Langue allemande I / Sprachkompetenz I

Introductory German course for students with little or no prior knowledge. Focus on four central language skills: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing.

The course places strong emphasis on the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students develop, consolidate, and/or expand their knowledge of grammar, acquire basic vocabulary, practise active use of the language, and train pronunciation. They improve their oral and written comprehension and produce simple texts (dialogues, summaries, descriptions, short notes, letters, emails, etc.). In addition, through exercises they become familiar with German-language culture and civilisation, particularly everyday life in a German-speaking context (family, work, food, education and professions, travel, leisure).Target level: A2.

Courses requiring this course

Cours ayant celui-ci comme co-requis

The course combines inductive and deductive approaches: a wide variety of exercises will be carried out in groups, in pairs, or individually, to introduce and consolidate grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Activities include automatisation exercises, guided and free practice. Organisation and structure: question–answer, dialogues, role-plays, interviews, small vocabulary competitions, grammar through games, and online exercises during tutorials.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Textbooks:

• Anne Buscha, Szilvia Szita: Begegnungen A1+. Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Integriertes Kurs- und Arbeitsbuch. Leipzig: Schubert Verlag, 2021. Students must obtain their own copy of Begegnungen A1+ (PUB, online, etc.).

Recommended reading (scans available on the UV course page):

• Renate Luscher: Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Übungsgrammatik für Anfänger (A1–B1). München: Hueber, 2017.

• Monika Reimann: Grammaire de base de l’allemand. Explications et exercices. München: Hueber, 2021.

• Bescherelle: allemand, le vocabulaire. Paris: Hatier, 2008.

Dictionaries:

• Langenscheidt Taschenwörterbuch Französisch (Französisch–Deutsch, Deutsch–Französisch)

• PONS Kompaktwörterbuch Französisch (Französisch–Deutsch, Deutsch–Französisch)

• Pierre Grappin: Grand dictionnaire français–allemand / allemand–français. Paris: Larousse

• Sachs–Villatte: Langenscheidts Großwörterbuch Französisch. Vol. 1: Französisch–Deutsch; Vol. 2: Deutsch–Französisch

• Online dictionaries

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Contacts

Dr. Mathias Meert (course titular): mathias.meert@ulb.be
Office hours: Tuesday, 1:00–2:00 p.m., Room AZ.4.105 – by appointment only.

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• written examination
• Other

written examination

Other

• Continuous evaluation: active participation, preparation of assignments and homework, and written and oral tests during both semesters.
  As part of continuous evaulation and active participation, students can also attend the 'Guidances' (support sessions with additional explanations and exercises) and/or the 'Café Allemand' (informal conversation table). Regular participation in these activities is strongly recommended and has a positive influence on continuous assessment.

• Written examinations in January and May/June: grammar and vocabulary exercises + written compositions.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

1. Continuous evaluation and in-class tests during both semesters (40% of the final grade).
   Students who are native speakers of German, or who already speak it at an advanced level, may request before the end of September to receive adapted exercises for continuous assessment credit.

2. Two written exams, in January and May/June (60% of the final grade).

The course (10 ECTS) is taught across two semesters. Each component of the course unit is compulsory and must be assessed. The minimum passing grade for each component is 10/20. If a student fails to present or fails one of the components, they will receive an exclusion grade (04/20) for the entire course. In that case, they must retake the failed component in the second exam session. Components with grades above 10/20 do not need to be retaken; only the failed component must be retaken.

August/September - second exam session: Resit session covering the written tests, oral exercises, and/or examinations if grades are insufficient or if the student has not attended the respective components of the course.

Language(s) of evaluation

• German
• (if applicable french )