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First-Year German

Overview

In the first-year Gerlang program, students learn German through a rigorous interactive and participatory daily program for the 10-week length of each quarter. In this way students acquire functional and appropriate skills to successfully use their German in a broad array of social, professional and cultural contexts.

Program objectives revolve around three key axes:

Interpersonal

Interacting with others in order to:

  • ask and answer questions
  • express likes and dislikes
  • exchange opinions
  • talk about people, places, experiences, and events

Interpretive

Understanding German in:

  • Social interactions that students themselves can engage in
  • Readings
  • television, radio, audio internet and oral presentations

Presentational

Using academic/ upper registry language in:

  • giving rehearsed oral presentations with limited reliance on notes
  • writing essays of up to 3 pages or extended internet posts
  • asking/responding to questions during formal presentations

NOTE: Explicit explanations of these objectives pertaining to each of the three first-year courses can be referenced in the proficiency objectives and curricular documents.


Need conversation practice to add on to your language class?

Sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL),  Language Conversation Partners (LCPs) can help you develop conversation skills, practice different scenarios and rehearse oral drills.