GERMAN 224: GERMAN LEVEL IV: BUSINESS GERMAN
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN AND RUSSIAN
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
Course Description and Goals
This course is designed for students who have had German 201 or the equivalent. The main goal of GER
224 is to learn professional communication and applying/interviewing for jobs in German at an
intermediate level. By the end of the semester, you will be able to understand and respond to concrete
and predictable topics on business related information, like job ads, simple emails or job interview
questions. However, you will also become familiar with and discuss more abstract topics related to
cultural and geographical issues covered in class. You will be able to read a variety of business related
texts at the intermediate level, and you will learn how to express your goals in writing. We emphasize all
modes of communication in GER 224: interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive communication
through speaking/listening and reading/writing. Throughout this process, you will learn more about
companies and business in German-speaking countries and have fun with the language while improving
your language-learning strategies and your professional skills in German. However, since accuracy is an
important feature of successful business communication, grammar practice will also be a vital part of
our class.
Achieving the goals of the course requires regular practice with the language, both in class and
individually. Thus, you are responsible for much of your own learning: your continuous participation and
regular attendance are a vital part of your commitment to learning and progress. You should expect to
work at least one hour a night at home in preparation for the next class. The quality of language learning
will depend largely on the amount and quality of your effort.
You are encouraged to visit your instructor’s office hours with questions and concerns. Make sure that
you take advantage of these sessions as well as the German section’s own Kaffeestunde for additional
conversational practice (Mondays 2-3 PM, SC 131). The department of German and Russian also has a
facebook homepage now, please make sure to “like” us and check it on a regular basis for events and
information:
https://www.facebook.com/purduegermanandrussian
Topics covered
The class aims at providing an introduction to business German and German business culture. Topics will
alternate between a theoretical and practical take on both. Each topic is dealt with in a Themenblock.
However, since the class is also targeted towards your interests and needs, the schedule also allows
for flexibility. Therefore, time frames may be subject to change.
Themenblock I
Themenblock II
Themenblock III
Themenblock IV
Themenblock V
Themenblock VI
Themenblock VII
Wirtschaftsgeographie und Europäische Union
Bewerbungen
“Made in Germany”
Lebenslauf
Geschäftskorrespondenz
Deutschland im internationalen Vergleich
Vorstellungsgespräche
Course Instructor
GER 224 is a course that is offered with only one section. For any questions of your class, please contact
your instructor. Be sure to get his/her email on the first day of class.
Katharina Kipp: kkipp@purdue.edu
Office Hours: SC 140, Mo: 10.30 am -11.30 am, Wed: 1.00 pm -2.00 pm and by appointment
Fall 2013 Schedule: GER 224
M, W, F 9.30-10.20
PSYCH 3187
Required Materials
Materials for GER 224 will be provided by the instructor either in class or on Blackboard Learn. No
textbook needs to be purchased, it is however recommendable to obtain a general dictionary and/or a
grammar handbook such as:


Collins Easy Learning German Dictionary. Harper Collins Publishers.
English Grammar for Students of German. 2001. Cecile Zorach and Charlotte Melin.
Olivia and Hill Press. ISBN: 978-0934034319
A copy of this syllabus and other important course information can be found on the course’s Blackboard
Learn page. Registered students can access their section’s Blackboard Learn page by following the link to
Blackboard Learn on the Purdue homepage and logging in with their Purdue career account.
In order to ensure business related communication practice, you will be asked to record yourself at
home using the Purdue-developed software Speak Everywhere. Your instructor will provide you with
separate instructions on how to access and use Speak Everywhere. If you do not have a microphone
integrated into your computer you will be required to purchase the following:

A set of your own headphones (with a microphone) to use with listening activities at home or in
an ITaP lab/ Hicks Library
Accessing and using Speak Everywhere may provide technical difficulties; therefore you will be given the
first week to take care of the technical part. By Monday Aug. 26th, the first test exercise will be due.
After that, Speak Everywhere may be part of either the regular homework or the Themenblockhomework. Technical difficulties will not be accepted as an excuse for missed homework.
Course Grading
Participation and Attendance
Daily Homework
Graded Homework (Themenblock-HW)
Quizzes
Presentation
Assessment Projects (I-III)
Final Project
Movie Project
20%
5%
10%
5%
10%
20%
25%
5%
Grades will be calculated according to the following scale:
A+= 100 % - 98%
A = 97.99-93
A- = 92.99-90
B+ = 89.99 - 88
B = 87.99 - 83
B- = 82.99-80
C+= 79.99 – 78
C = 77.99 – 73
C- = 72.99 – 70
D+ = 69.99-68
D = 67.99 - 63
D - = 62.99 - 60
IMPORTANT GER 224 COURSE INFORMATION
Attendance Policy
Class meets three times each week (M,W,F) for 50 minutes. Your attendance in this course is expected
and required at every scheduled session. All absences will be treated as unexcused unless students
request each absence to be excused in advance of, or as soon as possible after the absence in question.
Excused Absences
Absences may only be excused at the discretion of your instructor and only in the case of legitimate
personal / family / medical emergencies, or university related events. All excused absences require
documentation such as doctor’s notes or a letter from the university.
Unexcused Absences
In the event of an unexcused absence, students forfeit the ability to submit/make-up any work
completed during their absence (including homework, quizzes, exams and projects). Students are,
however, still responsible for finding out what information was covered in their absence. Instructors are
not obligated to respond to students’ emails regarding information/missed work for unexcused
absences. Any student exceeding 8 unexcused absences will automatically receive a failing grade (F) for
the course. Students should monitor their absences throughout the semester.
Active Participation
Students are expected to prepare all assigned work before each class in order to be able to actively
participate. Your concentrated engagement in class activities and willingness to practice your skills by
volunteering information in class are crucial in your development of your proficiency in German and to
being successful in this course. It is not sufficient to simply be present in class. Your participation will be
graded according to the criteria listed on pg. 6 of this syllabus.
Please respect your class and instructor by refraining from the use of electronic devices during class,
unless otherwise instructed to do so. Help to reduce distractions by disabling audible notifications on
your mobile devices during class.
Homework
You should expect to spend a minimum of one hour preparing for the next day's German class by
completing assigned work, review of material and regular practice of vocabulary. Keep in mind that
homework is 15 % of your overall course grade (more than a full letter grade).


Daily Homework (graded for completion)
Themenblock-Homework (grade-based), due after each Themenblock (available on Fridays
before class on Blackboard Learn and due by the following Monday at 6.00 pm)
Both types of homework may also consist of Speak Everywhere exercises that require recording. Also
please keep in mind that attentive and good participation in class requires preparation and practice,
which are both usually provided through the completion of daily homework. Thus, not doing your
homework will also negatively affect your participation grade.
Quizzes
Students will write short in-class quizzes on vocabulary and/or grammar from assigned material during
each Themenblock. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. If you miss a quiz due to an unexcused
absence, you will receive a zero for that quiz. No make-up quizzes are allowed.
Assessment Projects
During the course of the semester, you will complete 3 projects that will assess your progress in writing
and communicating in a business environment. Those are writing assessment projects related to the
previous Themenblock and its key grammar and vocabulary. You will be allowed to use your dictionary
and/or your word lists and grammar hand-outs.
Final Project
The final project consists of a written (a finalized application letter and CV) part to be completed at
home on which an oral interview will be based. The application letter/CV will be due by 6.00 pm one
day before the oral interview is scheduled during the last week of classes.
Presentations
Each student chooses one company from a list and presents that company in class. The 10-min
presentation will be in German only. Students are expected to present in a professional manner and
provide their audience with a hand-out (including vocabulary explanations). Presentations and handouts are due by 6.00 pm one day before the presentation is scheduled. Presentation guidelines and
evaluation criteria will be provided prior to the presentations. Presentations will start in Week 6. The
presentation schedule and the company list will be available on Blackboard Learn; topics and dates
are due on September 4th. Presentation guidelines and evaluation criteria will be provided on
September 4th as well.
Movie Project
As an alternative to the German Engagement Project offered throughout the GER 101-202 level, you will
take part in a movie project that is concerned with contemporary Germany and immigration. It also has
a business component to it. Part of the project will be a movie screening prior to the teaching unit,
which you will have to attend. You will fulfill all requirements by attending the screening, by being
present (and participate) during the teaching unit and submitting three homework assignments.
Based on your efforts the homework assignment will be graded as complete/incomplete.
An A student:









is on time and has all their materials with them
is attentive to what is going on in class
always prepared for class
displays a positive attitude and enthusiasm for the subject
works well with other students in groups
stays on-task when working in groups or alone
asks questions when they do not understand something
almost always volunteers to answer open questions
almost always volunteers/answers when going over assigned work
A B student:









is almost always on-time and has their materials with them
is attentive to what is going on in class
mostly prepared for class
displays a positive attitude and shows interest in the subject
works well with other students in groups
stays on-task when working in groups or alone
asks questions when they do not understand something
sometimes volunteers to answer open questions
sometimes volunteers/answers when going over assigned work
A C student:









is generally on time and has their materials with them
is attentive to what is going on in class most of the time
usually or sometimes prepared for class
works ok with other students in groups
sometimes gets off-task when working in groups
does the bare minimum when working alone
does not ask questions when they do not understand something
rarely volunteers to answer open questions
almost never volunteers/answers when going over assigned work
A D/F student:





is often late to class and often forgets to bring the necessary materials
does not pay attention to what is going on in class
usually does not prepare for class
chats with other students when they are supposed to be doing group work
does little or nothing when they are supposed to be working alone




never volunteers to answer open questions
never volunteers when going over assigned work
is uncooperative in group work
is disruptive to instructor and/or other students in the class
Week
Week I
Review
Monday
19
Introduction
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Week II
Themenblock 1
26
Review-HW
due
27
28
29
30
Week III
2
LaborDay
(No Class)
3
4
Presentation
Topic due
5
6
Week IV
Themenblock 2
9
T1-HW due
10
11
12
13
Week V
16
17
18
19
20
Project1
Week VI
Themenblock 3
23
24
25
26
27
Week VII
30
1
2
3
4
[Guest Lecture]
Week IIX
Themenblock 4
7
FallBreak:
(No Class)
14
8
FallBreak:
(No Class)
15
9
T3-HW due
10
11
16
17
18
Project 2
Week X
[Filmprojekt]
21
22
25
Week XI
Themenblock 5
28
29
23
24
Last Day to
Withdraw
30
31
Week XII
4
5
6
7
8
Project 3
Week XIII
Themenblock 6
11
12
13
14
15
Week XIV
Themenblock 7
18
T6-HW due
19
20
21
22
Week IX
1
Week XV
25
26
27
Week XVI
2
T7-HW due
Review
3
Application
and CV due
4
Final Project
28
Thanksgiving
(No Class)
5
Application
and CV due
29
Thanksgiving
(No Class)
6
Final Project