126-476 German as a Foreign Language

This subject is taught in German. Formerly available as 126-036. Students who have completed 126-036 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

37.5 points of second/third-year subjects in German language. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year.

In contemporary Australia, German plays a minor part as a community language, whereas it is traditionally one of the major languages other than English taught from primary through to tertiary levels. The course will deal with the most important results of research and practice of German as a foreign language, which has been an academic discipline in its own right in German-speaking countries for the last quarter of a century. After completing the subject, students will have gained an insight in the fundamental features of and differences between first and second language acquisition and foreign language learning, as well as in the didactics and methodology of German as a foreign language, particularly in the different teaching approaches which can be roughly grouped under the headings of 'communicative' respectively 'cognitive' approach. Also, students will be able to critically appraise recently developed teaching resources as well as secondary literature on the subject.

• have acquired skills in research, critical thinking and contextualising information;

• also have developed skills in communicating knowledge intelligibly through oral presentations and essays in German.

A 1000 word class paper 30% (due during the semester), and an essay of 3000 words for third year students, 4000 words for fourth year students 70% (due at the end of the semester).