German&121
CC 3450
T,Th 6:00 – 8:30pm
5 credits
Fall 2009
Angelika Tam (206) 329-0311
deutschnscc@gmail.com T, Th by appointment in Loft
FINAL:
Dec 10 Written Final
Dec 15 Oral Final
Questions:
Please do not hesitate to ask for extra help. I like to assist you in any way I can. The best way to reach me is the above
e-mail: deutschnscc@gmail.com or you may call me at home at the above number.
REQUIRED








Textbook: TREFFPUNKT DEUTSCH, Fifth Edition, by Widmaier, Widmaier, Gonglewski (Prentice Hall, 2008)
Student Activities Manual to Accompany TREFFPUNKT DEUTSCH, Fifth Edition
Hören und Sprechen: this section of the Activities Manual is either available on the website:
http://www.prenhall.com/treffpunkt or on 3 CDs to be purchased in the library for $3.00.
3-ring binder organized into the five following sections: class notes, homework, handouts, quizzes & exams
notecards for vocabulary
folder for ‘Das Projekt’ (free writing assignments)
bookmark Website for Deutsch Interaktiv, a language course on Deutsche Welle:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,9571,00.html
bookmarkWebsite for daily grammar assignments and additional practice:
http://www.nthuleen.com/teach/grammar.html
OPTIONAL




Bilingual German-English Dictionary
English Grammar for Students of German by Celine Zorach, Charlotte Melin
Step into German: a list of samples of websites:
http://rt037.k12.sd.us/School%20Webpage/Deutsche%20Kurse.htm
For cultural information: Goethe Institut: www.goethe.de
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Herzlichen Willkommen to beginning your studies of the German language and culture. We will cover Erste Kontakte – Kapitel 3
using the five-skill approach: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture acquisition. We are emphasizing communication as well
as attention to formal accuracy. You will practice these skills using oral and written exercises, oral skits, and free writing of dialogues
and essays.
COURSE GOALS







To develop critical thinking through the comparison of German language and culture to the student’s native language and
culture
To appreciate and accept diversity, and change in an increasingly global society
To learn how to think critically about syntax and grammatical agreement
To develop oral and written communication in German through active class participation, sketches, and short compositions
as well as oral and written quizzes and chapter exams
To interact with classmates in small groups for role-playing, sketches, and oral review
To master all sounds of the German language
To have as much FUN as possible along the way
LEARNING OUTCOME
As a result of taking this course, students will be able

To greet someone

To introduce yourself

To make phone calls, adress letters, say goodbye

To talk about: the weather, seasons, student life, everyday activities, objects, colors, and nationality

To talk about friends, leisure activities, clothing, and possessions

To tell time

To express likes, dislikes, and preferences

To talk about family, shopping, useful everyday objects, and occupations

To express preferences and favorites

To describe people, places and things
The students who demonstrate proficiency beyond 121 level are urged to consult with me about other options.
GRADING POLICY





Oral Performance / Attendance
Student Activities Manual
Daily Assignments (Hausaufgaben 5%, Das Projekt 10%)
Quizzes (Vokabular, Grammatik)
Chapter Exams
10 %
10 %
15 %
15 %
30 %
1


Oral Final
Written Final
5%
15 %
Policies and General Advice
This 5 credit class requires an average of 10 hours studying and preparation per week. Attend regulary and be as well prepared
as possible. It’s advisable to bring along both the textbook and the activities manual for each class. Keep up with the assignments and
try not to fall behind. If you have to miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate for an update. If you do encounter any
difficulties e-mail me immediately and keep me informed.
Oral Performance
10%
This will be a subjective evaluation of your participation in class. You are expected to participate actively. I will evaluate your ability to
read, to give brief oral presentations, and to ask and respond to questions at an appropriate speed. Your presence in class is vital. I
expect you to arrive on time. Undue absences will, of course, affect your grade and performance. Unexcused absences will result in an
“F” in oral work for that period.
Student Activities Manual
10%
This manual consists of 3 parts: Arbeitsbuch (workbook), Hören und Sprechen, and Video Treff. These exercises should be completed
parallel to the concepts studied in class. For immediate feedback you will receive an answer key for the Arbeitsbuch section. Do the
exercises first without referring to the answer key, and then correct your answers against the key using a different color pen. This
will prepare you for the chapter exams. Please, feel free to ask any questions referring to the Activities Manual during class time. On
the day of the chapter exam, the entire section is due and will be graded for completeness only. Exercises that were not corrected
will be marked as missing.
Daily Assignments
Hausaufgaben 5 %,
Das Projekt 10%
This daily homework is due at the beginning of each class. They are essential for the development of your skills , as well as your
success in quizzes and exams. You should do the exercises after we cover them in class and you should review them as often as
necessary. There is an “Answer Key for Wörter im Kontext” in the back of the book. In addition, I wrote the answer key to most of the
exercises for Kapitel 8 - 11. Again, you should first do the exercises on your own and then compare your answers with the answer key
and correct your mistakes in a different color pen.
“Das Projekt” is a portfolio consisting of weekly essays. This project must be computer generated, double spaced, and marked as
Entwurf (=draft) oder Korrektur (=correction). Every Tuesday you are expected to hand in your Entwurf, on Thursday you will
receive the corrections, and the following Tuesday you hand in the Korrektur. Only the corrected essays will be graded. You are
expected to collect all essays (Entwurf and Korrektur) in a folder that you will hand in again for final evaluation at the end of the
quarter.
Quizzes
15%
There will be brief quizzes on vocabulary or grammar. The short quiz will help you identify what areas, if any, you should pay more
attention to before the chapter exams. Quizzes cannot be made up if missed. The lowest quiz score will be dropped.
Chapter Exams
30%
At the end of each chapter there will be an exam consisting of listening comprehension, grammar exercises, reading comprehension
and free writing. There will be NO makeup exams unless you show prove of illness or
Oral Final
5%
The oral final will take place on June 18th. You will present a skit with one or two other students in class. Each of you is expected to
be speaking German for about 2 minutes. You will be graded according to the following criteria: pronunciation, grammar, cultural
aspects, and generating class interest.
Written Final
15%
On Dec 15th, there will be a comprehensive exam reflecting all the material covered throughout the quarter. The format will be similar
to the three exams you took during the quarter. Make sure you have no conflicts for this date since there are NO make up finals.
Free Practice Sessions
I will be available for extra conversation and questions in the LOFT (located in the library) every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00 –
5:50pm. This is a great way to enrich your learning process and to have fun.
Plagiarism
Please note that I take extremely serious the college’s policy on the need for academic honesty in all your work. Any form of
dishonesty in an assignment will lead to a zero on the assignment, and I reserve the right to give a grade of F for the course as well.
Using online translation packages (e.g. Babelfish, Lycos) is not permitted.
Unlike dictionaries and grammar references, such programs provide ONE translation, rather than allowing you to choose among
various words/tenses, grammar etc. to come up with the best word or phrase on your own. Translation programs very often produce
inaccurate, incorrect translations. You will learn a lot more by doing your own work.
Cell Phones
For obvious reasons, you are not permitted to call, receive or write text message during class.
2
Concern
If you need reasonable accommodation based on a documented disability, or have special emergency needs, please let me know
within the first week of class.
GRADE STANDARD:
97-100
96-95
94-93
92
9190-
A
=
=
=
=
=
=
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
B
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
C
= 2.4
= 2.3
= 2.2
= 2.1
= 2.0
= 1.9
= 1.8
= 1.7
= 1.6
= 1.5
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
D
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0-61 = F
Dates To Note:
OCT 5
Last day to withdraw with 100% refund (less processing fee).
OCT 12 Last day to add/register — instructor permission required. Last day to change audit/credit status without instructor
permission. Last day to withdraw without a "W" appearing on transcript and without instructor permission.
OCT 19 Last day to withdraw with 50% refund
Nov 20 Last day to change audit/credit status — instructor permission required. Last day to withdraw (no refund) —
Dec 10 Written Final
Dec 15 Oral Final
This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
.
Contact Information
Just in case you need to contact a classmate I highly suggest you exchange contact information with 2 or 3 people in your class:
Meine Kommilitonen sind:
1. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________
Viel Spass!!!!!
To Do List by Monday, October 6th:
1. Make sure you have the following

Textbook: TREFFPUNKT DEUTSCH, Fifth Edition, by Widmaier, Widmaier, Gonglewski (Prentice Hall, 2008)

Student Activities Manual to Accompany TREFFPUNKT DEUTSCH, Fifth Edition

3-ring binder organized into the five following sections: class notes, homework, handouts, quizzes & exams

notecards for vocabulary

folder for ‘Das Projekt’ (free writing assignments)

bookmarked the Website for Deutsch Interaktiv, a language course on Deutsche Welle:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,9571,00.html

bookmarked the Website for daily grammar assignments and additional practice:
http://www.nthuleen.com/teach/grammar.html

paper, pencils and erasers
2. Get the following from the library desk:

3 CDs for $1:00 needed for the Hören und Sprechen section of the Activities Manual. This is also available on the
website: http://www.prenhall.com/treffpunkt
3
3. Hand in the Syllabus Acceptance Form
To be handed in by Tuesday, October 6th
I) Syllabus Acceptance Form:
Hereby I verify that I have received a copy of the syllabus, that I have read it completely, and that I agree to ALL its provisions. In
particular, I understand that daily group activities will be part of my grade, assignments are due at the beginning of class, the activities
manual needs to be corrected in a different color pen and handed in on the day of the chapter exam, quizzes and exams cannot be
made up unless I have documentation (such as from a doctor, lawyer, etc.) and did personally inform the instructor before or on the
day of the exam.
__________________________________________
Printed Last Name
________________________________________________
Printed First Name
_______________________________________________________
Signature
II) Please provide me with a short essay that describes your former experience with the German Language and
Culture:
4