Learning of languages of the region: German - level A1

elective courses
foreign languages

Classes at the primary level are designed for people who did not really learn the German language before.

Classroom

The course objective is to gain language proficiency of a selected Central or Eastern European country and to gain familiarity with the regional cul-ture at the A1 (elementary) language learning level as defined by The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/LanguageSelfAssessmentGrid/pl.

Language learning takes place in a systemic way. Mastering a language as a set of grammatical, syntactic, lexical rules, etc. is accompanied by an anal-ysis of the very nature of language as a socio-cultural phenomenon. The development of (inter) cultural competences (in line with CEFR and FREPA) plays an important role. Knowledge about the culture of the select-ed country is also systematically transferred. Therefore, language education takes place in two directions: within general and specialist topics in the field of cultural studies (cultural and cognitive component) and language studies (linguistic component), both of which are complementary and may overlap in some areas.

Upon completion of the course a student can understand very basic phrases concerning her/himself, the family, immediate concrete surroundings and her/his flat when people speak slowly and clearly.

In a written text s/he can understand well-known vocabulary, names and simple sentences.

S/he is able to read the information contained, for example, in advertise-ments, on posters and in catalogues.

S/he can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help her/him formu-late what s/he is trying to say.

S/he can ask and answer simple questions in areas of everyday life, imme-diate need or on very familiar topics.

S/he can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where s/he lives, where s/he comes from and people s/he knows.

He can write a short, simple text, e.g. holiday greetings.

He can fill out the form with personal data, state nationality, occupation, address, e.g. in a hotel registration form.

The course content (general language): me and my relatives, friends, ac-quaintances; Language of instruction during the class; Names of countries, nationalities, professions, places, home equipment (furniture etc.); Weather phenomena – names and descriptions; A city – offices, services, public places and public transport; Parts of a body and a description of a human; Journeys and their organization; Age, hobby; Time/date, four seasons; Usu-al forms of handling and performed at the moment; Schedule of a day; Plans for the future, previous experience; Family relations, school, work.

The course content related to culture (optional, can be extended to topics of interest to the group): Small talk, Language (dialectal differences), Cus-toms, Real-world information, Social and cultural events, Holidays, Multi-culturalism, Cultural differences, Cultural preferences Linear, Leisure and entertainment, Apartment etc.

Student workload includes:

Classroom participation – 90 hours (3 ECTS)

Preparing for classes – 90 hours (3 ECTS)

The coursebook: Momente A.1., additional materials provided by the lec-turer, presentations, recordings etc.

Begegnungen A1+, Lernen-Lehren-Helfen Erster-Leitfaden für Ehrenamtli-che, Herausgeber Prof. Dr. Jörg Roche, Grammatik Aktiv A1-B1 Cornelsen

www.dw.com/de, www.goethe.de, https://www.deutsch-to-go.de , https://www.fluter.de/, www.schubert-verlag.de.

A student is practicing without having to fear his/her speech communication on the elementary level.

On completing the course, the graduate:

KNOWLEDGE:

1. makes use of knowledge, acquired during the course, of culture of a given linguistic region;

2. a graduate knows and understands at an elementary level the sophis-ticated nature of a language;

3. one has elementary vocabulary necessary to manage in language en-vironment (See: Full description);

4. one has elementary knowledge about the description of a language system;

5. one knows selected issues (See: Full description).

SKILLS:

1. one can communicate in simple and routine tasks connected with topics included in Full description;

2. one can recognize familiar words and messages in selected, simple materials of different types as well as in verbal communication;

3. one understands information contained in selected, simple materials of everyday life;

4. one presents information in oral and in written form using certain language constructions.

COMPETENCES:

1. one is able to collaborate in pair as well as in a group of people;

2. one knows learning strategies and understands the need for lifelong learning;

3. one knows basic social norms and their relevant verbal and nonver-bal reactions which are obligatory in the definite cultural and lin-guistic area;

4. one detects cultural differences and demonstrates the tolerance for users of other languages.

In keeping with the course goals, the graduate will acquire skills:

1) knows and understands in an elementary way the comprehensive nature of the language, with particular emphasis on the cultural context of Germany and Austria (K1_W09, K2_W09);

2) can search, select, analyze and use the information he needs from various sources (K1_U01, K2_U01);

3) able to use the German language at level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (K1_U09, K2_U09);

4) can use modern communication and information technologies in his work (K1_U11, K2_U11);

5) is ready to critically evaluate his knowledge, constantly learn and supplement the acquired knowledge (K1_K01, K2_K01);

6) is ready to communicate effectively and live in society, including a society that is culturally different from his own, to work in a group, to cope with typical professional situations, to verify his views through substantive (K1_K02, K2_K02).

I. Teaching methods

Eclectic method with focus on communication. Task-based approach with an emphasis on oral communication. Tasks that develop the ability to con-duct discourse in an intercultural setting. Individual, team and group work, dialogue, language games, role playing games, short presentations, multi-media exercises

II. The organization of classes:

According to The detailed rules of studies at the Faculty of Applied Lin-guistics (The Resolution No. 114 by the Faculty of Applied Linguistics Board of 19 December, 2017):

1) Attendance at all classes, covered by the plan, shall be compulsory (§ 9 (2)).

2) It is not possible to have a resit if the reason of failing the credit was noncompliance with the requirement to participate in them. In such a case a student can be conditionally registered in an successive stage of study and can repeat the failed course.

According to the University Foreign Language Teaching System (the Res-olution No. 119 from 17 June, 2009).

III. Assessment criteria:

The final mark comprises the following elements:

- prepared oral statements, spontaneous statements in classes, or other forms of speech in accordance with the teacher's decision depending on the goals set in a given semester (e.g. dialogue in pairs, short presentation, role-by-play scenario) - 25% of the grade,

- results of homework, short tests - 25% of the grade,

- final test results - 50% of the grade.

The condition for admission to pass the subject is compulsory attendance according to the Study Regulations of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics.

It must be taken into account that in order to complete the course success-fully a student needs to demonstrate achievements in every the above men-tioned categories (a student who receives the 0% in one of the categories, won't complete the course, which means that he/she did not demonstrate any activity in none of them).

Grading system:

99 – 100% - 5 (excellent)

93 - 98% - 5 (very good)

87 - 92% - 4,5 (fairly good)

77 - 86% - 4 (good)

71 - 76% - 3,5 (satisfactory plus)

60 - 70% - 3 (satisfactory)