GERMAN I
Spring 2017
Professor: Dr. Pauline Ebert
Class
Location: LAC M 201
Course site: http://german101ebert.blogspot.com/
Kontakte Website: http://connect.mheducation.com/class/p-ebert-german-1
Required
Texts
Kontakte,
Kontakte Arbeitsbuch,
Kontakte Website:
Please go to:
and follow the instructions
to create an account:
Course Description
Willkommen to GERMAN 1.
In this class you will develop skills for communicating (speaking, reading,
writing, and listening) in German. You will learn a number of speech acts
(greetings, asking for information, expressing likes/dislikes, describing daily
activities, etc.), study the cultures of the German-speaking countries, and be
introduced to various grammatical structures (nominative and accusative case,
modal verbs, etc.) The main thing to remember: Enjoy the adventure of learning
a new language.
Course Site
Please visit: http://german101ebert.blogspot.com/
The GER1 course site will be used to give you
access to the newest version of the syllabus, class schedule and homework,
essay format, essay correction code, course material, updates, and much more.
Please visit regularly!
There is also a website for our Kontakte textbook and workbook. Please
don’t forget to create your own account:
Participation and Attendance
Participation and attendance are required for all
class sessions and are essential for your success in this class. You are
expected to come to class on time, to have prepared for class by completing all
homework assignments before class, to be actively involved in all class
sessions, and to speak German at all times. This is important both because
active participation will help you to succeed in the course and because this
course requires group effort.
If
you must miss a session, please inform me. Absences are excused when due to
illness, personal or family emergency, or activities or religious holidays
recognized by LBCC.
Please turn off all cell phones for the duration of the
class period.
Homework,
Writing Assignments and Testing
During
the semester keep in mind that foreign language courses are unlike other
university lectures. Regular attendance and class participation are essential
for successfully learning a language. It is equally important to pace your
language study throughout the week rather than leaving it for the night before
an exam. A good rule of thumb is to reserve one hour every day for studying German.
To
guarantee maximum use of in-class time, grammar, reading, and writing
assignments are to be prepared and completed before you come to class, as
assigned. Our main purpose in class is to use German communicatively and
creatively, and the homework is an essential means to this end. We will not
always go over homework in class, but you are encouraged to ask questions about
the homework. I will collect Workbook homework at the end of each chapter.
However, I will check your Workbook homework on a daily basis.
Please
keep in mind that homework includes reviewing information, vocabulary,
listening activities, and grammar points from previous lessons.
Workbook Homework: Using the answer key (you can find the answer key
in the back of the workbook), students are responsible for checking their
workbook assignments. Students should note corrections with a different
colored pen. While checking homework, students should also note activities
or questions that they had difficulty with, so that they can be discussed in
class. These activities are opportunities for learning and practicing the new
vocabulary and structures. While the answer keys are useful tools for helping
identify errors, copying answers is not allowed. Copied homework will not be
accepted.
Language Lab: The class will meet on Thursdays
for the first hour in M103. Here the students will complete activities and
exercises that will help enhance and supplement the classroom experience.
Lab Requirement: 14 hours are required at the end of the semester.
The student is required to sign up with the connect online Arbeitsbuch: You
will use this url: http://connect.mheducation.com/class/p-ebert-german-1
Listening Comprehension and written activities assigned
from the Connect online Laboratory Manual may be completed in the Language lab
or at home. In order to receive credit for this course, you are required to
complete a total of 15 lab hours listening to the recorded activities. If you
do not complete the necessary lab requirement, your final grade for the class
will be lowered by one letter grade. Make sure to sign in every time you work
in the lab.
Compositions: Four compositions will be assigned. Two
drafts are required to complete the written assignments. I will review the
first draft, noting needed changes with a correction key.
Correction
code: go to http://german101ebert.blogspot.com/p/essay-correction-code.html
You
will then turn in a re-written second draft together with your first draft to
receive a grade. All compositions are written on a
computer (1 inch margins, double-spaced, Times 12 pt font). All
essays are turned in as hard copies. If you have
questions about your essays please contact me.
Essay
format instructions: go to http://german101ebert.blogspot.com/p/essay-format.html
Plagiarism: Compositions must
reflect YOUR OWN WORK, i.e. what you are capable of producing on your own with
the use of reference materials. Be aware of what constitutes plagiarism.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, plagiarize means 1) to use and
pass off as one’s own the ideas or writings of another. You may consult a
dictionary or a friend for a word in German, but you are guilty of plagiarism
if you use phrasing or sentences from another source. Plagiarism constitutes
academic dishonesty, will result in a grade of zero on the assignment.
Short Quizzes: There will be a short
(10-15 minute) quiz for each chapter.
Exams:
There
will be an exam for A and B and at the end of every chapter. Because of the
nature of the course the exams will all be comprehensive.
Oral Midterm: There will be an oral midterm, details of which
will be announced. Date = Thursday, March 30
Final Exam:
Final
Exam: The
date of the final exam for this class is Tuesday, June 6. The date and time of
the exam cannot be changed. Plan to be there on time. The exam will be
comprehensive but will focus mainly on the material covered since the last
exam.
Course
Grade
Your
course grade will be determined as follows:
Participation
and Attendance 15%
Quizzes
5%
Exams
15%
Homework
10%
Lab work 10%
Compositions
15%
Oral
Midterm 15%
Final
Exam (Chapters A-5) 15%
=100%
Grades: The following
percentage scale will determine the letter grade students earn for the course:
GRADING SCALE
A
90%--100%
B
80%--89%
C
70%--79%
D 60%--69%
F
below 60%
