"Die Grenzen meiner Sprache sind die Grenzen meiner Welt."
Ludwig Wittgenstein

German 1: Elementary German
Fall 1999
M W F 10:20 + 2 arranged tutorials.
Detchon 112

Instructor: Catherine Grimm Office: Detchon 222. Phone: Ex. 6081

Office hours: M & W 3:00-4:00 and by appointment. Email: grimmc@wabash.edu

Welcome to Elementary German!

The main objective of this course is that you develop basic proficiency in all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, and that you gain an understanding of the culture in German-speaking countries. You will be presented with the essential structures of the German language. By actively participating, you'll quickly see results - and the time spent in class will be more rewarding and enjoyable. In this class we will cover the Introduction and Chapters 1 through 7 of Neue Horizonte.

Grading:

Tests and Quiz: 45%, Class participation and homework: 20%, Tutorials: 15%, Final exam: 20%. The tutorials are small-group conversation sessions that meet twice a week for 20 minutes each session. You will receive further information as soon as tutorials have been organized. Homework will be graded with either a -, ÷ , or a ÷ + . Completion of homework assignments indicates how strong your commitment is to doing well in the class and will definitely factor into the final grade. There will be no make-up tests or quizzes.

Text:

Please purchase the following texts: Neue Horizonte, Fifth Edition, as well as the Workbook/Laboratory Manual for Neue Horizonte.

Requirements:

The basic requirement is that you come to class having prepared the assigned material. In addition I expect you to participate actively both in class and at the tutorials. Another requirement is the prompt completion of homework, including the laboratory manual assignments for each chapter. Regular attendance in class and at the tutorials is mandatory. All the tests will be announced in advance and are cumulative. Before you do assignments in the workbook review the grammar in the textbook. Once you have completed the exercise check your answers with the answer key and correct mistakes. When tearing out pages from the workbook, please check whether exercises on the same page (or on the back) are assigned as homework for the next class. If that is the case you could either write out the exercise or make a photocopy of the page.

The audiotapes accompanying Neue Horizonte complement and reinforce the material we cover in class. They are a part of your regular homework. To begin working with the cassettes, bring an a/v quality cassette, which you can obtain at the bookstore, to the Language Lab, Detchon 107-09 and ask the assistant to make you a copy of the cassette. We are also going to explore the ways in which using computer technology can enhance the language learning experience. Detchon 109 is our Macintosh Computer Lab and we will have an introductory class there at to some point to show you the software available there (including German Grammar Byrnes - a reference grammar, with exercises, written by Dr. John Byrnes) and some German web resources.