BSc Biomedical Sciences with a Modern Language

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees page for full details.

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees pages for full details.

Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the UK's Turing scheme depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.

This core language course unit fosters essential language skills and is delivered in three sessions per week: Grammar and Translation, Sprachpraktische Übung and Landeskunde (see below for details). All of these sessions are taught in German, as far as possible. Classes are complemented by an independent language learning programme, involving reading, writing, speaking and listening activities, as well as vocabulary and grammar work. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and to improve their language learning skills with the help and support provided by their tutors. On successful completion of the unit, students will have reached level B1.2/B2.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

Pre-requisites: EITHER A level in German (or equivalent) OR GERM51022 German Language 2 

On successful completion of this course unit, students will have reached level B1.2/B2.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and will have developed or honed their ability to: 

• demonstrate mastery of the grammar topics covered (valency and cases, noun genders and plurals, adjective declensions, determiners and pronouns, verb forms, prepositions, modal auxiliaries, Subjunctive II) 

• demonstrate competence in translating from German into English, with some understanding of stylistic considerations 

• show basic insight into the particular difficulties of translating from English into German 

• understand extended speech, TV news and current affairs programmes as well as the majority of films 

• read and analyse articles and reports concerned with contemporary issues in general society as well as business-speak with a good degree of fluency and spontaneity, and take an active part in discussion covering a range of contexts (e.g. environmental issues, leisure and travel, relationships and family life, diet and health, and Germany since reunification) 

• orally present clear descriptions on a range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue putting forward the advantages and disadvantages of various options 

• write clear text (including short essays and summaries) on a range of subjects, giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view 

• give a broad description of aspects of two German-speaking countries / regions, with reference to physical and human geography, political systems, history, arts, and education 

 

Assessment task	Formative or Summative	Weighting within unit (if Summative)
Written examination in semester 2, consisting of Translation from German into English Summary in German of a German text	Summative	50% 1. 25% 2. 25%
Oral examination in week 12 of Semester 2	Summative	25%
One invigilated coursework assignment, consisting of an essay in German of 300-330 words on a topic covered in the Landeskunde lectures	Formative and Summative	25%

 

Resit Assessment

Assessment task

Oral examination

Written examination

Feedback Method	Formative or Summative
In-class comments made during discussion regarding the relevance and linguistic quality of student responses and participation.	Formative
Written feedback on practice translations, summaries and essays	Formative
Face-to-face discussion of any written feedback provided (on request)	Formative
Face-to-face feedback on in-class presentations and supporting materials (on request)	Formative
Detailed written feedback on invigilated coursework essays (formative exercise in Semester 1 and summative work in Semester 2), followed by drop-in sessions to discuss the work as well as particular issues raised in the written feedback	Formative and summative
Written feedback on the exam translation and summary (on request)	Formative and summative
Written feedback on the oral exam (on request), on the basis of the feedback form completed by the markers during the examination	Formative and summative
Written feedback on the independent language learning portfolio, with suggestions for more effective independent language work (on submission of the portfolio by the deadline, once per semester)	Formative
On request and during tutors’ office hours (or by appointment), face-to-face feedback on a range of aspects of an individual’s language competence, with practical advice on more effective learning, translation, writing, speaking and proof-reading techniques	Formative

 

Set texts:  

Collins German Dictionary, 9th edn. 2019. Glasgow and New York: HarperCollins.  

Durrell, Martin, Katrin Kohl, Claudia Kaiser & Gudrun Loftus. 2015. Essential German Grammar. 2nd edn. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. 

Further reading: 

Donald, Sidney G. & Pauline E. Kneale. 2001. Study skills for language students: a practical guide. London: Arnold. 

Durrell, Martin. 2017. Hammer's German Grammar and Usage. 6th edn. London and New York: Routledge. 

Durrell, Martin, Katrin Kohl and Claudia Kaiser. 2017. Practising German Grammar. 4th edn. London and New York: Routledge. 

Fernández-Toro, María & Francis R. Jones. 2001. DIY techniques for language learners. London: Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research. 

Langenscheidt Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Neubearbeitung. 2015. Berlin: Langenscheidt. 

Wahrig-Burfeind, Renate (ed.). 2012. WAHRIG Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache. 3rd edn. Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag.  

This course unit must be passed with a minimum overall mark of 40% in order for a student to progress to the next year of study. 

 

This is not a LEAP course unit and is normally available only as part of a degree programme where German is taken as a named Honours subject.