This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module is intended for students who start(ed) to learn German at University. It supports the acquisition of German as a foreign language as an adult; the module should be taken together with a language module (e.g. GE329). In the form of a learner diary the students document and critically reflect their progress in learning German. The level of knowledge of German required increases during the duration of the module, in line with the proficiency increase to be expected from a beginner's language module. The module notably has a highly applied focus. For example, students will be familiarized with grammatical terms (types of words, parts of speech) and structures (morphology, sentence structure), learn how to effectively acquire vocabulary, improve their pronunciation etc. The module’s topics (directly or indirectly) address all four language skills as well as grammar and vocabulary.
1 hour per week
This module is also available as a wild module to students from all other faculties if their German language proficiency is at least on CEFR level A1.
100% Coursework
Indicative Reading List
Compact Oxford German Dictionary (2013). OUP: Oxford. [ISBN 978-0-19-966312-5]
Corbeil, J. & Archambault, A. (1997). Visual dictionary: English, French, German, Spanish. Oxford: Oxford UP. [ISBN 0198631456]
Crystal, D. (2006). How language works. London: Penguin Books. [ISBN 0141015527]
Crystal, D. (2010). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge UP
[ISBN 978-0521736503]
Durrell, M. (2011). Hammer's German grammar and usage. London: Hodder Education.
[ISBN 1444120166].
Hall, C. (2003). Modern German Pronunciation: An introduction for speakers of English. Manchester: Manchester UP.
Jones, R. & Tschirner, E. (2006). A frequency dictionary of German. London: Routledge.
[ISBN 0415316332]
Lightbown, P.& Spada, N. (2013). How languages are learned. Oxford: Oxford UP.
[ISBN 978-0194541268]
Mitchell, R., Myles, F. & Marsden, E. (2012). Second language learning theories. London: Routledge. [ISBN 978-1444163100]
Nation, I.S.P. (2013). Learning Vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Camridge UP.
[ISBN 978-1107623026]
Tschirner, E. (2008). Lextra – Deutsch als Fremdsprache – Grund- und Aufbauwortschatz nach Themen. Cornelsen: Berlin. [ISBN 978-3-58-901559-7]
Weber, R. (2014). PONS Grammatik auf einen Blick Deutsch. Pons: Stuttgart.
[ISBN 978-3-12-561897-8]
Zorach, C. & Melin, C. (2009). English Grammar for Students of German. Olivia & Hill: Ann Arbour, MI. [ISBN 978-0-93-403438-8]
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successful completion of this module students possess the following subject specific skills, abilities and knowledge in relation to the key topics outlined under point 13:
11.1. Students can describe how foreign language acquisition for adults differs from first language acquisition and how challenges in acquiring German as an adult can be overcome
11.2. Students are familiar with German sounds and can correctly pronounce even unknown words.
11.3. Students understand and can describe grammatical terms, concepts and structures. They are also able to analyse sentences/texts from a grammatical point of view.
11.4. Students are familiar with the relation between vocabulary size and listening/reading comprehension, the different kinds of dictionaries and how to use them as well as how to efficiently acquire vocabulary.
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