Summer, 2007

GRMN 201 Intermediate German

German 201 will be taught through the Internet, with all resources and assignments centralized within a Blackboard Web site. The course is a continuation from the elementary level sequence and continues the emphasis on development of the 4 skills of speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension. Several new grammatical structures (passive voice, indirect discourse subjunctive) will be introduced and other structures will be reviewed. Particular emphasis will be placed on reading and listening comprehension. Students will be read on-line stories accompanied by comprehension aids, which can also be printed. Students will be assigned comprehension questions to answer, or short summaries to write. There will also be discussion of the stories through on-line discussion forums. Students will collaborate on a group project, which will involved reading a story (from a suggested list), discussing it and presenting it to the class (through creation of an audio file, optionally linked to a Powerpoint slides).

Students can use any computer connected to the Internet. High-speed connections are helpful but not mandatory. Computers in campus labs can be used, in particular, those in the Language Lab. The latter feature connected headphone/mics which make it easier to work with audio.

GRMN 202 Intermediate German Readings

The course is being taught on-line through a Blackboard Web site, which you can access using the same username and password you use for your VCU email.

BOOK/COMPUTER

We will be using Der Weg zum Lesen, 3rd edition (by Van Horn Vail and Kimberly Sparks). Copies are available in the VCU Bookstore, but you can also order the book on-line (from amazon.com or bn.com or others). It will be helpful to you to have a German-English dictionary and a German grammar book available.

You will need Internet access to complete the assignments and a computer with audio playback and recording capabilities (i.e. an attached microphone). You can use the computers in the VCU Language Lab (Hibbs 424) if your home computer does not have the needed configuration.

ASSIGNMENTS

All assignments will be posted in Blackboard and are due by the end of the week in which the story is assigned. We will be reading 2 stories a week, except for the last week, in which only 1 story is assigned; you have a one week grace period after that date to turn in assignments (except for the last week).

• Week 1 - Kurz vor Feierabend, Das Kartenspiel
• Week 2 - Der Milchmann, Das verliehene Buch
• Week 3 - Das Brot, Der hellgraue Frühjahrsmantel
• Week 4 - Der Stift, Es steht geschrieben
• Week 5 - Vor dem Gesetz, Die Geschichte von Isidor
• Week 6 - Wer ist man?

GRADING

Your main work for this course will be reading (and understanding) the stories, but you will also be doing written assignments (principally questions on the stories), vocabulary exercises, and other assignments such as short listening and speaking exercises. Each assignment will be graded. You will be able to view your grades in Blackboard.