COURSE OBJECTIVE

German 201 is an intermediate-level course. If you work hard and apply yourself you will vastly improve your ability to understand, speak, read, and write German by the end of the course. (notice the emphasis on "if"). An added benefit of applying yourself is that you will enjoy the course a lot more. You may even decide that studying German is something you really like doing, and declare it your major or minor. The possibilities are endless.

Our textbook is the Intermediate level version of a video-based language learning series entitled Fokus Deutsch. As we work through the chapters, you'll not only be reacquainted with the major grammatical structures of German, but you'll also gain insight into different cultural, historical and geopolitical topics relating to life in the German speaking world.

This course is also an excellent preparation for study abroad in a German speaking country. Even if you are only vaguely interested I urge you to consider this possibility. Wabash College encourages its students to study abroad and it would be a shame if you missed out on such a wonderful opportunity just because you were not sure what you were doing.

COURSE METHODOLOGY

Our textbook emphasizes the teaching of cultural concepts as well as grammatical structures. It calls for a "communicative" approach. This means most - if not all of our in-class communication will be in German. I will encourage you to always speak German -- if you need to know a word, then ask in German, because only by immersing yourself in the language will you get a sense for its rhythm and tone as well as its meaning. Working hard and applying yourself means taking this particular point seriously and really pushing yourself to understand and communicate only in German during our classes.

EXPECTATIONS

Because the immersion aspect is key to this course - attendance is extremely important: you must show up to every class!
Homework assignments are important because they allow you to evaluate your own progress. Try and apply yourself even when doing your homework:
check in with yourself mentally and see if you understand what it is you're being asked to do. Most of the time you should be "getting" the basic concepts. What you'll need to become good to very good at is finding the time -- every day -- to review and practise grammar and especially vocabulary. Regular reviews are far superior to the proverbial "cram sessions" -- so please work hard at finding a place for German in your schedule.

REQUIREMENTS

Regular attendance: you are allowed to miss up to three classes, but please note that you are responsible for handing in homework on time and contacting me or a classmate concerning what you missed. You may not miss the days we have a quiz. If you have to miss one of those days, you must contact me before the next class period; otherwise you will get 0 for that quiz. If at the end of the semester you have more than three absences, your grade will drop. If you miss ten or more classes, you automatically fail the course.
Active (and joyous) participation in class
Prompt completion of all homework assignments
Four quizzes and a final exam

Grade breakdown

Classwork: 25
Homework: 15
4 Quizzes: 40
Final Exam: 20

TEXT

Fokus Deutsch Intermediate German
Fokus Deutsch Workbook/ Lab Manual