B2540 - Written and Oral Communication in German (Second Language) I

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student knows the main morphosyntactic structures of the German language; is able to understand and produce a wide range of written texts and oral discourse of medium complexity in German; expresses himself/herself fluently.

Course contents

The module aims to promote the 4 language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Lessons will be aimed at completing the acquisition of solid active and passive competence of morphosyntactic and lexical structures in oral and written communication of standard varieties of German. The teaching activity will include both exercises to test phonetic skills, with special attention to prosody, and a resumption and completion of morphosyntax, plus tests of comprehension and production of oral and written texts of various types (dialogic, descriptive, narrative, argumentative) and summary exercises. As part of these activities, Artificial Intelligence tools will also be used to support the learning of German as a second language, to facilitate language practice, the writing and revision of texts, and the development of students’ autonomy, while promoting a critical, informed, and ethically responsible use of digital technologies.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Texts, that are to be read will be published on the IOL-platform. Students have to prepare different topics every week.

Bibliography

Moraldo, Sandro M./Soffritti, Marcello (Hg.) (2004): Deutsch aktuell. Einführung in die Tendenzen der deutschen Gegenwartssprache, Roma.

Moraldo, Sandro M. (Hg.) (2009): Inter­net.kom. Sprach- und Kommunikationsformen im WorldWideWeb, Band 1: Kommunikationsplattformen, Roma.

Moraldo, Sandro M. (Hg.) (2011): Inter­net.kom. Sprach- und Kommunikationsformen im WorldWideWeb, Band 2: Medialität, Hypertext, digitale Literatur, Roma.

Moraldo, Sandro M. (Hg.) (2011): Deutsch aktuell 2. Einführung in die Tenden­zen der deutschen Gegenwartssprache, Roma.

Teaching methods

At the beginning lessons will be teacher-centered and entail lecture sessions and one-way presentations. In a second moment participating students give talks about topics suggested by the teacher or about relevant topics chosen by the students themselves according to their special interest.

Maximum participation of students is stimulated by invitations to debate and opportunities for discussion.

70% of class attendance is required.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend the online Modules 1, 2 on Health and Safety [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas].

Assessment methods

The evaluation purpose is to assess the acquisition of the knowledge and skills described above by the student. A written and an oral exam will evaluate the summarizing ability, and the acquisition of the contents of the readings and themes treated during the course.

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course: [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students] . The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance.

Grading scale

30-30L: Excellent level. The candidate possesses excellent translation skills, with a very high level of competence in the target language.

27-29: Above average level. The candidate makes only minor errors, and shows a solid command of the required skills and competences.

24–26: Generally sound level. The candidate displays a number of shortcomings, indicating a reasonable command of the required skills and competences.

21-23: Adequate level. The candidate displays significant shortcomings and only an adequate command of the required skills and competences.

18–20: Minim level. The candidate only meets the minimum level required and shows a minimal command of the required skills and competences.

< 18 Fail: The candidate does not meet the required standard and shows a wholly inadequate command of the required skills and competences.

Teaching tools

The course makes use of new media (e.g., audio and video podcasts), PowerPoint presentations, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools to support teaching, learning, and in-depth exploration of the course content. AI may be used, where appropriate, for activities such as the production of instructional materials, the summarization and analysis of texts, the creation of exercises, and study support—always under the supervision of the instructor and in accordance with the principles of transparency, academic integrity, and the responsible use of technology.
All materials used during class and relevant to exam preparation will be available online on the E-Learning platform Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Sandro Moraldo