Opal German Higher

Tutor: Stefanie Ochel [email protected]

Prerequisites Students should be able to demonstrate a linguistic competence as described in level 3 of the ALTE framework*. Furthermore they must be able to commit to least 2 hours per week for coursework and independent in addition to classes.

Course materials

 Course book: Aspekte Neu Niveau B2 Lehrbuch 9783126050258  Exercise book: Aspekte Neu Niveau B2 Arbeitsbuch 9783126050265 (Publisher: Langenscheidt / Klett)

Course description Please note that Opal tutors will provide a detailed week-by-week course programme and a self-study guide at the beginning of each term.

Communicative content and topics

 Heimat: Auswandern, Vielsprachigkeit, Interkulturelle Begegnungen, Integration

 Sprache: Spracherwerb, Sprachenlernen, Nonverbale Kommunikation, Streiten

 Soziales Miteinander: Gesellschaft, Armut, Gewaltprävention

 Wissenschaft: Geisteswissenschaften – wozu?, Wissenschaft für Kinder

 Kultur: Weltkulturerbe, Was ist Kunst?, Sprachensterben

 Geschichte: Wichtige Daten und Ereignisse

 Studentenpräsentationen

Structural content

 Wortstellung im Satz (Mittelfeld)  Formen der Negation: Wiederholung  Infinitivsätze  Funktionen von “es”  Relativsätze mit “wer”  Passiv- und Passiversatzformen  Nomen, Verben und Adjektive mit festen Präpositionen  Indirekte Rede  Konnektoren

* Prerequisites ALTE LEVEL 3: - Can follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics such as personal and professional experience, events currently in the news - Can give a clear presentation on a familiar topic and answer predictable or factual questions - Can read texts for relevant information and understand detailed instructions or advice - Can make simple notes that will be of reasonable use for essay or revision purposes - Can write a letter including non-standard requests

German Higher Assessment Framework Continuous assessment (participation & coursework) 20% A one hour 45mns final examination at the beginning of Trinity Term (listening element in Week 8 of Hilary term): 40% A project to be presented by the end of week 6 in Trinity Term: 40%

Final mark & recommendation: 50 – 59 Pass 60 – 69 Good pass 70 – 79 Pass with merit 80 - 89 Distinction 90+ - Distinction*

Learning outcomes

ALTE LEVEL 4 - Can contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within own area of work or keep up a casual conversation with a good degree of fluency, coping with abstract expressions. - Can follow abstract argumentation, for example the balancing of alternatives and the drawing of a conclusion. - Can read quickly enough to cope with an academic course, to read the media for information or to understand non-standard correspondence - Can prepare/draft professional correspondence, take reasonably accurate notes in meetings or write an essay which shows an ability to communicate, giving few difficulties for the reader.