This is a second year Arts subject taken by the reviewer in first semester 2011.

Subject Outline. Building on first year German, this course diversifies from the strongly grammatical first year. Grammar and vocab is still a feature, but reading in German, watching German movies followed by comprehension tests combined with writing essays, holding conversations and doing a debate in German is the format for this year.

Materials. The textbook was not used in class but as a really clearly laid out grammatical resource I found it invaluable when writing my essays and debate and to review grammar for the exam. The kind of book I would like to keep for future reference rather than becoming useless after the end of the course.

Assessment. German always spreads its assessment out in small chunks throughout the year. I love this. It keeps a steady pressure with no major stresses till the exam. It is my favourite subject for the way they manage stress on the student.

Lectures. German does not have lectures. It has tutes and labs only.

Tutorials/Practicals. The tutes were divided into a grammar class and a reading class and there was also a lab class and an optional conversation class. Tutorials have a hurdle requirement but as I tend to come to all tutes I don’t pay attention to them. The lab class had more reading materials, video, comprehension tests and vocab tests. The vocab tests are harder than last year as they require you to give the verb in the context of a sentence, so with proper conjugation or declination.

The reviewer rated this subject 9/10.

Words of Wisdom. I was really scared of doing a language because I wasn’t sure I could remember everything. I thought it would be really hard. German turned out to be the least stressful of my subjects and one of my highest marks. I almost didn’t do it so I am very glad I did.

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Bookmark and Share Bookmark & Share. Posted Wednesday 31 August, 2011. Updated Wednesday 31 August, 2011.