C9071 - LINGUA TEDESCA I (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students acquire an in-depth knowledge of the linguistic and discursive aspects of the German language from both a theoretical and practical perspective, with particular attention to the methodological issues involved in teaching German as a foreign language. Learning is aimed at developing advanced intercultural competence, enabling them to recognise, understand, and effectively manage sociolinguistic and cultural variables in multilingual and multicultural contexts. Through practical exercises, their communicative skills in all abilities, both active and passive, progress towards level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Course contents

The course is offered during the second semester and consists of the following components:

1. 60 hours of lectures delivered by the course instructor;
2. 36 hours of language practice classes taught by Dr. Christiane von Stumpfeldt, native-speaker language instructor.

Regular and active attendance is strongly recommended for all course activities.

Students who are unable to attend classes are encouraged to contact the instructors or attend office hours at the beginning of the semester.

 

1. Lectures

The lectures aim to deepen students’ understanding of the semantic, lexical, textual, and discourse structures of the German language through the analytical tools of Corpus Linguistics (Korpuslinguistik). By the end of the course, students will:

• understand and appropriately use the terminology of Corpus Linguistics;
• acquire a solid grounding in the principal theories and methodologies of Corpus Linguistics;
• develop knowledge of the characteristics and applications of German-language corpora;
• be able to use corpus-analysis software (e.g. Sketch Engine) to compile and analyse corpora;
• identify and analyse the linguistic features of different text genres from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives;
• critically examine different types of discourses (Diskurse) – for example, climate change and migration – from synchronic, diachronic, intralinguistic, and interlinguistica Italian-German perspectives;
• understand the pedagogical applications of corpus-based approaches, with particular reference to German as a Foreign Language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, DaF).
  

 

2. Language Practice Classes

The language practice classes are shared by the courses “Lingua Tedesca I (LM)” (DIPI) and "Lingua Tedesca (LM)" (LMCP). They are therefore closely integrated with the lecture components of both courses. 

The classes focus on the development of advanced written and spoken communication skills, while further consolidating students’ knowledge of German linguistic structures, including through contrastive Italian-German analysis.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Lezioni frontali

• Beißwenger, Michael et al. (2025): Sprachkorpora im Deutschunterricht. Bochum: RUB. https://doi.org/10.46586/SLLD.390 (open access). [Chapters 1-4, 5.1, 5.7, 6, 7]
• Flinz, Carolina (2024): Linguistica dei corpora. Una nuova prospettiva teorico-metodologica per lo studio di morfologia e sintassi in ambito DaF. Milano: University Press. https://doi.org/10.54103/milanoup.165 (open access).
• Additional teaching materials made available on Virtuale.

 

2. Language Practice Classes

The required coursebooks are Akademie Deutsch B2+ and Akademie Deutsch B2+ Zusatzmaterial (Hueber Verlag). Students are expected to obtain both volumes before the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

Both the lectures and the language practice classes adopt an interactive teaching approach and require students to participate actively. Teaching activities include both individual and group work aimed at developing students’ linguistic competence and language awareness through collaborative interaction.

The lecture component also includes seminar-style activities and the use of corpus-analysis software.

Assessment methods

1. Lectures

Assessment consists of two components:

1. an oral presentation (Referat), delivered in German during the final part of the course. Students will receive guidance in selecting the topic and preparing the presentation;
2. an oral examination covering the contents of the course.

The final mark for the lecture component is the average of these two assessment elements.

Assessment will be based on the completeness and accuracy of the knowledge acquired, as well as students’ communicative competence, according to the following criteria:

1. subject-specific knowledge and understanding;
2. linguistic competence, including lexical appropriateness, grammatical accuracy, pronunciation, and fluency;
3. presentation skills, including the ability to define the scope of the topic, present ideas clearly, interact effectively with the audience, and adapt the presentation to the audience’s level of linguistic competence.

Students who do not attend classes are required to deliver the Referat individually during the oral examination. The presentation topic must be agreed upon with the instructor well in advance and no later than three weeks before the examination date.

 

2. Language Practice Classes

Assessment for the language practice component consists of a written examination focusing on the lexical and grammatical structures characteristic of the text types covered during the course. Further details regarding the examination will be provided during the semester.

Students attending the language practice classes may also give a short individual oral presentation (Kurzreferat) towards the end of the course. Successful completion of the Kurzreferat will be rewarded with "bonus points", which will be added to the score obtained in the written examination.

Further details regarding the final assessment will be provided as soon as possible.

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Important

• In order for the examination to be officially recorded, students must successfully complete both assessment components (lectures and language practice classes). The two components may be taken in either order.
• The final course grade is calculated as follows: two-thirds of the overall mark derives from the lecture component and one-third from the language practice component.
• Students may reject only the overall final grade. Should the final grade be refused, all assessment components, including the lectures’ Referat, must be retaken.
• Students must request the official registration of their final grade by email to rita.luppi2@unibo.it [mailto:rita.luppi2@unibo.it] within three days of obtaining the final partial grade.
• This syllabus is valid until the Winter Examination Session 2028 (January-February 2028).

 

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and your teacher immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams. Any requests for exam accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the teacher and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it [mailto:disabilita@unibo.it] (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it [mailto:dsa@unibo.it] (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be a useful tool to support independent study, by providing in-depth analysis, summaries and self-assessment exercises. As regards assessment, the use of AI is prohibited during face-to-face examinations. Any use constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations, texts, corpora, softwares.

Office hours

See the website of Rita Luppi