Academic Affairs Office

German 101 (GER 101)

Basic German
Winter 2009– Section  W01
 
K. Tosa
Office/phone: Room 242 / 777-0376
Office Hours: See bottom of page
 
SYLLABUS
 
COURSE DESCRIPTION
 
German 101 is a new approach to language learning with emphasis on both the German language and the German culture. This course is the first semester of a communicative language course designed to guide students toward German proficiency in intercultural understanding and intercultural communicative competence. All four modalities – listening, speaking, reading and writing – will be addressed as well as key grammar topics necessary for communicative needs. 
 
            This course is 4 credit hours,  4 contact hours per week.
German 101 is part of the Associate in Science and Arts Degree.
Students are expected to demonstrate that they are ready to succeed before enrolling in German 101. (See requirements in the schedule of classes).
           
The course objectives are as follows:
  • You will be able to think critically about the effects that culture, language and worldview have on each other.
  • You will be able to view your home culture from a non-home perspective and the German culture from inside that culture.
  • You will be able to demonstrate familiarity with some of the basic “common” knowledge of an average person of the German culture.
  • You will be able to develop the ability to express, interpret and negotiate meaning effectively in the German language by employing linguistic, social and historical knowledge about the German culture and people.
  • You will be able to comfortably and actively use the German language as it is spoken and written today through practice in all four skill areas --- listening, speaking, reading and writing.
  • You will be able to understand German that is spoken at moderate conversational speed and that deals with everyday topics.
  • You will be able to engage in simple conversations with speakers of German in everyday situations and understand the cultural differences.
  • You will be able to read non-technical German of moderate difficulty on various aspects of German culture.
  • You will be able to write simple sentences correctly on the topics presented in the text.
  • You will be able to handle actively a basic vocabulary as well as grammatical structures at an Intermediate-low proficiency level on the ACTFL proficiency guidelines scale.
There are no additional costs to the student beyond tuition and fees. 
However, it will be very helpful to have a home computer and the ability to print. 
If that is not available, then you may use computers in the Information Commons Area of the Library. Our text Auf Geht’s will be loaded on the computers for use by enrolled German 101 students.
 
TEXT
The text and CD may be purchased directly at www.evialearning.com.  In the interim a free download of Unit 1 is available for your use at the same web site.
  
Lee Forester and David Antoniuk, Auf Geht’s! Beginning German language and culture, Live Oak Mutimedia, Inc. 2005
 
Lee Forester and David Antoniuk, Auf Geht’s! Beginning German language and culture, Installer CD-ROM, Live Oak Mutimedia, Inc. 2005
 
The web site for Auf Geht’s is www.aufgehts.com.

 

A good German/English English/German dictionary will be very useful BUT is not required.

German 101 utilizes a Blackboard sie http://mccbb.muskegoncc.edu for announcements, assignments, grades and additional information.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE
 
Cultural topics include:
 
Small talk
Greetings and good byes,
            The year and the weather
Family and Friends
About my family
About myself
My interests
Living
Student life
Housing
            Going Out
Meals and restaurants
Celebrations and the calendar
Georgraphy and cultural differences in Germany
The North
The South
The East
The West
 
 
Grammatical topics include:
 
            Present tense of verbs, regular and irregular
            Present tense modals
Some separable prefix verbs
Introduction to present perfect tense
Nominative and accusative cases
            Pronouns in nominative
Plurals
Comparison statements
Sentence structure – word order for statements and questions
            Coordinate and some subordinate conjunctions
 
           
LEARNING IS AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE.
 
It is my responsibility to help you in that activity by presenting the German language in an interesting, exciting, understandable way. I am your resource person.
 
It is your responsibility to:
  1. Set your goal for this class and then work toward that goal.
  2. Attend all the class sessions prepared. Complete the assignments on the CD and in the Lehrbuch.
  3. Participate in class both verbally and non-verbally in a positive fashion. Being present is great, but you also need to SPEAK. Goethe (a famous German philosopher/writer) once said, “Aller Anfang ist schwer.” All beginnings are difficult but things do get easier.
  4. Take the tests in class on the scheduled date. Make-up tests are discouraged. However, under special conditions and with prior approval, tests may be made up within one week of the scheduled date. There will be no make-up for the extra credit portion of any test. 
  5. Turn in all assigned work on time. A 10% penalty will be assessed each class session the work is late.
  6. Communicate with me! If conflicts arise, see me. If you are unable to come to class, phone the office. Leave a message on my voice mail 231-777-0376, or e-mail me katherine.tosa@muskegoncc.edu .
  7. Dropping this class is your responsibility. If you do not bother to drop the class (fill out forms, see me, etc.) you will be assigned a grade based on the work completed.
 
ASSESSMENT
 
Assessment will be based on the following:
           
1.      Homework
CD printouts – There will be approxiately 20 printouts (20 x 10 = 200 points).

Compositions - There will be a written exercise each week.  Student prepared taped conversations and/or phone calls. There will be approximately 8 - 10 compositions (8 - 10 x 20 = 160 - 200 points)

 
             2.  Participation

Preparation for class

Performance in class

50 sessions will be assessed during the semester. (50 x 5 = 250 points)

 
3.      Assessment
Chapter tests ---- Each test will consist of sections testing speaking, listening, grammar, reading and writing. Tests are comprehensive and occur approximately every two to three weeks.  There will be 4 unit tests (4 x 100 = 400 points) and the Final (200 points)
 
Quizzes – vocabulary and other (10 points each)
 
 
GRADING SCALE
 
90 - 100%
 A Range
80 - 89%
 B Range
70 - 79%
 C Range
60 - 69%
 D Range
59% and below
 E Range
 
Plus and minus grades will be given when appropriate. 
 
 
ATTENDANCE
 
Attendance is very important especially when learning a language. You are expected to attend all class sessions and are responsible for all information covered and assignments made. You can not participate and practice the language if you are not present. Success correlates directly with regular attendance and effort.
 
 
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
 
The Board, Administration and Faculty at Muskegon Community College believe that all students should complete their assignments and fulfill their academic responsibilities in a manner that reflects honesty and a sense of personal integrity. According to the Muskegon Community College Student Handbook/Planner, 2007-08, this means that all academic work will be done by the student to whom it is assigned, without unauthorized aid of any kind.  Academic dishonesty consists of, but is not limited to:
 
1.      Cheating – Cheating is defined as using or attempting to use, giving or attempting to give, and obtaining or attempting to obtain materials or information, including computer material pertaining to a quiz, examination or other work that a student is expected to do alone.
 
2.      Plagiarism – Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s words or ideas without acknowledgement.
 
PENALTY
 
If a student is found to have engaged in academic dishonesty the penalties will range from a reprimand to receiving an “E” grade for the course, depending on the seriousness of the infraction.
 
 
STATEMENT ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR
 
Muskegon Community College is a community of scholars whose members include students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Mutual respect and civility are expected in the classroom, or other college related academic settings, as well as in any communication.
 
The college has a duty to provide students privileges, opportunities, and protections that best promote learning.
            Students have the right to a non-threatening learning environment.
Students have the responsibility to refrain from infringing on the right of others to learn or the right of teachers to teach.
Any student whose behavior disrupts learning may be subject to disciplinary actions as outlined in the Muskegon Community College Student Handbook/Planner.
 
STUDENT RIGHTS AND PROCEDURES
 
All procedures and policies will be followed as stated in the Muskegon Community College Student Handbook/Planner.
 
 
OFFICE
 
            My office is in Room 242 Social Science Department.
            Office Telephone: 777-0376 or 773-9131 ext. 376
            e-mail: katherine.tosa@muskegoncc.edu
 
Office Hours:
 
Montag (Monday)
13.30 – 16.30
 
                                   
Dienstag (Tuesday)
13.30 – 16.30
 
                       
Mittwoch (Wednesday)
13.30 – 16.30
 
 
Donnerstag (Thursday)
13.30 – 16.30
 
 
Freitag (Friday)
By appointment           
 
If any problem should arise, don't hesitate to contact me. Appointments are not necessary unless you need extended blocks of time, or want to be certain that I am in the office. Meetings and professional duties required me to be out of the office but on campus some days.
 
ALLES GUTE!