syllabus
*Each oral report will be four minutes in length You will be graded as follows:
35% Overall presentation (delivery and coherence of topic, use of visuals, if
indicated, use of notes!)
50% Language use (fluency and accuracy)
15% Pronunciation
Some important information about oral reports, presentations and
classroom discussions and communicative language learning
Since the primary focus of the course is oral and written communication, it is
imperative for you to contribute to a positive classroom atmosphere. I
certainly do not expect you to understand every word, or for you to produce
fluent and flawless German, but am more interested in your improvement.
1) Try to imagine yourself as a child learning German. Those around you say
things you won’t understand, but with patience, perseverance and persistence
(the 3 P’s!) you begin to internalize the language, and are then able to produce.
Listen for meaning, NOT for words!
2) Make mistakes! Don’t do everything you can to avoid mistakes, remember,
WHAT you say is much more important than HOW you say it. If you don’t
make mistakes, you will not learn anything!
3) Don’t compete with others in the class. Get out of the mindset of “so and so
has had more German than I, has come from a better high school German
program, has a German-speaking grandmother, and I don’t” etc.) I will never
compare you, and am concerned about your own individual progress. This is
not a competition
4) Relax! Have fun….learn to laugh at yourself. Adopt a German accent. The
only person
5) Respect others….I will not tolerate lack of attention while others are
speaking, this also goes for speaking when someone is speaking in front of the
class.
6) If you’ve been to Germany and have a better command of the language, don’t
adopt a “know-it-all” mentality. This only alienates those around you in the
class.
DO NOT READ YOUR PRESENTATION! YOU MUST BE ABLE
TO COMMUNICATE AUTHENTICALLY!! The less notes you have, the
better.
Mündliche Schlußprüfung
There is no written midterm or final for the course. At the end of the semester,
during the final examination period, you will meet with me for 10-15 minutes to
discuss your interests, your careers, your family, etc. It is meant to be a means to
test your communicative speaking proficiency in German. The exam is not
meant as an interrogation.
Vokabelprüfungen (Vocabulary Quizzes):
Given the importance of vocabulary expansion, the „tools“ for being proficient in
German, you will be given 5 vocabulary quizzes. These will primarily be taken
from the vocabulary lists in the text (Wortschatz), but can be from other sources.
You will expected to supply the correct definite article for the nouns
(Substantive) and may be asked to provide the plural form of the noun.
Grammatikprüfungen (Grammar Quizzes)
In order to communicate, espeically being able to speakeffectively, you will be
given 5 grammar quizzes. These will assess your mastery of certain grammar
points (i.e. adjective endings/comparatives and superlatives, passive voice (and
alternatives to passive, “man”, etc.), weak/adjectival nouns, ein words, da and
wo compounds, present-participle, extended participial constructions)
Mitarbeit im Seminar (Class Participation and Attendance)
Attendance and doing the completed homework assignments for each and every
class is mandatory since learning a foreign language requires as much
communicative exposure as possible. 5 points will be deducted from your
participation grade for each absence incurred, whether excused or unexcused. You
will be expected to arrive to class on time each day, so we can get with our
conversation partner/groups and start practicing. Make ups of tests or quizzes
will not be administered without written documentation from the Office of
Undergraduate Studies, written specifically for the date(s) of absence. Note: If
you have been absent more than 4 times, you will be dropped from the course.
Depending on the circumstances, chapter tests and quizzes must be made up
within one week of the date on which the test or quiz was administered. You
will also be expected to participate in class discussions, and to ask questions.
Lateness to class by more than fifteen (15) minutes will be counted as an absence.
Please do not miss class because you feel unprepared. Missing class will only
compound the problem. As always, please see me, call or at very least E-mail
me, so I can help you as much as I can.
Hausaufgaben (Homework)
In addition to the vocabulary quizzes and other assignments mentioned above,
you will be expected to turn in homework as it appears on the syllabus.
(“Schreiben Sie”). (G) indicates the exercise(s) comes from the green grammar
book. Homework will be graded on the amount of effort put into it and the
relative number of mistakes. Your homework is also an important diagnostic
tool to see where you are having difficulties. You will graded with a check (85
points), a check plus (100 points) or check minus (70 points) based. Please note
that homework must be turned in at the beginning of class for you to receive
credit for it. Homework done during class will receive a grade of “0”. Each day
your homework is late, it will be graded down, even if all the answers are
correct. There will be 9-10 homework assignments.
Aufsatz (Essay)
You will be expected to write, in German, 1 essay, minimum 250 words, based on a
topic discussed in class. After submission of your first draft of each essay, you will
receive an “error” code chart, which will outline the parts of the essay which need
improvement. You will therefore have the opportunity to revise your essay, which will
count as your grade. We will talk more in class about the need to avoid “baby
sentences” in German and I will provide you with explicit directions concerning the
essay theme and content. The will be graded on content (50%) and grammatical
accuracy (50%). You are encouraged to revise and resubmit your essays (revised dates
on the syllabus); these grades will be averaged to produce an adjusted grade for that
essay. Essays not submitted at all will receive a 0. 10 points will be deducted for each
day an essay is late Revised copies MUST be turned in on time, in order to earn an
adjusted (higher) grade than the original version.
**Note: Please work your essays individually, do not approach native
speakers of German for assistance as this is a violation of the College’s honor
code! You may, however, seek assistance from a tutor in the Center for Student
Learning, Education Center, second floor!
Final notes:
1. Please do not put off coming to talk to me about difficulties. I am here to
help you and want you to do well. Stop by, call or E-mail me.
2. You are expected to abide by ALL provisions of the College’s Honor Code
!! This includes the use of computer-aided translation programs
3. Cell phones and pagers are to be turned OFF, or placed on non-audible
notification during class time!!!!!
S. Della Lana, Keitum (Sylt) 2004
Kursplan – Herbstsemester 2005
(subject to change based on class’ needs)
Abbreviations:
(G)
(VOK)
(GP)
S.
22.- 26.
Mi:
“German Grammar in Review” (green grammar book)
“Vokabelprüfung”
“Grammatikprüfung”
“Seite”
August
Einführung in den Kurs, sich kennen lernen
HA: 1) Lesen Sie “Imitation” S. 14-15
2) Vorbereitung auf Diskussion: S. 17 A,B
29. August – 2. September
Mo: Diskussionshilfe Diskussion: “Imitation” Männer und Frauen
Lied von der Gruppe „Fettes Brot“
HA: 1) Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 1: Was killt eine
Liebesbeziehung? oder “Eine Horrorbeziehung,
die ich hatte”
2) Lesen Sie S. 68-76 (G)
3) Schreiben Sie S. 79 a.3, S. 80-81 b.3, S. 82 c.3,
Mi:
S.83d.2(G)
Präsentation (1) Adjective endings
HA: 1) Lesen Sie “Die Frau in der traditionellen
Familie”, S. 16-18
2) Hören Sie sich das Lied “Männer” an, S. 21-22
3) Schreiben Sie S. 84 e.2, F, G.a (G)
4) Lernen Sie auf Vok 1, S. 23
5. – 9. September
Mo: Vok. 1, S. 23, Diskussion „Männer“, ggf. Präsentationen (1) ,
Adjective endings, Fehlerbesprechung, ggf. Präsentationen (1)
HA: Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 2 „meine
Lieblingsfernsehfamilie“
Mi:
Präsentation (2), Adjective endings
HA: 1) Lesen Sie “Familie in Kürze”, S. 32-34
2) Lesen Sie S. 161-168 (G)
3) Schreiben Sie S. 168-169 A und B (G)
12. – 16. September
Mo:
Diskussion: “Familie in Kürze”, comparatives and superlatives of
adjectives , ggf. Präsentationen (2)
HA:
1) Lernen Sie auf GP 1 hin
2) Lesen Sie S. 36-38, 42 Rotkäppchen 65
Mi:
GP 1, Adjectives
Rottkäppchen 65 Diskussion, Märchen
HA: 1) Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 3: Wie ich eine
Moral gelernt habe“
2) Lesen Sie S. 176-179 (G) Passive Voice
19.-22. September
Mo:
Präsentation (3) Passive Voice
HA: 1) Schreiben Sie S. 182-183 D (G)
2) Lernen Sie auf Vok. 2, S. 47 first 25 words hin
Mi:
ggf. Präsentationen (3), Vok 2, S. 47 Passive voice
HA: 1) Schreiben Sie S. 182 C (a) und 183 E
2) Lesen Sie „das Märchen der kleinen Moritz, der
eine Glatze kriegte“
3) Lesen Sie S. 186-187 (G)
4) Schreiben Sie S. 189 D, F, G
26. – 30. September
Mo:
Diskussion “das Märchen der kleinen Moritz, der eine Glatze
kriegte” Passive
HA: 1) Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 4: „ein Märchen“
oder: „Wie ich an der Politik teilgenommen habe“
2) Lesen Sie S. 186-187 (G)
3) Schreiben Sie S. 189 D, F, G (G)
Mi:
Präsentation (4) Passive
HA: 1) Lesen Sie S. 190-192 (G)
2) Schreiben Sie S. 193 -195 A, C, und E (G)
3) Hören Sie sich das Lied „jetzt ist Sommer“ an
(track 8)
3. -7. Oktober
Mo:
Diskussion: der Sommer, ggf. Präsentationen 4
HA: 1) Vorbereitung auf GP 2 hin: Passive
2) Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 5: „der perfekte
Sommertag“
Mi:
Präsentation 5, GP 2, Passive
HA: 1) Lesen Sie „Fritz“ S. 140-141, „die deutsche
Sprache im dritten Reich“, S. 148-149
2) Lernen Sie auf Vok 3 hin, S. 152
3) Hören Sie sich den Text „ Kinder“, s. 150-151,
(track 12) an
***LAST DAY TO DROP THE COURSE WITH A GRADE OF “W”
10.-14. Oktober
Mo: Vok 3, S. 152, ggf. Präsentationen 5,„Fritz“ Diskussion, Hörtext:
„Kinder“ Grammatik: Weak Masculine nouns/adjectival nouns
HA: 1) Lesen Sie S. 304-305, 306-309 (G)
2) Schreiben Sie S. 306 B, S. 309 A, B, C (G)
Mi:
Adjectival nouns/weak masculine nouns, Wiederholung
auf GP 3 hin !
HA: 1) Lesen Sie S. 62-63 “ich war ein Kind”, S. 68-69
2) Vorbereitung auf GP 3
17. – 21. Oktober
Mo:
Fall Break – Unterricht fällt aus!!
Mi:
GP 3 „Ich war ein Kind“ Textbesprechung
HA: Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 6: „ein schönes
Erlebnis aus meiner Kindheit“
24. – 28. Oktober
Mo:
Präsentation 6
HA: 1) Lesen Sie S. 288-292 “von der Muttersprache zur
Sprachmutter”
2)Vorbereitung auf Diskussion: S.293 C #1
am Alexanderplatz, Steve Della Lana, 2002
Mi:
ggf. Präsentationen 6, Diskussion “von der Muttersprache zur
Sprachmutter”
HA: Vorbereitung auf Präsentation (7): “Ich war auch
einmal Aussenstehender/Ausländer”
den USA“
31. Oktober – 4. November
Mo: Präsentation (7)
HA: 1) Lesen Sie S. 204-205 “Neapel sehen”
2) Schreiben Sie den Aufsatz: „Diskriminierung in
Mi:
Aufsatz fällig !! ggf. Präsentation (7), Textbesprechung „Neapel
sehen“ Grammatik: ein words as pronouns „man“ , da/wo
compounds
HA: 1)Lesen Sie S. 311-312, 313-314, 316 (G)
2) Schreiben Sie S. 313 A, B, S. 316 B (!) (G)
3) Hören Sie sich den Text „der Supermarkt“ (track
16) an!, S. 212 fällig !
7. – 11. November
Mo: Hörtext : „der Supermarkt“, Grammatik: Wiederholung
HA: 1) Lernen Sie auf GP 4 hin !
2) Vorbereitung auf Präsentation 8: „Der
Horrorjob“
3) Überarbeitete Version des Aufsatzes am 8. Nov.
Mi:
GP 4, überarbeitete Version des Aufsatzes fällig Grammatik:
present participles and extended participial constructions
HA: 1) Lesen Sie S. 327-328 (G)
2) Schreiben Sie. S. 329 B (G)
3) Blatt: extended participial constructions
14.-18. November
Mo:
Film: „der Untergang“ (2004)
HA: Lernen Sie auf Vok 4 hin, S. 216
Mi
Vok. 4, S.216 Film: „der Untergang“, Diskussion
HA: 1) Lesen Sie den Text „die Küchenuhr“, S. 72-74
2) Lesen Sie S. 81-82
21. -25. November
Mo: Film: „der Untergang“, Diskussion und „Küchenuhr“
HA: 1) Lernen Sie auf GP 5 hin, S. 86
2) Hören Sie sich den Text „Inventur“ an (track 7)
Mi:
Thanksgiving – Unterricht fällt aus !
28. November - 2. Dezember
Mo GP 5: „Inventur“
HA: 1) Lernen Sie auf Vok 5 hin, S. 86
2) Lesen Sie S. 81-82
Mi:
Vok 5 Hörspiel: „Draußen vor der Tür“
5.-9. Dezember
Mo: Wiederholung auf die abschliessenden mündlichen Prüfungen ,
Kursauswertung
Final oral interview:
313-001
Saturday,
313-002
Wednesday,
December 10th
December 14th
8:00-11:00 a.m.
4:00-6:00 p.m.