UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES
& INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
SSCs 2015-2016
German for Medicine Syllabus D
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of German Syllabus C at the UCL CLIE or if you are reasonably fluent in the language and are able
to discuss a range of issues (low ‘A’ level grade).
Course duration
Year 1 students: double-block (16 x 3-hour classes. Block 1: 8 x 3-hour classes; Block 2: workshops and tutorials related
to Project).
Year 2 students: single block (8 x 3-hour classes).
Self-Study
40 hours in total.
Course codes
LCGM6004.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the course is to enable students who already have a good knowledge of German to acquire an advanced
fluency in the language. Students should be able to communicate in all situations within German speaking countries.
Students will be able to converse with native speakers, follow debates and give presentations relating to their degree as
well as discussing current issues (local and worldwide) using more complex and linguistically accurate structures
(different types of discourse, register). Medical related issues/vocabulary will also be covered.
Cultural awareness will be further developed and raised within a European/global context. Language learning skills,
including autonomous learning and how to approach authentic material, will be further enhanced to enable students to
study in a German speaking university. Various transferable skills will also be covered.
Functions















understanding accounts of medical history; understanding accounts of accidents;
giving descriptions of medical procedures;
talking about work as a doctor;
describing leisure time activities;
giving and discussing one’s impressions and opinions;
making appointments; discussing schedules and rotas;
offering and giving medical advice and recommendations;
talking about basic aspects of German politics and history;
describing German medical inventions; talking about German medical inventors and their lives;
considering pros and cons;
presenting one’s case and arguing one’s point;
presenting and evaluating basic statistics;
researching German pharmaceutical companies;
talking about past experiences;
summarising texts; summarising texts with a medical theme;



writing and responding to formal and informal texts, e.g. emails, letters, reports, reviews, adverts;
describing maps and other features of German-speaking countries;
identifying and evaluating cultural difference.
Course Content
Main topics/themes to be covered (selection)

voluntary work; working as a doctor;

family; interpersonal relationships; generations;

doctor-patient relationship;

climate change and environment;

Migration; travelling and working in Germany and abroad;

German-speaking countries and regions;

School and education;

State-funded care vs. private medical care; Krankenkassen;

Memories and biographical information;

German national and regional history and politics;

Cultural differences;

Medical ethics;

German history of medicine;

German/Austrian/Swiss medical pioneers, Nobel prize winners, medical inventions, pharmaceutical companies.
Linguistic Structures

preparing oral contributions in different situations;

consolidating and improving listening and reading skills by dealing with a variety of authentic materials;

recognising different registers;

improving confidence in using these skills in a variety of situations
Grammar

revision and consolidation of fundamental grammar (sentence structure, tenses, prepositions, declension of
nouns, adjectives and article words);

separable and inseparable verbs;

active and passive;

use of modal and reflexive verbs;

subjunctive II;

adjectival nouns; n-declension;

clause and sentence structure: valency of the verb; word order;

subordinate clauses: relative clauses; conditional clauses; clauses of time, cause or reason, concession; purpose;
indirect questions; infinitives with ‘zu’;

coordinating and subordinating connectors;

prepositional adverbs.
Learning Resources


Studio D: Kurs- und Übungsbuch mit CD, Niveau B1, Chapters 1-10 (Cornelsen) – ISBN: 9783464207192
Studio D: Vokabeltaschenbuch, Niveau B1, (Cornelsen) – ISBN: 9783464207215
Additional Material


A selection of authentic material will also be used to supplement the course books (e.g. press articles on medical
affairs and current affairs, internet websites)
Bilingual dictionary (e.g. Collins). Not pocket size.
In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials available for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.