PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
MASTER SYLLABUS

BEGINNING GERMAN I
GERM 1010

Class Hours: 3.0

 

Credit Hours: 3.0

 

Laboratory Hours: 0.0

 

Date Revised: Fall 06

 

 

 

 

 

Catalog Course Description:

 

 

 

Introduction to German. 

Entry Level Standards:

 

 

 

Students must be able to read and write at the college level.

Prerequisites:

 

 

 

None

Textbook(s) and Other Course Materials:

 

 

1. Fokus Deutsch – Beginning German 1 – text, workbook, cd-rom. 

2. . Fokus Deutsch – video series: available in library.

I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:

 

 

 

Week 

Topic

 

1

Introductory unit A: Classroom commands, alphabet, descriptions, clothing, colors, numbers. 

 

2

Part of body, greetings, culture project, reading exercise, writing exercise. 

 

3

Verb forms: sein, haben, heißen. Review of introductory unit A. Test I

 

4

Introductory unit B: classroom items; description of persons, family, weather 

 

5

Writing exercise, video clip, review for test,. Grammar: personal pronouns, possessives, articles. Test II

 

6

Chapter 1: Leisure time activities, schools and universities

 

7

Personal data, telling time, culture project, writing exercise
Structures : expressing likes and dislikes

 

8

Reading exercise, video clip, review. Grammar: word order, sep. prefix verbs. Test III

 

9

Chapter 2: Possessions, presents, opinions

 

10

Entertainment, reading exercise

 

11

Video clip, writing exercise. Grammar: accusative case, stem-changing verbs

 

12

Test IV. Begin chapter 3: Talents and plans, obligations

 

13

Express feelings, writing exercise

 

14

Reading exercise (poem), culture project, video clip
Grammar: modal verbs, dependent clause word order

Review

 

15

Test V. Oral interviews. Comprehensive final exam.

 

 

 

II. Course Objectives*:

 

 

 

A.

Listening comprehension:  understand some words and phrases in German spoken at a slow conversational speed, such as simple questions and statements, high-frequency commands, and courtesy formulas. II.3

 

B.

Speaking skills:  communicate in a limited number of daily situations in simple, present-tense German, relying heavily on learned phrases. II.3

 

C.

Speaking skills:  communicate in a limited number of daily situations in simple, present-tense German, relying heavily on learned phrases. II.3

 

D.

Writing skills:  write simple sentences in present tense German.  II.3

 

E.

Cultural understanding:  acquire some understanding of German traditions, language, and people. II.1, II.3, II.4, II.5

*Roman numerals after course objectives reference TBR’s general education goals.

III. Instructional Processes*: 

 

 

Students will:

 

 

 

 

1.

Use the German language in pair and group exercises to exchange information and talk about their feelings. Communication Outcome, Humanities Outcome, Active Learning Strategy

 

2.

Complete workbook exercises in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding German. Communication Outcome, Humanities Outcome

 

3.

Develop listening and speaking skills in real contexts through the use of a video and extensive audio program. Communication Outcome, Humanities Outcome

 

4.

Collaborate in teams to practice verbal exercises and complete written exercises.  Communication Outcome, Humanities Outcome, Outcome, Active Learning Strategies

 

5.

Read about differences between American culture and German culture, with some analysis of how culture is expressed through language.  Humanities Outcome

 

6.

Discuss video interviews of American business people who use German in their work.  Transitional Strategies

*Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference TBR’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process.

IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: 

 

 

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

1.

Understand simple statements, directions, questions, and responses in present-tense German.  A

 

2.

Coordinate sound-symbol association (the contrast between written and spoken German) in familiar material.  A

 

3.

Carry on a simple conversation in German, including greetings, basic questions and answers, and limited descriptions.  B

 

4.

Demonstrate correct pronunciation and intonation of spoken German.  B

 

5.

Translate short passages in simple present-tense German.  C

 

6.

Develop a basic German vocabulary of several hundred words including some irregular verbs.  C

 

7.

Learn how grammatical structures of written German differ from those of English.  C

 

8.

Write short original sentences in present tense German.  C,D

 

9.

Fill out forms written in German.  C, D

 

10.

Develop an understanding of the work involved in learning a second language and respect for those people who are multilingual. E

 

11.

Describe specific aspects of German life such as holidays, eating customs, and family life.  E

*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.

V. Evaluation:

 

 

 

A. Testing Procedures: 70% of grade

 

There will be five unit tests counting 50% of the final grade and short quizzes for 20%. 
Students must take all exams. There will be NO MAKE-UP OF CHAPTER TESTS. Students who miss an exam must take the comprehensive final exam. Students who miss more than one exam will receive a zero as the grade for the missed exam(s). In case of prolonged illness or death in the family, please speak with your instructor.
There will be short quizzes on daily assignments several times a week. These quizzes will be given at the beginning of the class period. There will be NO MAKEUP OF SHORT QUIZZES for any reason, including absence or tardiness. If you come in during the quiz, you will not be allowed extra time to complete it. However, at the end of the semester, the two lowest quiz grades will be dropped.

 

B. Laboratory Expectations: 10% of grade

 

Completed workbook and grammar exercises will count 15% of the final grade. Writing assignments will count 10% of the final grade. Homework listed on syllabus for each day is to be completed for next class. For example, homework listed on Friday, August 24, is to be done for the next class meeting on Monday, August 27. 
You are expected to do listening activities on your own time using the CDs or tapes you bought. If you practice these activities, you should do well on the listening portion of the exams.

 

C. Oral Interview: 10% of grade

 

An oral interview will count 10% of the final grade.

 

D. Other Evaluation Methods: 10% of grade

 

Class participation and attendance will count 10% of the final grade.

 

E. Grading Scale:

 

90-100  A
87-89    B+
80-86    B
77-79    C+
70-76    C
60-69    D
 < 59     F

VI. Policies:

 

 

 

A. Attendance Policy:

 

Attendance in language courses is of critical importance and will affect the final grade. After six (6) absences, the final grade will drop one letter grade for each additional absence. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY because many students fail to understand the severity of missing classes until it is too late. If a student has to miss a class, it is the student's RESPONSIBILITY to find out from classmates what work, assignments etc. were missed and complete them in order to able to join in all classroom activities upon return to class. As a minimum, students must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled classes in order to receive credit for the course.  Individual departments/programs/disciplines, with the approval of the vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, may have requirements that are more stringent.

 

B. Academic Dishonesty:

 

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.  A student guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class.  In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular Pellissippi State procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an F or a zero for the exercise or examination or to assign an F in the course. The use of electronic translation tools is a violation of policy. 

 

C. Accommodations for disabilities:

 

If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform the instructor immediately. Please see the instructor privately after class or in his/her office. Students must present a current accommodation plan from a staff member in Services for Students with Disabilities (SSWD) in order to receive accommodations in this course. Services for Students with Disabilities may be contacted by going to Goins 127 or 131 or by phone: 694-6751(Voice/TTY) or 539-7153.


  Posted: January 5, 2007