German 100A: First Course in German
Instructor: Professor Wauchope
San Diego State University / Fall 2014
Sect 2: MW 11-11:50 & TTh 11-12:15
Room: NE-173
Blackboard: blackboard.sdsu.edu
German Studies: german.sdsu.edu
Office: SH-220C
Office hours: M 12:00-1:50, W 12:0012:50, or by appointment
Email: mwauchop@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: (619) 594-4235
Mailbox: SH-224A
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Course Description:
German 100A is an elementary language acquisition course, which introduces students to the
basic foundations of German. All language skills will be introduced, with emphasis on
speaking and listening. Students will also be introduced to the everyday cultures of the
German-speaking regions.
Goals and Outcomes:
 To be able to carry out the following tasks in spoken German: to identify and describe
everyday objects and scenes, to express likes and dislikes, to report events in the present
tense, to remark on isolated events in the past, to ask basic questions, and to give simple
directions and instructions.
 To develop basic listening and reading comprehension skills at the beginner level.
 To gain initial skills in writing short German texts on personal topics, using vocabulary
and structures introduced in class.
 To learn high-frequency vocabulary, basic grammar structures, and how to articulate
German sounds.
 To gain an understanding of the communities and cultural contexts within which
German is spoken.
Prerequisites:
None. Not open to students who have completed three years of high school German unless the
third course was completed five or more years ago.
Materials:
Textbook and Workbook: Terrell et al, Kontakte, 7th edition, Mc-Graw-Hill (Chapters A
through 6 will be covered this semester.)
Audio Program for Arbeitsbuch:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073386340/student_view0/index.html: Select
correct chapter by clicking on "Choose one," then on “WBML Audio”
Additional Resources: http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com
Methods:
German 100A is based on a communicative and proficiency-based approach to language
learning. Classroom activities have students use German in realistic situations. Group and
partner work and role-plays provide students with the opportunity to practice new vocabulary
and structures by performing meaningful tasks. To provide maximum practice in the language,
this course is conducted in German. Multi-media instructional materials reinforce classroom
activities and address the various learning styles of individual students.
This class is learner-centered, so most language acquisition will take place outside the
classroom and is dependent on the student’s involvement with the language. Ideally students
should spend two hours a day practicing German. Beyond working with vocabulary, learning
grammar and completing assignments, students can participate in many German activities. For
example, students may take part in German club activities or the German program’s
conversation hour, sign up for native-speaker conversation partners at the American Language
Institute, talk to German-speaking students at the International Student Association’s coffee
hour every Friday (ww.isc.sdsu.edu/), work with materials available in the LARC lab
(computer exercises, German movies and language videos), rent German videos (the Media
Center of the SDSU Library has several), watch news online (www.tagesschau.de or www.dwworld.de) or other German TV programs (for example, at: www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek#/
hauptnavigation/sendung-verpasst or www.ardmediathek.de/sendung-verpasst), and read
German books, newspapers, magazines, blogs (see your instructor for suggestions or see the
links on the SDSU German Studies webpage). It can also be useful to form study groups with
fellow students, since practicing with others aids the learning process.
Grading:
Participation:
10%
Students are expected to attend class regularly, to come to class fully prepared (with
assignments completed), and to participate actively in classroom activities and
discussions. Because such participation is essential to language acquisition, students’
participation grade will be lowered one full letter grade for every 2 unexcused
absences.
Homework:
15%
Includes workbook (see schedule below) and other written exercises assigned by
instructor. All workbook assignments must be corrected using the key at the back of
the workbook BEFORE being turned in.
Kulturprojekte: 5%
Each student will attend 2 cultural events or give a 3-5-minute oral presentation (in
English) on a topic of German culture (see information below).
Quizzes:
15%
Quizzes on vocabulary will be given regularly, as well as quizzes on language
structures and cultural information as needed.
Chapter Tests:
35%
5 written chapter tests will be given (see schedule below).
Oral Exams:
10%
One midterm and one final oral exam will be given to test oral and listening
proficiency, including acquisition of vocabulary (see schedule below).
Final Exam:
10%
A cumulative final exam, with emphasis on Chapter 6, will be given on Saturday,
December 13, 10:30-12:30 (room TBA).
Makeup Exams and Late Work:
Grades on assignments turned in or presented late will be lowered one full letter grade for
each day assignment is late, unless previous arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No make-up tests or oral exams will be given. If students know in advance that
they will miss a test or if an emergency arises on a test day, they should contact their instructor
immediately to see what can be arranged.
Cheating and Plagiarism:
At SDSU students who are found guilty of cheating (obtaining or attempting to obtain credit
for academic work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means) or plagiarism
(incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or
otherwise obtained, and submitting this as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements
without giving credit to the appropriate source) are subject to academic sanctions, which may
include a grade of F on an assignment or in a class, and/or punitive sanctions, such as
probation, suspension, or expulsion. In foreign language study, cheating also includes the
following:
 Doing your written homework and then having a third party correct it, or having someone
else write your homework for you and turning that in for credit
 Doing assignments with another student and turning in the same or almost the same work
(unless you are specifically directed to work in pairs on in groups)
 Using an automated translation engine to translate your homework
 Using an available translation of a text on which to base your own translation and turning
that in for credit
What IS acceptable includes the following:
 Asking your professor for help
 Brainstorming answers and/or ideas with another student; then, each student writes up the
homework separately and turns in his or her own work
 Doing your written homework and/or translation and then having a third party circle your
mistakes; you then do the corrections on your own and turn in your own work
If you have any question or uncertainty about whether an action involves cheating or
plagiarism, it is your responsibility to ask your instructor.
Students with Disabilities:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class,
it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as
soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and cannot be provided
based upon disability until your instructor has received an accommodation letter from Student
Disability Services.
German 100A: Fall 2014
Schedule of Tests and Workbook Assignments
We 3 Sep:
Arbeitsbuch A due
Mo 15 Sep:
Arbeitsbuch B due
TEST on Einführung A/B
Mo 29 Sep:
Arbeitsbuch 1 due
TEST on Kapitel 1
Mo 13 Oct:
Arbeitsbuch 2 due
TEST on Kapitel 2
Tu 14 Oct:
ORAL EXAM
Mo 27 Oct:
Arbeitsbuch 3 due
TEST on Kapitel 3
We 5 Nov:
Arbeitsbuch 4 due
TEST on Kapitel 4
Mo 24 Nov:
Arbeitsbuch 5 due
TEST on Kapitel 5
Tu 9 Dec:
Arbeitsbuch 6 due
ORAL EXAM
Sat 13 Dec:
FINAL EXAM, 10:30-12:30
Kulturprojekte
German 100A/B
The purpose of the Kulturprojekte (cultural projects) is to allow you to experience or learn
more about aspects of German culture, which particularly interest you. Choose items from the
following lists or see your instructor about other options. You can follow up on an old interest
or try something new. Above all, have fun!
Option 1: Attend two German-culture events approved by the instructor. Turn in appropriate
proof of attendance (receipt or ticket stub, signature of sponsor, etc.) or a one-paragraph
description or response.
Ideas:
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attend a lecture on a German topic
attend the German program’s Kaffeepause conversation hour
participate in German Club events
attend a German play, a concert of German music, or a German opera
attend a museum exhibit pertaining to German culture
attend an event at the German House in Balboa Park: www.balboapark.org
attend an event at the German-American Societies of San Diego:
germanclubsandiego.org
go to a German-style restaurant or festival
interview a German native speaker
read a German novel or short story in English (see instructor for suggestions)
watch a German film (the Media Center in Love Library has a good selection; see your
instructor for suggestions)
Option 2: Make a 3-to-5-minute presentation in English on a topic of German culture
approved by the instructor. The grade for this Kulturprojekt will be based on: 1) being well
prepared, 2) providing appropriate and accurate content, and 3) giving an informative and
interesting presentation (props, music, food, pictures, websites, etc., are welcome!). The due
date for this project will be assigned by your instructor.
Ideas:
 research some aspect of German culture, history or society (art, music, literature, sports,
your favorite German-speaking city, the unification of Germany, etc.)
 find out more about a German speaker who is important for your own field of study
 make a German meal or dish to share with your classmates and explain how you made it
 talk about your trip to a German-speaking country
 tell about your German relatives or friends
 research your German roots
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
(subject to change or error; see SDSU catalog for most accurate, up-to-date information)
Grades are defined as follows:
A/AOutstanding achievement; available only for the highest accomplishment.
B+/B/B- Praiseworthy performance; above average.
C+
Slightly above average.
C
Average; awarded for satisfactory performance; the most common
undergraduate grade.
CSlightly below average.
D+/D/D- Minimally passing; lower than the typical undergraduate achievement.
F
Failing.
INC
Incomplete Authorized: used only when the instructor concludes that a small,
identifiable portion of course requirements cannot be met within the academic
term for unforeseen, but valid reasons. A grade of “INC” may not be assigned
to permit a student to avoid an undesirable grade.
WU
Incomplete Unauthorized: a student who is officially registered for the course
but who has never attended or who has stopped attending after satisfactorily
completing a portion of the course will receive a grade of “WU.” A “WU”
counts as an “F” for grade-point averages, but may be removed by repeating
the course. Students who are failing the course and who stop attending will
receive an “F.”
CR/NC
Credit/No Credit: Subject to the requirements of their major and the
conditions set forth in the General Catalog, students may register for courses
on a credit/no credit basis before the deadline. Work equivalent to “C” or
above will result in a grade of “CR;” work equivalent to a “C-” or below will
result in “NC.”
Dropping this Course: Students who do not attend the first class session and the beginning of the second
MAY BE DROPPED FROM THE COURSE BY THE INSTRUCTOR. Any student dropped by the instructor
will be notified of the action by email. It is the student’s responsibility to keep a current email address on file
through the SDSU WebPortal: sdsu.edu/portal. To reenroll, students must receive an add code from the
instructor and reenroll in the course before the deadline to add classes. NOT ALL INSTRUCTORS WILL
DROP STUDENTS WHO MISS THE FIRST TWO SESSIONS. You are responsible for all courses on your
schedule. You should check your online schedule regularly and take necessary action to add or drop before any
deadlines.
General Education: German 100A satisfies the General Education requirement Foundations C.5 Humanities:
Foreign Language. Foundations of Learning courses introduce students to the basic concepts, theories, and
approaches offered by disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas of study. They provide the foundation to
understand and approach problems in the academy, and in local and global real-world environments. Consistent
with class size and learning goals, they cultivate skills in reading, writing, communication, computation,
information-gathering, and use of technology.
Language Requirement: Students may satisfy the CAL three-semester graduation requirement in a language
by successfully completing one of the following courses: German 202, 205A, 205B. German 100A and 100B
(or equivalent) are prerequisite to all three of these courses.
For more information about the German Studies program at SDSU, see the program website:
http://german.sdsu.edu or contact the German Studies adviser: Kristin Rebien, Dept. of European
Studies, SH-220B, krebien@mail.sdsu.edu, (619) 594-5128.