Module Overview

Students taking this module require to have achieved an H4 pass in Leaving Certificate

German or be able to demonstrate an equivalent knowledge of the language in all four

skills of Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing at B1 level on the Common European

Framework of Reference for language qualifications.

While recognising what learners have already achieved in their study of German to date,

this module seeks to extend the range of their competencies beyond the limited domains

that typically feature in school-based language qualifications.

A communicative approach is adopted in the teaching, making maximum appropriate use

of German throughout, to develop all four language skills in an integrated manner, whilst

ensuring that students are supported in developing a declarative knowledge of German

grammar appropriate to Year 1 of third level study, and are able to apply that knowledge

systematically to all four language skills.

An extensive range of additional materials, benchmarked at B1/B2 Level on the CEFR

which are not used in class will be available online to support independent learning.

The minimum exit level for this module is B1 on the CEFR. This is the same as the entry

level, reflecting the research findings of the Association of Language Testers Europe

(ALTE) that successful learners generally take more than 200 hours of learning to progress

from B1 to B2 Level.

On successful completion of the module, students will be working towards B2 Level in all

four skills and will normally be able to perform at that level in the passive skills (Reading

and Listening) in contexts closely associated with those that have featured in the teaching

programme, and may occasionally be able perform at that level in the active skills

(Speaking and Writing) in familiar contexts when they have access to appropriate sources

of reference and have sufficient time to prepare.