German for Beginners
GERM 1023E2, Winter Term 2009
Corinna Klein-Peinzke
Willkommen!
This course is designed to give you an introduction to the German language. It stresses
listening, speaking, and writing, and will encourage this through the use of texts, dialogues, and
games, as well as group work, projects, online exercises and writing assignments.
A large part of the class grade (40%) is given for class work. Class work includes attendance and
participation, as well as preparing for quizzes and doing (lots of) homework. Since much of your
speaking ability depends on practice, and much of this can only be gained in the classroom,
attendance is very important. In class, you’ll have to participate in many activities, in which you
will practice your German. To participate in those activities, you don’t have to speak German
expertly, but you have to be enthusiastic, and keep on trying. Given this you will certainly
demonstrate achievement, and improve your German quickly.
There is a handout of printed material the department has prepared. The charge for this is $ 15
per semester. Please see me soon to buy your Course Material.
A glossary with all the vocabulary contained in this material is provided. So, no dictionary is
necessary, but if you want to get one, any German-English / English-German dictionary (e.g.
Langenscheidt) will be fine. A free online-dictionary can also be found under ‘www.leo.de’.
If you feel you need some help with grammar, “English Grammar for students of German” by
Cecile Zorach, Charlotte Melin (Fourth Edition, 2001, Olivia and Hill Press) is a valuable source to
increase your understanding of grammar and grammatical terms both in English and German.
You can also find additional explanation of a chapter’s grammar under ‘Links’ on the homework
page.
There are tutors, upper year German students, who are available, free of charge, to give extra
help and practise. Hours for tutoring will be posted soon after classes begin.
There is a German Club which you are very welcome to join now or later. It organises a variety
of events (films, outings, parties etc.) at which you will have an opportunity to meet other
students on your own and higher levels and (maybe) practice your German. Events will be
announced in class.
The grading system
Class Work
Unit Tests
Final Exam
(Attendance, Participation, Quizzes, Homework)
40%
30%
30%
German for Beginners
GERM 1023E2, Winter Term 2009
Corinna Klein-Peinzke
Class Work (40%)
Attendance (10%):
*If you cannot attend a class, please inform me beforehand.
*For excused absences, please provide doctor’s notes or other signed notes
(e.g. from Professor for field-trip).
*Please note that attendance is very important in this course!!
Participation (10%):
*Access your online-homework through links on ACORN using the Internet Explorer
*Be prepared for class by having done any required assignments and having studied
(you will be called on to answer questions!)
*Oral participation is the basis for this course!!
Quizzes (10%):
*There will be one or two (un-)announced quizzes per chapter
(quizzes test the current chapter’s vocabulary, or verb forms as covered beforehand)
*You need to make sure to study vocabulary and grammar independently, on a regular basis!!
Homework (10%)
*There will be one or two writing assignments per chapter
*Writing assignments have to be typed (12 Font, double spaced) and handed in as hard-copy
*No homework will be accepted after the due-date!!
Unit Tests (30%)
*There will be a test upon completion of each chapter on the material covered therein.
*If you have a legitimate excuse (illness, university projects, etc.), missed unit tests can be
taken later.
*There will be an optional make-up test after the last days of class
(the best 5 unit tests score count towards the total unit test mark)
Final Exam (30%)
*A practice final exam will be made available in the last week of class.
*Final exams are written on the date determined by the registrar.
*The final exam must be passed in order to pass the course!!
Non-credit exercises
*You can hand in non-assigned writing in German for me to correct it any time
*Additional online-exercises can be found on the homework-page under ‘Tasks’
German for Beginners
GERM 1023E2, Winter Term 2009
Corinna Klein-Peinzke
If you need any assistance, please contact me any time
corinna.klein-peinzke@acadiau.ca
Phone: 902-585-1478
Office: BAC 317
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 11:30-1:00, Tue/Thu 10:30-12:00
GERM 1023 E2
Dienstag, 06.01.09
Donnerstag, 08.01.09
Dienstag, 13.01.09
Donnerstag, 15.01.09
Dienstag, 20.01.09
Donnerstag, 22.01.09
Dienstag, 27.01.09
Donnerstag, 29.01.09
Dienstag, 03.02.09
Donnerstag, 05.02.09
Dienstag, 10.02.09
Donnerstag, 12.02.09
study week
Dienstag, 24.02.09
Donnerstag, 26.02.09
Dienstag, 03.03.09
Donnerstag, 05.03.09
Dienstag, 10.03.09
Donnerstag, 12.03.09
Dienstag, 17.03.09
Donnerstag, 19.03.09
Dienstag, 24.03.09
Donnerstag, 26.03.09
Dienstag, 31.03.09
Donnerstag, 02.04.09
Dienstag, 07.04.09
Donnerstag, 09.04.09
(Tuesday/Thursday 12:00-1:30)
Intro
Kapitel 6: Christmas, Traveling / Present Perfect Tense, Verbs with Prefixes
Kapitel 6 – Hand-In-Homework (Practice Final Exam)
Kapitel 6 – Quiz 6
Kapitel 6 – Hand-In-Homework (100 words: Was hast du in den Ferien gemacht?)
Kapitel 6 – Unit-Test 6
Kapitel 7: Housing, Apartments, Directions / Dative, Objects, Verbal Nouns
Kapitel 7 – Quiz 7
Kapitel 7 – Hand-In-Homework
Kapitel 7
Kapitel 7 – Unit-Test 7
Kapitel 8: Hobbies, Activities / Present Perfect Tense, Commands, Requests
Kapitel 8 – Hand-In-Homework (150 words: Was hast du letzte Woche gemacht?)
Kapitel 8 - Quiz
Kapitel 8 – Unit-Test 8
Kapitel 9: Food and Drinks, Party / Modal Verbs, Infinitives
Kapitel 9 – Quiz 9
Kapitel 9 – Hand-In-Homework
Kapitel 9
Kapitel 9 – Unit-Test 9
Kapitel 10: Moving, Furniture / Either-Or-Prepositions
Kapitel 10 - Quiz
Kapitel 10 – Hand-In-Homework
Kapitel 10
Kapitel 10 – Unit-Test 10 / Revision
Revision