German: Language and Culture

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021039BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Linguistics and Literary Studies

Educational team

Geert Crauwels
Arvi Sepp (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
52 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course comprises two parts:

Part 1 (taught by Arvi Sepp)

We discuss the political, cultural, economic and scientific institutions and education in the Federal Republic of Germany, in Austria and in Switzerland. The cultural history of the German-speaking area also plays an essential role. We emphasise idioms and the translatable/untranslatable aspects of the cultural specifics under discussion. In translations from Dutch to German, the translation of culture-specific discourse is explained in depth.

Part 2 (taught by Geert Crauwels)

This course offers the students a series of practical tools that are indispensable in the oral as well as written communication in German in a range of specific communicative situations. Not included here is the communication in an academic context. During this practice-oriented seminar the students will systematically learn to use an appropriate register and to fluently apply adequate phrases (Redemittel). As far as oral communication is concerned, the following topics will be dealt with: discussing business; giving information and professional advice; business presentations (including dealing with graphs and numbers). The written communication comprises taking minutes; constructing arguments for or against a case; other business writing exercises. In terms of language acquisition, the use of modal particles and phraseological verbal and nominal constructions are addressed.

Additional info

E-Mail: arvi.sepp@vub.ac.be / geert.crauwels@vub.ac.be

Learning Outcomes

Objectives

Part 1:

Students can discuss the structures and history of the Federal Republic of Germany in important cultural areas.
Students know the vocabulary and idiomatics specific to these societal domains.

Part 2:

The students develop and extend their knowledge of useful phrases and expressions (level B2-C1 of the CEFR) that are commonly used in the field of various specific professional communication situations. [knowledge and insight]

Moreover, the students show, in a series of exercises, that they can also practically use these communicative tools in an efficient and effective way. In doing so, they do not overlook the formal requirements and they also apply an appropriate register. [Applying knowledge and insight]

Finally, the students can construct their arguments on a solid base, when dealing with a business topic or a current issue in German. They can also communicate this in a clear way. [Communication; learning skills]

Eindcompetenties

Students must be made familiar with important concepts from the political, social and cultural structure of the Federal Republic and its historical background. Students must be able to express themselves fluently, both verbally and in writing, about the most important political, economic, scientific and educational institutions in the Federal Republic. Students must be able to convert a Dutch text about Germany and German culture/history into authentic German.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 40% of the final mark.
Written Exam determines 25% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 35% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral Exam with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Note: Second Session: 50%

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written exam with a relative weight of 35 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Continuous evaluation with a relative weight of 25 which comprises 35% of the final mark. This is a mid-term test.

Note: Outside examination period

Additional info regarding evaluation

Part 1 and Part 2 of the course each make up half (50%) of the endnote.

Part 1 (taught by Arvi Sepp)

First exam period: Oral exam 70% permanent evaluation 30% - Second exam period: Oral exam 100%

Part 2 (taught by Geert Crauwels)

The grade for part 2 is composed based on the following categories: Written Exam determines 60% of the mark of Part 2. Other Exam determines 40% of the mark of Part 2. Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed: schriftelijk examen with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the mark of Part 2. Note: Exams August/September: Written exam: 100,00. Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed: Permanente evaluatie with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the mark of Part 2. Note: Exams August/September: Written exam: 100,00

Additional info with regard to grading

The continuous assessment – 40% of the total marks of the first examination period for part 2 – comprises the following parts: taking minutes (Protokoll: 10%); writing an argumentative text (Erörterung: 10%); active participation in discussions (10%); (oral) presentation (10%). This arrangement applies to the first examination period only!

As far as the continuous assessment is concerned, 15% of the marks of each assignment the student fails to submit on time, will be subtracted; however, the assignment concerned is then to be submitted within the next 24 hours. After that period, 30% will be subtracted for each assignment that is handed in too late, but no later than 72 hours in total. After that period, assignments will no longer be accepted. In that case, the mark for the assignment concerned will be 0 (zero).

The second examination period consists of a written exam only, which integrates the compete subject material (100%).

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context