German, Level I (GERMAN) 1A

Syllabus

Course Name
GERMAN 1A

German, Level I – Semester A

Course Information
GERMAN 1A is the first semester of this two-semester course.

The first section of German I will utilize the first half of your textbook, Deutsch Aktuell 1.
We will begin with Kapitel (chapter) 1 as the first lesson, then continue through
Kapitel 6. Kapitel 7-12 will be covered in the German 1B course.

During this course, you will learn basic German vocabulary and grammar. We will
incorporate listening, speaking, and reading activities in addition to written assignments.
Your goal should be that, by the end of this course, you are able to participate in basic
conversations, as well as read and write in German. This semester is, of course, the
beginning, but each lesson and semester builds upon the previous ones. Enjoy your
progress!

Course Delivery Method

Online

Contacting Your Instructor

You may contact your instructor through the Blackboard messaging system. Technical
support is available 24/7 at www.k12.ttu.edu.

Course Objectives
After completing this course, you should be able to:

1. discuss topics utilizing basic vocabulary from a variety of themes/topics including:

a. family, numbers and telling time;

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 b. hobbies, sports, and free time activities;
c. school seasons and holidays;
d. weather;
e. countries and languages; and
f. food;
2. use correct verb forms (conjugation):
a. irregular verbs sein, haben, warden;
b. regular verbs; and
c. modal verbs mögen, möchten, müssen, wollen, dürfen, können, sollen;
3. identify the correct gender and plural forms of nouns and use appropriate
pronouns;
4. ask questions
a. yes/no questions; and
b. use question words wo, woher, wohin, wer, wen, was, wann, wie, wie viel,
wie viele, warum;
5. distinguish between the nominative and accusative cases (definite and indefinite
articles);
6. identify numbers for use in counting, dates, and telling time;
7. negate using nicht and kein;
8. use future tense to indicate intentions; and
9. identify similarities and differences in German and American culture.

GERMAN I addresses the required Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
These can be found at the Texas Education Agency website.

Textbook and Materials

Textbook(s)
The required textbook for this course is:

• Kraft, Wolfgang S. Deutsch Aktuell 1, 7th edition (2017). St. Paul: EMC/Paradigm
Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8219-8076-7
• Kraft, Wolfgang S. Deutsch Aktuell 1 Workbook, 7th edition (2017). St. Paul:
EMC/Paradigm Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8219-8078-1

Recording equipment & software

For recording: A computer with the ability to record an MP3 file.

File formatting software: You may use any software that you already have, or
download free software. Audio files submitted for grading must be in MP3 format
(e.g., audiofile.mp3) and 2 MB or less in file size.

The following recording/formatting software is available in various platforms:

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Windows & Linux

• Audacity (freeware; additional free MP3 plug-in download required for Linux
users only)
• Mp3MyMp3 Audio Recorder (Windows freeware)
• Voice Recorder (included with Windows; see instructions)
• Audio Recorder (Linux; see instructions)

Mac

• Garage Band (freeware)

• Audacity (freeware)
• Voice Memos (included with newer Macs and iPads; see instructions)
• QuickTime (included with older Macs, discontinued in 2018; see instructions)

Online
(free; great for Chromebook users; record and download audio file securely)

• Online Voice Recorder

• Easy Voice Recorder (available in Google Play)
• Vocaroo
• Virtual Speech Online Voice Recorder

Software-Specific Instructions

Instructions for Windows Voice Recorder, Mac QuickTime and Voice Memos, and Linux
Audio Recorder are linked above. For other software, please refer to your software help
files for specific instructions on how to format your audio file.

IMPORTANT: Do not submit Audacity project files (extension .aup); you must export
the files as MP3 before uploading them into Blackboard for grading.

About the Textbook

The textbook Deutsch Aktuell contains 12 chapters. German 1A will cover the first six
chapters. Each chapter is divided into two sections, Lektion A and Lektion B. Within the
Lektion (lesson), you will find several components including:

• Hintergrund — addresses language or cultural items that appear in the opening

dialog.
• Sprache — presentation of grammar or structures, followed by related oral and
written activities.
• Aktuelles — cultural information and activities to gauge the student's
understanding.

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 • Lesestück — a reading selection (in German) which introduces additional
everyday cultural situations in Germany.
• Wörter und Ausdrücke — new words and expressions.
• Land und Leute — a reading selection focusing on geography and culture in
German-speaking countries.
• Rückblick — a review of vocabulary and grammar introduced in the chapter and
from previous chapters.
• Vokabeln — appearing at the end of each chapter, this is a list of new words
introduced in the chapter, including the Lektion in which it appears and the plural
form.

Due to the nature of the course, activities such as Rollenspiele (role plays) and other
partner activities will be omitted, though you will be asked to practice and submit
speaking activities.

At the end of the book is a reference section which includes a grammar summary,
German-English vocabulary, and English-German vocabulary.

Please note throughout the text that many of the titles and sometimes the
directions for exercises appear in German. However, the first time you see
directions, a translation will be provided. Do not be anxious over the extensive use of
German within the text. Translations often follow, definitions follow new vocabulary, and
you have use of your vocabulary lists within the chapters as well as at the back of the
book. The more exposure you have to the language, the more comfortable with it you
will become.

Technical Requirements
• Internet access – preferably high speed (for accessing Blackboard)
• Email
• Word processing software such as Microsoft Word
• Adobe Reader (download from Adobe.com)
• Audio and video capabilities (for watching/listening to course content)
• PDF app (free options available)

Technical Skill Requirements

Be comfortable with the following:

• using a word processor

• Internet search engines and browsers

continued →

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Course Organization
This course consists of 12 lessons and a final examination. Each lesson contains the
following:

• Introduction and Instructions

• Learning Objectives and Curriculum Standards
• Learning Activities
• Assignments

Each lesson includes several activities that present content knowledge. Each lesson
also includes multiple graded assignments to ensure that you learn the content that has
been presented in the activities. Some of the assignments are automatically-graded
quizzes, and some are written assignments or activities that your instructor will grade.
Be sure you read all instructions carefully and ask your instructor for help if something is
not clear.

Hints for Success

1. Read the objectives for each lesson as stated in the introduction for each section.

2. Follow instructions on the audio tracks as noted in the lesson section.

3. Listen to the assigned audio tracks several times. Repeat in the pauses. Try to
imitate the speaker on the audio as closely as possible.

4. Complete all the practice exercises in your notebook and check your answers
with the answer key provided in the Resources section.

5. Occasionally you will be asked to go online to visit specific websites that relate to
the German language or culture.

6. Do not submit the next lesson until you receive the previous lesson with your
instructor's corrections and comments. While you wait, continue to review the
material from previous lessons.

7. For practicing vocabulary, make flash cards in addition to writing out the words in
your notebook. Color code words by category: masculine nouns, neuter nouns,
feminine and plural nouns, verbs, and other words/phrases. A couple of websites
for making computerized flash cards are Cram and Flashcard machine.

8. Encourage friends who are interested in taking German through TTU K-12 to do
so, and practice together!

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 9. When questions arise regarding content or procedures, please feel free to
contact your instructor.

Course Outline
Please note that some assignments will be hidden from you when you start the course.
As you move through the lessons and complete assignments, more will unlock for you.

Approximate Time for

Lesson Topic
Completion
Lesson 1 Hallo! (Kapitel 1, Lektion A) 1 week
Lesson 2 Hallo! (Kapitel 1, Lektion B) 1 week
Lesson 3 Zu Hause (Kapitel 2, Lektion A) 1 week
Lesson 4 Zu Hause (Kapitel 2, Lektion B) 1 week
Lesson 5 Was machst du? (Kapitel 3, Lektion A) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 6 Was machst du? (Kapitel 3, Lektion B) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 7 Schule (Kapitel 4, Lektion A) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 8 Schule (Kapitel 4, Lektion B) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 9 Stadt (Kapitel 5, Lektion A) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 10 Stadt (Kapitel 5, Lektion B) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 11 Wie schmeckt’s? (Kapitel 6, Lektion A) 1.5 weeks
Lesson 12 Wie schmeckt’s? (Kapitel 6, Lektion B) 1.5 weeks
Final Exam

Assignment Schedule
Each of the following must be completed to complete the course. Items with an asterisk
(*) indicate that these are summative assessments for the course.

Lesson Weeks Assignments

1 1 Checkpoint 1 (Non-graded)
*Lesson One: Speaking Exercises
Lesson One: Workbook page 5, Exercise 4
Lesson One: Workbook page 5, Exercise 5
Lesson One: Workbook page 6, Exercise 6

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Lesson Weeks Assignments
2 2 *Lesson Two: Speaking Exercises
Lesson Two: Textbook page 36, Exercise R6
Lesson Two: Workbook page 8, Exercise 10
Lesson Two: Workbook pages 8-9, Exercise 11
Lesson Two: Workbook page 9, Exercise 12
Lesson Two: Workbook page 9, Exercise 13
3 3 *Lesson Three: Speaking Exercises
Lesson Three: Textbook page 46, Exercise 6
Lesson Three: Workbook page 14, Exercise 2
Lesson Three: Workbook page 15, Exercise 3
Lesson Three: Workbook pages 16-17, Exercise 5
Checkpoint 2 (Non-graded)
4 4 *Lesson Four: Speaking Exercises
Lesson Four: Textbook page 67, Exercise R3
Lesson Four: Textbook page 68, Exercise R6
Lesson Four: Workbook pages 19, Exercise 7
Lesson Four: Workbook page 23, Exercise 11
Lesson Four: Workbook page 24, Exercise 12
Lesson Four: Workbook page 25, Exercise 13
5 5-6 Lesson Five: Textbook Page 68, Exercise 8
Lesson Five: Textbook Page 103, Exercise R6
Lesson Five: Textbook Page 104, Exercise R8
Lesson Five: Workbook Page 32, Exercise 2
Lesson Five: Workbook Page 34, Exercise 5
Lesson Five: Workbook Page 36, Exercise 7
6 6-7 *Lesson Six: Speaking Exercises
Lesson Six: Textbook page 101, Exercise R2
Lesson Six: Textbook page 102, Exercise R3
Lesson Six: Textbook page 102, Exercise R5
Lesson Six: Workbook pages 37-38, Lesson 8
Lesson Six: Workbook page 41, Exercise 10
Lesson Six: Workbook page 42, Exercise 12
Lesson Six: Workbook page 45, Lesson 17
7 8-9 Lesson Seven: Workbook page 52, Exercise 6
Lesson Seven: Workbook page 48, Exercise 1
Lesson Seven: Workbook page 51, Exercise 4
Lesson Seven: Workbook pages 51-52, Exercise 5
Lesson Seven: Workbook page 54, Exercise 7

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Lesson Weeks Assignments
8 9-10 *Lesson Eight: Speaking Exercises
Lesson Eight: Textbook page 121, Exercise 10
Lesson Eight: Textbook page 138, Exercise R3
Lesson Eight: Textbook page 138, Exercise R4
Lesson Eight: Workbook page 55, Exercise 9
Lesson Eight: Workbook page 56, Exercise 10
Lesson Eight: Workbook page 58, Exercise 14
Lesson Eight: Workbook pages 59-60, Exercise 15
Lesson Eight: Workbook page 62, Exercise 18
9 11-12 Lesson Nine: Aktuelles Quiz (based on pages 151-154)
Lesson Nine: Workbook page 64, Exercise 1
Lesson Nine: Workbook pages 65-66, Exercise 3
Lesson Nine: Workbook page 68, Exercise 5
Lesson Nine: Workbook page 69, Exercise 7
10 12-13 *Lesson Ten: Speaking Exercises
Lesson Ten: Textbook page 170, Exercise 20
Lesson Ten: Textbook page 175, Exercise R1
Lesson Ten: Workbook page 72, Exercise 11
Lesson Ten: Workbook page 72, Exercise 12
Lesson Ten: Workbook page 74, Exercise 14
Lesson Ten: Workbook page 74, Exercise 15
Lesson Ten: Workbook page 76, Exercise 17
11 14-15 Lesson Eleven: Textbook page 184, Exercise 3
Lesson Eleven: Workbook page 78, Exercise 1
Lesson Eleven: Workbook pages 79-80, Exercise 2
Lesson Eleven: Workbook page 81, Exercise 5
Lesson Eleven: Workbook page 82, Exercise 7
12 15-16 *Lesson Twelve: Speaking Exercise
Lesson Twelve: Textbook page 213, Exercise R1
Lesson Twelve: Textbook page 215, Exercise R5
Lesson Twelve: Textbook page 215, Exercise R6
Lesson Twelve: Workbook page 83, Exercise 8
Lesson Twelve: Workbook pages 85-86, Exercise 10
Lesson Twelve: Workbook page 86, Exercise 11
Lesson Twelve: Workbook page 87, Exercise 12
Lesson Twelve: Workbook page 89, Exercise 14
Checkpoint 3 (Non-graded)
Final Exam

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Course Credit
The course grade will be calculated as follows:

• 50% coursework average;

• 50% summative assessment average, including the final exam;
• A passing course grade is 70 or higher.

Students must attempt all assignments in the course. The final exam will not be
available until all assignments have been accepted and graded by the teacher.

Students who score below 70% on the final exam will be eligible for one re-exam
opportunity.

Grading criteria for recorded (oral) exercises

• Completeness of assignment: Did you address all parts of the assignment?

• Pronunciation: Do you pronounce vowels and consonants correctly?
• Correctness of grammar: Are verb forms correct? Do you use articles and
pronouns correctly? Are you using the grammatical concepts for the lesson
correctly?
• Appropriateness of vocabulary: Do you use the vocabulary introduced in the
lesson? Have you incorporated new vocabulary and expanded your use of
German?
• Comprehensibility: Can you be understood?

Grading criteria for oral reading exercises

• Pronunciation and comprehensibility will be the two components evaluated.

Coursework
The graded assignments within each lesson are formative in nature. This means that
they are designed to assist you in applying and demonstrating the lesson concepts, as
well as identifying areas in which you need additional review. You may use all the
lesson’s learning activities to assist you as you complete the graded assignments.

Summative Assessments
Summative assessments are those that allow you to demonstrate mastery of the course
objectives. For summative assessments, you will NOT be allowed to use the learning
materials. These are opportunities for you to show what you have learned by that point
in the course. Summative assessments may be proctored using the online proctoring
system Proctorio. Information about Proctorio is provided in Remote Proctoring in the
Syllabus section of your course. The summative assessments for this course are as
follows:

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 • Summative Assessments (20% of Course Grade)
o Lesson One: Speaking Exercises (64 points)
o Lesson Two: Speaking Exercises (67 points)
o Lesson Three: Speaking Exercises (40 points)
o Lesson Four: Speaking Exercises (52 points)
o Lesson Six: Speaking Exercises (40 points)
o Lesson Eight: Speaking Exercises (44 points)
o Lesson Ten: Speaking Exercises (52 points)
o Lesson Twelve: Speaking Exercise (30 points)
• Summative Final Exam (30% of Course Grade)

Course Completion
• Students may not complete the course in less than 30 days.
• All courses expire six months after the enrollment date.

Academic Integrity
It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty
and high standard of integrity. The attempt of students to present as their own any work
not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a most serious
offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension.

“Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion,
falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give unfair
academic advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of
essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission
of the instructor) or the attempt to commit such an act.

Student Expectations
You will be expected to log into the Blackboard course regularly to be aware of possible
announcements/reminders and to pace your progress in the course.

Students are expected to maintain an online environment conducive to learning, which

includes “netiquette” (Internet etiquette). Please review the basic rules for Online
Discussion Netiquette. Ensure that your email messages, discussion board postings,
and other electronic communications are thoughtful and respectful. Diverse opinions are
welcome in this course, and you are expected to demonstrate an open mind and
courtesy when responding to the thoughts and ideas of others.

The following are prohibited:

• making offensive remarks in email or the discussion board;

• using inappropriate language or discussing inappropriate topics online;
• spamming;

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 • hacking;
• using TTU or Blackboard email or discussion boards for commercial purposes;
• using all caps (considered shouting in online communications); and
• cyber-bullying or online harassment of any type.

Inappropriate behavior shall result in consequences ranging from a request to correct

the problem, to removal from the course or even the university, depending on the
severity of the behavior. Disciplinary actions will be taken according to the TTU K-12
Student Handbook.

Communication
• You can expect a reply from your instructor within 2 business days.
• Use the Blackboard Course Messages tool for sending messages to your
instructor.

Submitting Assignments
You will submit all assignments through the Blackboard Assignment Tool, rather than by
mail or email.

Technical Difficulties
Getting Help
For student assistance with Blackboard, visit TTU K-12 Support.

Computer Problems
A working computer is necessary for online coursework. Computer problems will not be
accepted as a valid reason for failure to complete course activities within the allotted
time frame. Identify a second computer, before the course begins, that you can use if
you experience computer problems.

Server Problems
When the Blackboard server needs to be taken down for maintenance, the Blackboard
administrator will post an announcement in your course informing you of the time and
date. If the server experiences unforeseen problems, your course instructor will
notify you.

Lost or Corrupted Files

You must keep/save a copy of every project/assignment on an external disk or personal
computer. In the event of any kind of technology failure (e.g., Blackboard server crash
or virus infection, students’ own computer problems, loss of files in cyberspace, etc.) or
any disputes, the instructor may request or require you to resubmit the files. In some
instances, the instructor may need to open another attempt within Blackboard, so
communication with your instructor is critical in these circumstances.

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