German 100B: Second Course in German
San Diego State University / Fall 2014
MW 12-12:50 & TTh 12:30-1:45
Room: EBA-441
Blackboard: blackboard.sdsu.edu
German Studies: www.german.sdsu.edu
Instructor: Ellie Sadegholvad
Office: SH-220A
Office hours: MW 1:00 -1:50
or by appointment
E-mail: esadegholvad@ucsd.edu
Mailbox: SH-224A
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Course Description:
German 100B is a second semester language acquisition course, which builds on material
introduced in German 100A to introduce the basic foundations of German. All language skills
will be introduced, but the emphasis will be 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: make comparisons, make
suggestions or polite requests, relate events in present, past and future, ask questions to
elicit specific information, indicate possession, and express possibilities and wishes.
 To develop basic listening and reading comprehension skills at the beginner to
intermediate-low level.
 To gain initial skills in writing short German texts on personal topics
 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: German 100A or two years of high school German or equivalent. Not open to
students who have completed four years of high school German unless the fourth course was
completed five or more years ago.
third course was completed five or more years ago.
Materials:
Textbook and Workbook: Terrell et al, Kontakte, 7th edition, Mc-Graw-Hill (Chapters 7
through 12 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 100B 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 Germanspeaking students at the International Student Association’s coffee hour every Friday
(http://www.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.dw-world.de) or other
German TV programs (for example, at: www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek#/ hauptnavigation/sendungverpasst 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 100B: Fall 2014
Schedule of Tests and Workbook Assignments
We 10 Sep:
Arbeitsbuch 7 due
TEST Kapitel 7
Mo 29 Sep:
Arbeitsbuch 8 due
TEST Kapitel 8
Tu 14 Oct:
ORAL EXAM
We 15 Oct:
Arbeitsbuch 9 due
TEST Kapitel 9
Mo 3 Nov:
Arbeitsbuch 10 due
TEST Kapitel 10
We 19 Nov:
Arbeitsbuch 11 due
TEST Kapitel 11
Tu 9 Dec:
ORAL EXAM
Arbeitsbuch 12 due
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!
Culture project 1: Attend one German-culture events approved by the instructor. Turn in
appropriate proof of attendance (receipt or ticket stub, signature of sponsor, etc.) or a oneparagraph 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)
Culture project 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.