FALL 2000
This information effective for Fall 2000.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.
For questions regarding the content or conduct of the course, feel free to contact the instructor: W. Campbell. e-mail: walterc@cats.ucsc.edu
This course is designed as an introduction to the German language and culture. It is designed for students with no previous knowledge of German or for those students who wish to refresh their skills at the beginning level. Emphasis in German 1 is placed on developing beginning-level competence in the four basic skills: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Through group work in class, and individual work at home and in the language lab, students acquire an introductory, working knowledge of pronunciation, basic German vocabulary, and German grammar. In addition, students are introduced to basic information regarding the geography and culture of the German-speaking countries. Video material is used where appropriate to augment the topics discussed in class.
After an intial period of introduction and practice, the course begins with Chapter 1 in the text Deutsche Sprache und Landeskunde (4th ed.) by Crean et al. By the end of the quarter, we will have covered the material in Chapters 1-5 and the beginning of Chaper 6.
Required Texts:
1) Crean, John E., Jr., Marilyn Scott, and Jeanine Briggs. Deutsche Sprache und Landeskunde. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993.
2) Crean, John E., Jr., and Jeanine Briggs. Laboratory Manual. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1993.
3) Ratych, Joanna M. Workbook. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993.
Optional Texts:
1) Crossgrove, Hannelore and William C. Crossgrove. Graded German Reader: Erste Stufe. 3rd ed. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath and Company, 1992.
2) Zorach, Cecile and Charlotte Melin. English Grammar for Students of German. 3rd ed. Ann Arbor: The Olivia and Hill Press, 1994.
1) Regular attendance and participation
2) Completion of daily written homework assignments
3) Completion of language lab assignments
4) 3 Chapter Tests
5) 2 Oral Interviews
6) 1 Midterm Exam
7) 1 Final Exam
For questions regarding the content or conduct of the course, feel
free to contact the instructor.
e-mail: walterc@cats.ucsc.edu
This is a German language and culture course at the advanced level. The prerequisite for admission to the course is the successful completion of German 5, its equivalent, or the consent of the instructor. The course is conducted in German.
Using regular readings from the German newspaper, Die Zeit, other newspapers and magazines, and on-line publications on the World Wide Web, this course is constructed as a true seminar. Students read articles of interest for each class session, write a brief summary of the main points, and then present the articles in class. Through questions and the ensuing discussion, the instructor attempts to amplify the particular topic and provide the relevant social, cultural, and political background appropriate to it. Over the course of the ten weeks, students are encouraged to read articles in a variety of topic areas, including politics, social issues, economics, philosophy, religion, the arts, and the sciences. By so doing, and keeping an individual vocabulary list, students greatly expand their reading comprehension and working German vocabulary in a variety of fields.
In addition to the regular readings and discussions, news broadcasts, other video material, and the resources of the World Wide Web are used to present topics of current interest.
Among the topics certain to be addressed in the press and in the course are: An assessment of life in western and eastern Germany following German unification (October 3, 2000 being the 10-year anniversary of German unification) - with particular attention paid to the economic and social conditions in the former East Germany, the ramifications of the ongoing political contribution scandal (which has wracked former Chancellor Helmut Kohl and the CDU party), Germany's role in the European Union, Germany's peace-keeping role in Kosovo, the current status of the move toward monetary union in Europe and the introduction of the Euro (January 2002), Germany's domestic and international economic policy, the attitudes of Germany's major political parties toward the issues of the day, the current status of various social groups in the Bundesrepublik (i.e. youth, women, East Germans, foreigners etc.) and German views on major events in the USA and other foreign countries, especially poltical developments in Austria following the inclusion of the Freeedom Party in the governing coalition.
Required Reading:
1) Students will read regularly in Die Zeit and other print publications
2) Regular readings of on-line publications
3) Additional articles supplied by the instructor or suggested by the students.
Optional Reading:
Selected articles from Der Spiegel: Aktuelle Themen aus der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, ed. by Helene Zimmer-Loew and Anne Moss, 1993.
1) Regular presentation of articles in class
2) Brief written summaries of the articles presented
3) Creation of an individual vocabulary list throughout the quarter
4) Occasional vocabulary quizzes based on the individual lists (ca. 2-3 in the quarter)
5) A midterm and final oral presentation to the instructor
6) A term paper of ca. 6-10 pages on a topic or topics of interest