The module develops advanced proficiency in writing, speaking and comprehending German. It concentrates on translation into German and English and the development of analytical skills in the production of written and spoken German. Translation exercises confront students with a variety of advanced texts in different styles and registers, and encourage accuracy and critical reflection as well as acquisition and consolidation of grammatical structures. The language skills component combines discursive writing on advanced topics with the development of proper oral competence through discussion. Conversation classes with a native speaker develop presentational ability, and enable students to speak fluently and idiomatically at the advanced level.
Students of German who did not spend a year abroad in Germany or a German-speaking country are nevertheless expected to achieve a near-native level of German by the end of their degree. Familiarity with the language, as spoken and written at professional level – for example in journalism or literature – is expected, together with a well-stocked vocabulary, a reasonable command of idiom in common use and a sense of linguistic appropriateness to context.
Total Contact Hours: 60
Private Study Hours: 240
Total Study hours: 300
Main assessment methods:
• Language Skills In Course Test - 30%
• Oral In Course Test (in group, 5 minutes per person) – 10%
• Written Assignment (1,000 words-equivalent) - 30%
• Final Oral Exam (in group, 5 minutes per person) – 10%
• Project (700 words-equivalent) – 20%
Reassessment methods:
Like-for-Like
The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices. The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages: https://kent.rl.talis.com/index.html
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate consolidated and extended translation skills, as developed in the first and second years;
2. Demonstrate consolidated and extended ability to accurately recognise and use a range of registers in German, and gained enhanced sensitivity to the equivalent English registers;
3. Demonstrate perfected linguistic skills by means of studying grammatical and lexical subtleties of the German language;
4. Analyse and demonstrate a deep and cogent understanding of topics related to language and cultural studies, and the complex inter-relationships between such topics, in both German and English;
5. Demonstrate the benefit of having had regular oral practice in German on an extensive range of topics, including academic topics, at an advanced level.
6. Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the theoretical and practical problems involved with translation from English into German and vice versa.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate consolidated and extended ability to identify and analyse concepts, and the relation between concepts, in both the target language and English;
2. Demonstrate the ability to converse in the target language on a range of topics, including academic topics, at an advanced level;
3. Demonstrate enhanced skills of oral as well as written presentation and self-expression;
4. Demonstrate the ability to engage in independent study and research through a variety of methods (including the use of dictionaries and grammars);
5. Demonstrate advanced translation skills.
6. Demonstrate advanced written compositional skills in the target language.
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