KURS-INFO -- CLASS INFORMATION GER-110: Communicating in German I Herbst 2014 Schedule: MW 3:30 4:45 pm (15:30 16:45), Lab hour: Tuesday, 4-5 pm., PR 5. Classroom: Padre Rubio 5. Instructor: Roswitha Zahlner Casmier, Ph.D. Credits: 3 credit hours. Office: Padre Rubio Language Office (1 st Floor) Office hours: TR 12:15-14:15, also by appointment. Email: (best way to contact me) rcasmier@slu.edu Lab hour: Attendance is compulsory as for all other classes. We will mostly use this hour to practice pronunciation and conversation. M-W classes will be used for other course content (grammar, reading, practice) as well as for tests and exams. ZIELE und RESULTATE DES KURSES COURSE OBJECTIVES AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES After taking this course, attending classes assiduously and completing all homework, inclass, oral and written assignments, students can expect to be able to: - Sich in wichtigen Situation auf Deutsch zu verständigen / To be able to communicate in German in a variety of everyday situations through basic communication structures. This class is communicative in nature, meaning that grammar is not learned as an isolated structure, memorized and organized in neat tables, but stands in the service of communication. This type of communication is also meant to be useful and immediately applicable in the situations most students likely faced by beginning students. - Sich sowohl schriftlich als auch mündlich auf Niveau A1/1 zu verständigen / To be able to communicate on European framework level A1/1 in writing as well as in speaking, having acquired comprehension and expression skills through basic grammatical structures of German, including articles, nouns, pronouns, verbs, and prepositions, adjectives and adverbs, but also by exploring various lexical fields to acquire a certain degree of fluency in different contexts. - Ein Grundwissen über "Deutsche" Kulturen und Geografie zu haben / Have learned to appreciate the variety of "German" cultures, the basic geographic factors, and the limited value of stereotypes. These outcomes are successfully achieved semester after semester by all students thanks to the communicative nature of this class, the heavy exposure to spoken and written German, and the small class sizes. These objectives should also have the following consequences:
Enhance students ability to appreciate cultural diversity and question stereotypes. Further desire for knowledge and language learning by focusing on the very nature of the learning process and one s own personal learning and communication style. Improve a student s ability to communicate in the modern marketplace where German is a valuable resource. KURSTEXT REQUIRED and optional materials - TANGRAM aktuell 1: Niveau A1/1. Kursbuch + Arbeitsbuch. Ed. Hueber. To purchase at Librería Gaztambide, Calle Gaztambide 6 (metro stop Arguëlles). Includes Glosario and Audio CD. Important: During the second part of the semester, we will need the second book, A1/2, Chapters 5-8. This book will be used in German 115 but is also compulsory for the second part of German 110. You may purchase this book at the beginning of the semester along with the first part, or at the beginning of November, whenever it is more convenient. - Wörterbuch! German-English or German-Spanish dictionary, regular checking of online materials on the SLU Global site, and online Tangram. PFLICHTEN DER STUDENTEN STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES --Regelmässig und pünktlich zu allen Vorlesungen zu kommen! Drei mal unentschuldigt verspätet kommen zählt als eine unentschuldigte Abwesenheit. -- Regular and punctual attendance is a must. After more than three unexcused absences, a student s final grade will be lowered by a half grade point. Regular attendance is extremely important in language learning. Three unexcused late arrivals will count for one absence. -- Aktive Mitarbeit bei allen Einzel-und Gruppenübungen, schriftlich oder mündlich. Fehler machen gehört dazu! Mit Lachen geht es leichter. / Active participation in all class individual and group activities, whether they be oral or written. Language students must be willing to make mistakes during the learning process! And with humor you will learn better. -- Eine Seite Hausaufgaben jede Woche abgeben! / At least one full page of homework needs to be copied, i.e. handwritten on paper (not only in the workbook section) and handed in every week. If there is more homework assigned, you may choose which exercises to write out and hand in. Since this is a beginners course, try to write and read aloud a little bit EVERY DAY. -- Zwei Semester als Basis : Based on long language-learning and teaching experience, the language teaching faculty here at SLU-M highly recommend studying a foreign language for a minimum of two semesters in a row in order to acquire a solid basis for further study. BEWERTUNG GRADING SCALE - Class participation / Attendance / Homework : 20 % - kleine Tests u. Vokabeltests ( 3 beste Noten): 15% - Erste Teilprüfung / First mid-term: 15 % - Zweite Teilprüfung: 15 %
- Gespräch und Referat / Oral skit and presentation: 15% - Schlussprüfung / Final exam: 20 % Standard American grading system, A-F: A+, 98-100% (This is not an existing final grade at SLU), A, 92-97%, A-, 89-91%, asf. Lowest D: 59%. Grades I or X for incomplete work or missed final exams will only be given in real emergencies and with prior notification and consent of the dean and instructor. Plagiat ist unakzeptabel! Academic Honesty Policy Statement The University is a community of learning, whose effectiveness requires an environment of mutual trust and integrity, such as would be expected at a Jesuit, Catholic institution. As members of this community, students, faculty, and staff members share the responsibility to maintain this environment. Academic dishonesty violates it. Although not all forms of academic dishonesty can be listed here, it can be said in general that soliciting, receiving, or providing any unauthorized assistance in the completion of any work submitted toward academic credit is dishonest. It not only violates the mutual trust necessary between faculty and students but also undermines the validity of the University s evaluation of students and takes unfair advantage of fellow students. Further, it is the responsibility of any student who observes such dishonest conduct to call it to the attention of a faculty member or administrator. Examples of academic dishonesty would be copying from another student, copying from a book or class notes during a closed-book exam, submitting materials authored by or editorially revised by another person but presented as the student s own work, copying a passage or text directly from a published source without appropriately citing or recognizing that source, taking a test or doing an assignment or other academic work for another student, tampering with another student s work, securing or supplying in advance a copy of an examination without the knowledge or consent of the instructor, and colluding with another student or students to engage in an act of academic dishonesty. Where there is clear indication of such dishonesty, a faculty member or administrator has the responsibility to apply appropriate sanctions. Investigations of violations will be conducted in accord with standards and procedures of the school or college through which the course or research is offered. Recommendations of sanctions to be imposed will be made to the dean of the school or college in which the student is enrolled. Possible sanctions for a violation of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, disciplinary probation, suspension, and dismissal from the University. The complete SLU Academic Honesty Policy can be found at the following link: http://spain.slu.edu/academics/academic_advising/docs/academic_integrity.pdf Accommodation Statement In recognition of the fact that people learn in a variety of ways and that learning is influenced by multiple factors (e.g., prior experience, study skills, learning disability), resources to support student success are available on campus. Students who think they might benefit from these resources canfind out more about: Course-level support (e.g., faculty member, departmental resources, etc.) by asking your course instructor. University-level support (e.g., tutoring/writing services, Disability Services) by visiting the Academic Dean's Office (San Ignacio Hall) or by going to http://spain.slu.edu/academics/ learning_resources.html. Students who believe that, due to a disability, they could benefit from academic accommodations are encouraged to contact Disability Services at +34 915 54 58 58, ext. 204, send an e-mail to counselingcenter-madrid@slu.edu, or to visit the Counseling Office (San Ignacio Hall). Confidentiality will be observed in all inquiries. Course instructors support student
accommodation requests when an approved letter from Disability Services has been received and when students discuss these accommodations with the instructor after receipt of the approved letter. Assessment data: Saint Louis University - Madrid Campus is committed to excellent and innovative educational practices. In order to maintain quality academic offerings and to conform to relevant accreditation requirements, we regularly assess our teaching, services, and programs for evidence of student learning outcomes achievement. For this purpose we keep on file anonymized representative examples of student work from all courses and programs such as: assignments, papers, exams, portfolios, and results from student surveys, focus groups, and reflective exercises. Thus, copies of your work for this course, including exams, oral presentations, assignments, essays, etc. may be kept on file for institutional research, assessment and accreditation purposes. If you prefer that Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus does not keep your work on file, you will need to communicate your decision in writing to your professor. PROGRAMM + WICHTIGE DATEN September 2014-1. Woche: 2., 3. Sept: Sich vorstellen und kennen lernen. Kurs-System. Syllabus. Bis Montag, Buch besorgen! Buy the book by Monday. Homework: Lektion 1, A + B. - 2. Woche, 8., 9., 10. Sept. Tangram A1/1. Das Buch kennen lernen. Lektion 1: A, B, C. Hausaufgaben: Seite 63-67. - 3. Woche, 15, 16., 17. Sept: Lektion 1. F-H. Hausaufgaben, Seite 68-76. 15. September: 1. Test. Also, last day to drop/add! Freitag, 19. September: Language Exchange Gymkhana. - 4. Woche, 22., 23., 24. Sept.: Lektion 2, A, B, C. Hausaufgaben: S. 77-83. 24. September: 1. Vokabeltest. 26. September: Freitag, frei. 23. September: Herbstbeginn! Oktober - 5. Woche, 29., 30. Sept., 1. Okt: Lektion 2, D-G. Hausaufgaben: S. 84-92. 30. Sept.: last day for Audit + P/NP options. 2. Oktober: Oktoberfest! 3. Oktober: Tag der deutschen Einheit. - 6. Woche, 6., 7., 8. Okt: Lektion 3: A + B. Hausaufgaben: S. 93-97. 8. Oktober: 2. Test!
- 7. Woche, 13., 14., 15. Oktober: Lektion 3: C+D, Aufgaben S. 98-100. 15. Okt.: 1. Teilprüfung (partial exam). - 8. Woche, 20., 21., 22. Oktober: Lektion 3-4: E+ F, Lektion 4: A 20. Oktober: Mid-term grades. 22. Okt.: 2. Vokabeltest - 9. Woche, 27., 28., 29. Okt: Lektion 4: B+C. Dazupassende Hausaufgaben Donnerstag: Kurzer Film 30. Okt: last day to withdraw Samstag, 1. November: Allerheiligen, Feiertag. BUY/BRING NEW BOOK!!! A1/2. November - 10. Woche, 3., 4., 5. Nov: Lektion 4, fertig machen. Wiederholung. Lekt. 5. A+B. 7. Nov: Strukturierte Gespräche auf Deutsch (structured conversation!) 6. Nov: Register for Spring 2015! - 12. Woche, 11., 12. Nov: Lektion 5: C+D. Hausaufgaben A. 10. November: Almudena, Feiertag. - 13. Woche, 17., 18., 19. Nov: Lektion 5. Online-Aktivitäten, Film. 17. Nov.: 2. Teilprüfung! - 14. Woche, 24., 25., 26. Nov: Lektion 5-6. Dazupassende Hausaufgaben. 26. November: 3. Strukturentest (+ Vokabel) Dezember - 15. Woche, 1., 2., 3. Dez: Referate (oral presentations!) Kultur: Advent, Nikolaus und Krampus. 6. Dezember, Freitag, Feiertag. Besuch bei Harry s? - 16. Woche: 9., 10. Dezember. Wiederholung. Üben. Feiern! Montag, 8. Dez.: Mariä Empfängnis. Feiertag. Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr 2015! SCHLUSSPRÜFUNG / FINAL EXAM: Freitag, 19. Dezember, 15h30 18h30 (Halb vier bis halb sieben)