German language as a social and cultural practice

Teacher(s)

Rinder Ann; Suner Munoz Ferran;

Language

Deutsch

Main themes

1. Familiar topics related to everyday student life, lifestyles and social relations in different contexts and fields (especially in the academic world), in relation to their own experiences and knowledge. 
2. Living conditions, traditions, social relations and cultural phenomena in different contexts and fields, in the light of their own experience and knowledge. 
3. Opinions, feelings, experiences and future projects, as well as relationships and ethical issues (including the digital world). 

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Understand spoken language and texts of an informative, descriptive, narrative, discussion and contact nature, possibly containing elements of regional variation.
2	Understand short dialogues, conversations, interviews and simple messages, as well as narratives and other works of fiction, including in spoken or dramatised form.
3	Use strategies to repair details and understand context, and to adapt listening and reading to the form, content and purpose of the presentation.
4	Give and explain oral and written information in formal and everyday contexts, and justify, evaluate and discuss opinions.
5	Adapt oral and written production to clarify, vary and communicate according to purpose, audience and context.
6	Use strategies to participate in and facilitate written conversations and interactions, including in digital form, e.g. confirming, rephrasing, explaining, listening actively and ending politely.
This learning unit contributes to the development and command of the following skills and learning outcomes of the ELAL programmes : 6.2, 6.6

Content

The topics covered are mainly found in the media, and include social, political, sporting, cultural (in the broadest sense) and event-related topics. Based on these themes, basic vocabulary and grammar will be approached and studied. The course is structured in two-week thematic blocks, each including learning outcomes as well as grammar topics, text/speech types and thematic fields relevant to them. 

Teaching methods

The coordination of this course is entrusted to an academic member of the ELAL school, who is assisted by a teacher from the ILV, who will also participate in the evaluation, and by an assistant.
60 hours of classes per semester, combining both 'lecture' and exercise sessions. In the lecture parts of the course, theoretical approaches to improve reading will be discussed, as well as various reading techniques. The thematic fields, presented in the form of different types of texts and audio and video recordings, will be commented on and analyzed. In the exercise sessions, the various theoretical approaches presented will be put into practice. The instructors will ensure that equal emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and written expression. In addition to discussions on the themes covered in the lecture part, authentic documents related to the same themes – which may also lead to oral reactions – may be presented.
15 hours of individual study and work, particularly:

• Systematic, personal, and independent study of the vocabulary contained in the course materials;
• Grammar exercises on Moodle;
• Preparation for listening comprehension;
• Preliminary preparation of texts;
• Writing documents;
• Remediation work and additional self-study exercises;
• Updating notes and reviewing, memorizing.

Evaluation methods

Continuous certificative assessment (60% of the final grade), comprising:

• Attendance (completion of 80% of the ungraded tests and attendance at class sessions) and active participation (interaction, submission of group work, etc.) (20%)
• Graded grammar and/or vocabulary tests at the end of each thematic block (20%)
• Completion of projects (individual or group) at the end of each thematic block (20%)

Attendance (see above) is a mandatory condition for admission to the January and June examinations, in accordance with Article 72 of the RGEE (General Regulations on Studies and Examinations).
Final assessment during the examination session (40% of the final grade): In January and June, a Part A (written skills: comprehension and production) and a Part B (oral skills: comprehension and production) are organised. Only students who have obtained at least 10/20 in Part A are permitted to sit Part B. The grade for the final session assessment is the arithmetic mean of Parts A and B; if Part A is failed, the Part A grade constitutes the grade for the final session assessment.
A failed January examination cannot be retaken in June: the January grade is retained and is averaged with the June grade (January 50%, June 50%).
In the second session (September), continuous assessment is no longer taken into account. Students retake only the final assessment (January and June). The final assessment then counts for 100% of the grade.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI), if used, must be used responsibly and in accordance with the principles of academic and scientific integrity. Since scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, any use of AI must always be declared.

Online resources

Moodle

Faculty or entity

> ELAL