GERMAN LANGUAGE 2
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Knowledge of the Italian language, both written and spoken; Knowledge of grammatical, logical, and sentence analysis as applied to the Italian language; Written and oral competence in German corresponding to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Final Examination The final exam consists of a written part and an oral part. It presupposes knowledge and skills in German corresponding to level B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Written Exam The written exam for the German Language 2 course (monographic course and practical sessions) is computer-based and consists of two parts: the monographic component and the practical component. The monographic component includes multiple-choice questions, open/closed questions, and/or short exercises in morphology and syntax similar to those covered during the lessons. The practical component includes: reading comprehension (a text with questions), listening comprehension (audio with closed questions), linguistic elements (grammar and vocabulary), translation from German into Italian (without dictionary), and written production (without dictionary). The written exam lasts a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes and is considered passed only if both parts (monographic and practical) are graded as sufficient. Passing the written exam grants access to the oral exam. Oral Exam The oral exam for the German Language 2 course (monographic course and practical sessions) is likewise divided into two parts. The monographic component consists of an interview with open questions on the entire course bibliography (linguistics). The questions may be both theoretical and practical in nature, following the model of the exercises carried out during the lessons. This interview is conducted in Italian. The practical component consists of two stages: The first part is based on an unfamiliar text projected on screen for reading. The student is then asked to discuss the theme of the text with the lecturer. The text remains available throughout the exam for reference during the questioning. However, the goal of this test is the reformulation, in the student’s own words, of the information contained in the text—not simple reading. The second part consists of a brief discussion on the content and topics of five current-affairs texts previously selected independently by the students from those available in the Topthemen section of the Deutsche Welle website: https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/top-thema/s-8031 . The texts must have been published during the academic year in which the exam is taken. This part of the exam is conducted in German. Final Grade The final grade is the average of the grades obtained in the two components (written and oral).
The teaching of German Language 2 is aimed at students enrolled in the Bachelor’s degree program in Interlinguistic and Intercultural Mediation who wish to deepen their knowledge of the German language and its related sociocultural aspects. The course is divided into two parts: the monographic course and the practical sessions. The monographic course in German Language 2 (60 hours), taught by Prof. C. Köhncke, is designed to provide theoretical knowledge of German syntax, text grammar, and pragmatics. These are essential both for acquiring metalinguistic competence and for developing the ability to navigate texts of varying degrees of complexity. The practical sessions in German Language 2 (60 hours), taught by Prof. C. Pick, will focus on practicing the linguistic skills, pragmatic knowledge, and intercultural competences necessary for interaction in everyday and professional contexts. By the end of the course, students will: have acquired the linguistic skills, pragmatic knowledge, and intercultural competences necessary for interaction in everyday and professional contexts; have achieved level B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); have gained theoretical knowledge of German syntax, text grammar, and pragmatics; have developed metalinguistic competence; be able to navigate texts of varying degrees of complexity.
The monographic course in German Language 2 aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge of German syntax, text grammar, and pragmatics, useful for acquiring metalinguistic competence and the ability to navigate texts of varying degrees of complexity. During the lessons, both theoretical content will be presented and practical exercises will be carried out.
In particular, the following topics will be addressed: inferential reading; sentence constituents; elements of syntax: the topological model and bracket structures; word-formation processes; textual coherence (temporal, causal, spatial). The course also includes practical translation exercises from German into Italian. Within the practical sessions of German Language 2, the four skills will be trained: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and written and oral production. Specifically, the following areas will be covered: 1) Pragmatic-communicative competence: Appropriate use of formal and informal address (siezen and duzen); Expressing hypotheses and certainties; Formulating arguments for or against a thesis (introduction); Making, accepting, and refusing proposals (further practice); Narrating personal experiences; Comparing situations (including in relation to the student’s native country). 2) Textual competence: Understanding newspaper articles of medium complexity (introduction); Understanding simple literary texts (included in the textbook); Producing both written and especially oral texts of a personal nature that involve expressing feelings, emotions, and opinions; Producing written and oral texts on current topics. 3) Linguistic-grammatical competence: Declension of articles; N-declension; Adjectives in predicative and attributive function; declension; degrees of comparison (further practice); Indefinite pronouns (further practice), reciprocal reflexive pronouns; Verbs: Konjunktiv II; compound tenses with modal verbs; future tense; Perfekt; Plusquamperfekt; active and passive voice; participial constructions; Prepositions: review; prepositions governing the genitive; local and temporal prepositions; Adverbs and expressions of place and time (further practice); Negation with nicht, kein, and other negative elements (further practice); Connectors: review and further practice; double conjunctions; Word-formation (further practice); Complex nominal and prepositional phrases; Complex sentences: coordinating clauses; subordinate clauses (causal, conditional—including unreal conditionals—relative (further practice), final, consecutive, concessive, temporal, modal); infinitive clauses. Review of all subordinate clauses. 4) Lexical competence: Vocabulary expansion, with particular attention to strengthening active vocabulary. For example, terminology related to the following areas will be introduced and practiced: Everyday life; Food and drink; Work and career; Advertising and consumption; School, university, the world of work; Leisure and creativity; Current issues: nutrition, health and fitness, energy, environment, traffic, mobility, travel, media; History and politics. During the practical sessions, the knowledge acquired in the first year will be reinforced and further developed.
Monographic course in German Language 2: Lectures supported by slide presentations (made available on the e-learning platform) and video materials; Use of the internet for consultation and use of linguistic corpora; Exercises conducted in plenary sessions as well as individually; Additional materials or resources will be uploaded to the course’s e-learning page. Students are encouraged to participate actively in both lectures and workshop activities. The lectures are conducted in Italian and German. Practical sessions in German Language 2: To foster the development of communicative skills, various Sozialformen are used (i.e., working individually, in pairs, and in groups to produce short texts and conversations in German). Special attention is given to dialogue with students, who are encouraged to participate actively in order to contribute effectively to the improvement of their communicative competence. The plenary sessions also involve in-class writing assignments and peer correction of texts, aimed at promoting critical and self-correction skills. To further strengthen grammatical knowledge, structured and semi-structured exercises are carried out, using the course textbook as well as additional materials. The practical sessions are conducted in German.
Non-attending students are requested to contact the course lecturers by e-mail. Regular attendance and active participation in the lessons are strongly recommended. Should this not be possible, non-attending students are expected to study independently, making use of the materials provided on the e-learning platform. The lecturers are available to clarify any doubts via e-mail or during office hours. Non-attending students will take the final exam under the same conditions as attending students. The slides and materials uploaded by the lecturers to the university’s e-learning platform for the course are to be considered as required study material and, unless otherwise indicated, form an integral part of the exam program. Further information, rules, and guidelines regarding the exam and the German Language 2 course will be published on the course’s Moodle page, which students are invited to consult.