Aktive Teilnahme (Attendance and Participation):
A major factor in the steady progress of acquiring proficiency in a foreign language is sustained practice. It is therefore imperative that you attend every class and complete all reading and written assignments. Your participation in the class means that you arrive on time, are prepared for the day’s work, and contribute to a positive learning environment by your active participation.
Schriftliche Aufgaben (Readings and Study Questions/Homework):
All assigned texts and study questions/daily homework assignments for this course will be available on Canvas. You should anticipate spending up to five hours of work outside of class. This time includes reading the assigned text for a given class session, composing answers to study questions (worksheets on Canvas) and preparing questions and observations (in German) for class discussion. In order to help consolidate the information we are obtaining, there will be occasional vocabulary, grammar & content quizzes.
Tagebücher (Journal Entries):
In addition, you will be asked to compose regular diary/journal entries throughout the semester. Tagebuch entries are meant to be informal, handwritten, and semi-private reflections (some related to the course’s environmental theme). The weekly plans (Wochenpläne) will establish for specific dates for turning in Tagebuch entries. Grading of the Tagebücher will generally be based on completing the exercise on time and with the correct length; grammar will generally not be taken into account in grading UNLESS the text overall is unclear. More information about the Tagebücher will be distributed in the second week of the semester.
Referate (In-Class Presentations):
Throughout the semester, I will ask students to prepare and deliver 2 short (approx. 8-10 mins.) presentations in German related to the course’s theme. More information on this assignment will be available later in the semester.
Zwischenprüfung (Midterm Exam):
The midterm examination will be an in-class exam based on the material covered up to that point in the semester.
Schlussprojekt (Final Projekt):
The final project provides students an opportunity to engage with the material and themes of the semester in a creative and analytical manner. Like a final exam, it is cumulative, but unlike a regular written final, it allows you flexibility and creativity as you construct your project. Examples of final projects include, but are not limited to, annotated translations from German into English, the composition of your own German-language poetry or short story, and many other possibilities.