German 1014, a first semester German course, assumes no prior knowledge of German. [Note: If you have prior knowledge, go to office hours to discuss placement.] German 1014 introduces students to the language and culture of the modern German-speaking world. Every effort is made to present opportunities to use the language: for self-expression in everyday situations, for basic survival needs in German-speaking language communities, and for personal enjoyment. To this aim, lessons center on linguistic, communicative, and transcultural goals.
The functional communicative approach that we take in this course focuses on learning to use and interpret German language forms, i.e., grammar and vocabulary, in meaningful contexts in a variety of real-life situations and across spoken and written genres. To help students develop their ability to communicate effectively in German, they are expected to come prepared for class, use German, and actively participate in pair and group activities. This is a preparation-intensive course. Students should expect to spend two hours studying for each class period in order to prepare effectively for class meetings and to keep up with the pace of the class.
The textbook and online access codes can be purchased as a bundle from the bookstore or publisher (often cheaper). If you choose the digital textbook (vText), you must disable notifications on your device during class.