l193 Study Guide

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L193 Rundblick: beginners German

L193 Guide


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This publication forms part of the Open University module L193 Rundblick: beginners German. Details of this and other OpenUniversity modules can be obtained from the Student Registration and Enquiry Service, The Open University, PO Box 197, MiltonKeynes MK7 6BJ, United Kingdom (tel. +44 (0)845 300 60 90; email [email protected]).

Alternatively, you may visit the Open University website at www.open.ac.uk where you can learn more about the wide range ofmodules and packs offered at all levels by The Open University.

To purchase a selection of Open University course materials visit www.ouw.co.uk, or contact Open University Worldwide, Walton Hall,Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom, for a brochure (tel. +44 (0)1908 858793; fax +44 (0)1908 858787; email [email protected]).

The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA

First published 2012

Copyright 2012 The Open University

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or utilised in any form or byany means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher or a licencefrom the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. Details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the CopyrightLicensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS (website www.cla.co.uk).

Open University module materials may also be made available in electronic formats for use by students of the University. All rights,including copyright and related rights and database rights, in electronic module materials and their contents are owned by or licensed toThe Open University, or otherwise used by The Open University as permitted by applicable law.

In using electronic module materials and their contents, you agree that your use will be solely for the purposes of following an Open

University course of study or otherwise as licensed by The Open University or its assigns.Except as permitted above you undertake not to copy, store in any medium (including electronic storage or use in a website), distribute,transmit or retransmit, broadcast, modify or show in public such electronic materials in whole or in part without the prior writtenconsent of The Open University or in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Edited, designed and typeset by The Open University

Printed in the United Kingdom by The Charlesworth Group, Wakefield.

SUP 028897

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Contents

1 Introduction 7

1.1 Aims of the module 7

2 Whats in the module 9

3 Module website 113.1 Study planner 11

3.2 Revision weeks 11

3.3 Assessment materials 12

3.4 Resources 12

3.5 Link to online tutorials 13

3.6 News and forums 13

4 Module books 14

4.1 Ubungen 14

4.2 Language 14

4.3 Study skills 15

4.4 Culture 16

4.5 Reflection 16

4.6 Transcripts 16

4.7 Answer key 16

5 Module audio-visual materials 18

6 Module assessment 19

6.1 Elements of assessment 19

6.2 Working with feedback 19

7 Studying the module 21

7.1 Getting started 217.2 Studying the materials 22

7.3 Making the most of your tutor and tutor group 23

7.4 Staying motivated 24

7.5 Future language studies 24

8 Additional resources 25

8.1 Recommended book 25

8.2 External audio-visual and online resources 25

8.3 Additional reading 26

9 Learning outcomes 27

9.1 Knowledge and understanding 279.2 Cognitive skills 27

9.3 Key skills 28

9.4 Practical and/or professional skills 28

Acknowledgement 29


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L193 Team

Module teamCarolyn Batstone (academic; author, L193 Guide)

Sue Brennan (secretary)

Nicky Johnson (secretary)

Tim Jilg (academic; author, L193 Guide)

Ursula Lanvers (academic)

Jeannie McNeill (curriculum manager)

Marn Oredein (secretary)

Klaus-Dieter Rossade (academic)

Margaret Southgate (academic)

Ursula Stickler (academic; team chair)

Sylvia Warnecke (academic)

Consultant website authorsElisabeth Clifford

Elke St John

Production team

Mandy Anton (graphics media developer)

Andy Braidley (media developer)

Carole Brown (sound and vision assistant)

Gillian alayan (media project manager)

Angela Davies (media assistant)

Jane Docwra (faculty production manager)

Kim Dulson (licensing and acquisitions assistant)

Peter Finn (freelance editor)

Lizzie Gray (sound and vision producer)

Elaine Haviland (editorial media developer)

Cayra Jones (licensing and acquisitions assistant)

Katie Lewis (freelance editor)

Neil Mitchell (graphics media developer)

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Nina Timmer (editorial media developer)

Shasha Wang (media assistant)

Susan Lowe (media project manager)

Video material produced by Salon Deluxe for The Open University. Original

L193 audio and video material compiled and produced by the BBC.

Critical readersChristine Bohlander

Elizabeth Erling

Susan Kotschi

Eddie Lawler

Frank Monaghan

Christopher Niblett

Eva Staiger

External assessorGudrun Myers (Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University)

Special thanksThe module team acknowledges the authors of and contributors to the first

edition of this module.

The Open University would like to thank all those who feature in the audio

and video material.

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1 Introduction

Welcome to L193 Rundblick, the Open Universitys beginners module inGerman.

The name of the module, Rundblick, means panorama. This Guide aims tosupport your study of Rundblick and to help you make the most of themodule. In this guide, you will find information about the various elements

that make up the module, the main features of the materials and how you will

be assessed during the module. You will also find advice about the most

efficient ways to use the materials, how to organise your time and how to take

advantage of the support offered by your tutor and your tutor group.

We recommend that you read this guide before you start your studies.

1.1 Aims of the moduleL193 Rundblick assumes no previous knowledge of German. Support for yourstudies will therefore be provided in English, as necessary.

The module materials give you opportunities to develop your ability to

understand German in a range of day-to-day situations, and then to speak and

write it in order to communicate effectively when visiting, working in or

living in a German-speaking environment.

Learning to use another language involves acquiring the four skills of

speaking, listening, reading and writing. Rundblick allows you to practisethose skills, and offers a variety of activities and topics to cater to different

learning needs and interests. The module aims to develop:

. your ability to speak sufficient German to handle a variety of day-to-day

situations

. your ability to understand the gist and extract the information you need

when listening to spoken German in these situations

. your ability to understand the gist and extract the information you need

when reading a variety of short texts in German, e.g. letters, adverts,

brochures

. your ability to write simple notes, messages and descriptions in German

. your knowledge and understanding of the basic structure of the German

language

. your awareness of culture and diversity in German-speaking countries

. your study skills which enhance your language learning

. your ability to monitor and evaluate your progress, through revision andfeedback

. your ability to reflect on your learning and become an independent

language learner.

On completing the module you will have achieved a level of language

proficiency in German equivalent to A2 in the Council of Europes Common

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European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which constitutes a

sound basis for higher study.

You will find full details of the expected learning outcomes for Rundblick inSection 9 of this Guide.

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2 Whats in the module

Rundblick makes use of a variety of media, including a website, books andaudio recordings. Other important features of the module include online tools

and activities to help you revise each unit, as well as tutorial support and

regular assessment.

The various elements that make up the module are illustrated in the diagram

below. It is important that you familiarise yourself with all the elements of the

module.

L193 Guide

Books

L193 website

Your tutor and

tutor group

Online revision

activities

The OU and the OU

learning communityAssessment

Audio

resources

The different elements of Rundblick comprise:

. a module website

. three books

. audio-visual materials

. assessment materials

. tutor and peer support.

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Rundblick is divided into 11 units. Each unit constitutes four weeks of study;in the first three weeks you will use the module books and audio materials

and in the fourth week you will focus on the online revision materials.

Rundblick is spread over 44 weeks of study, and while every student isdifferent and different students will be able to devote varying amounts of time

to their studies, the suggested average is about seven hours of study per week.

This includes study of the materials provided, revision, independent study andtime to complete assessment tasks, including preparation for your end-of-

module assessment (see Section 6.1.3).

Rundblick involves three different types of study, all of which are importantfor your development:

. individual study (using the books, audio recordings, online materials and

other resources that interest you)

. study with your tutor (either face-to-face or online)

. study with other students (taking part in tutorials and self-help groups).

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3 Module website

In studying this module, you will use a number of online tools, activities and

resources to collaborate with your tutor and other students and also to

consolidate and complement what you learn from the books and audio

recordings. All the tools and resources that you will use, as well as advice on

how to use them, can be accessed on the module website; material accessiblein this way includes electronic versions of the module books, audio and video

files and assessment materials.

3.1 Study plannerAt the heart of the module website is the interactive study planner. Here you

will find a week-by-week schedule for each unit. Three weeks of study, based

on print and audio, are followed by one week of online revision activities.

The interactive study planner allows you to mark activities you have

completed by ticking a tick box. A printable version of the study planner is

also available.

Assessment tasks are also scheduled into the weekly study planner. The study

planner provides information about the cut-off dates by which you must

complete and submit your assignments, whether the latter are iCMAs

(interactive computer-marked assignments, used to test reading and listening

skills), or TMAs (tutor-marked assignments, for spoken and written language).

We recommend that you consult the study planner at least once a week to

check your progress.

3.2 Revision weeksEach unit has a revision week, including a revision checklist and a series of

online activities designed to revise key points that you have learnt in the unitand to further develop listening, reading and speaking skills.

The revision checklist summarises the key points covered in the unit and

directs you to elements in the books that can help you go over any points that

you are unsure about.

The online activities are divided into: language practice, focusing on grammar,

functions, vocabulary and structures covered in the unit; reading practice and

listening practice (based on audio and video materials), helping to develop and

evaluate how much you can understand of the written and spoken language;

and speaking practice, consisting of a variety of activities such as

pronunciation exercises and prompted dialogues in which you are providedwith short audio prompts to which you record replies using built-in audio

recording software. A playback button enables you to listen to your answers,

which you can compare with the model answers provided.

Even if you feel confident on all the points that you have covered in the unit,

we highly recommend that you regularly complete all of the revision

activities, as this will help you to consolidate your learning.

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3.3 Assessment materialsThe website also contains an assessment resources section where you can find

the assessment guide, the links to the iCMAs, the TMAs, the EMA and other

files related to assessment. You will also find advice on how to prepare and

submit your assignments electronically in this section.

3.4 ResourcesA variety of resources is available on the module website to help you with

your study of Rundblick.

3.4.1 Working with computers

On the module website, you will find help on using your computer during

your studies, including documents on how to produce special or accented

characters.

3.4.2 Pronunciation guide

In the pronunciation guide you will find recordings of the sounds of the

language and examples of how they are pronounced in words to help with

your pronunciation of German.

3.4.3 Online study skills

On the module website, you will find a set of activities to develop your online

study skills for learning a language, such as using online dictionaries or doing

web searches.

3.4.4 Library

The Library resources area contains several useful links. There is a link to

the OU Library, which offers a range of books, e-books, and other electronic

resources, such as the online Oxford English Dictionary, to help you with yourstudies. There are also links to external resources, including newspapers and

online cultural and language websites. Have a browse around.

3.4.5 Flashcard maker

Flashcards are study tools that can help you memorise phrases, words or facts.

You can create your own flashcards through the link to the OU flashcard

maker and share the sets that you make with other students. You will find

further advice about how to create and usefl

ashcards on the module website.

3.4.6 Index

The index enables you to locate information easily in the module books and

on the website. The index includes all the language points, cultural

information and study skills covered in Rundblick.

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3.5 Link to online tutorialsSome of the tutorials for this module will take place online, using a

conferencing tool which enables you to talk to and work with other students

in your tutorial group in real time. You can access this tool and instructions

about how to use it via the module website. Between your tutorial sessions

you will be able to use the tool in your own time to work online with other

students to practise particular points or to prepare an activity for the nexttutorial. The link to your online tutorial area is available from the website.

3.6 News and forumsThere is a news section on the module website, where the module team posts

general news and announcements. There is also a forum open to every student

and tutor on the module. You are also provided with a tutor group forum for

communicating with your tutor and the rest of your tutor group. You are

encouraged to use the forums to post questions, exchange views and share

experiences about your study of Rundblick.

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4 Module books

Each book is divided into chapters (Kapitel). Each Kapitel is divided intosections (each called a Lernziel, learning goal); each Lernziel containsactivities (bungen) covering the four language skills (speaking, listening,reading and writing), and also contains language, study-skills, culture and

reflection boxes.

4.1 UbungenThe bungen are based on written or audio materials. Some of these materialsare scripted for the level of German you are at. Others are real they were

not created specifically for language learners, but they are presented in the

bungen in such a way as to help you learn to understand authentic writtenand spoken German. The written texts provide examples of a variety of text

types, including emails and letters as well as brochures and websites. The

audio materials mainly comprise recordings of a number of people from

various German-speaking countries and regions. Each track is indicated by an

audio icon next to the corresponding activity. The tracks appear in a list

on the website.

The bungen allow you to understand and work with the scripted andauthentic reading, listening and speaking materials. bungen help you learnnew language structures and grammar, and also allow you to practice the

language points and vocabulary you learn in each Kapitel. Repeating andpractising what you have already learnt helps you to remember these things

better.

4.2 Language

4.2.1 Language functions and grammarThe language boxes (in purple) focus on language structures. These boxes

include all the information on language functions and grammar you need to

learn in order to complete this module.

Each Lernziel teaches a specific language function. Language functions relateto the kind of language you need in order to say or write something, not just

grammatical structures. For example, greeting people is a language function,

and to learn how to greet people in German you need to learn a range of

vocabulary and phrases along with some important structures. Another

example of a language functions is: Saying where someone comes from,

which you learn in Kapitel 1. You learn the words and phrases you need (suchas to come from, place names, you) as well as the sentence structures youneed in order to ask questions and say where you and other people come

from.

In language boxes that do specifically focus on grammar, explanations are

kept simple, and whenever necessary examples are given, accompanied by a

translation in English, in order to illustrate the grammatical or language points

under discussion. While you can always refer to the recommended book (see

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Section 8.1) for additional detail, bear in mind that the explanations provided

in the materials for this beginners module should be enough to let you

understand and master the language points you need.

A brief overview of key language-function and grammar points is provided on

the module website.

4.2.2 VocabularyLearning vocabulary is an essential part of learning a new language.

Vocabulary is introduced in several different ways.

. Through the activities: the reading and listening texts provide an important

source of vocabulary. You can see words and phrases used in context. The

questions will help you to understand what you are listening to and

reading.

. In the Sprachfhrer: here you often find phrases rather than individualwords. These phrasebook-style entries are relevant to the topic or function

taught. They can be a useful starting point for vocabulary learning and

revision. All the Sprachfhrer entries for each Kapitel are also recorded inone track at the end of that Kapitel. Listening to and repeating these

phrases and words can help you improve your pronunciation.

. In the margins: here you can often find items of vocabulary provided

which help you to understand what you are reading or hearing without

having to look up everything in a dictionary. This vocabulary is provided

mainly to help you understand the particular material you are reading or

listening to. It is not necessarily language you will need to learn actively.

Sometimes when new structures are presented, useful phrases are also given

within a language box. You can re-use these phrases in the activities and add

them to your own vocabulary list.

Some of the study-skills boxes (see Section 4.3, next) suggest ways to helpyou learn vocabulary. We recommend that you decide for yourself what

language you will want to learn to use, and so make your own vocabulary list

for each Kapitel. You wont need or be able to learn all the new vocabularyyou encounter in the module. You will certainly wish to select whatever

language is useful to you or whatever is best linked to the topics and/or

materials.

4.3 Study skillsThe study skills boxes (in green) offer useful information on how to learn

German. They are important because they help you understand how to learn a

language effectively. For example, some study-skills boxes explain how to

improve your pronunciation and intonation. These boxes are linked to

activities which are based on audio recordings for pronunciation activities.

You can also use the pronunciation guide available on the website to do

further practice to improve your pronunciation.

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4.4 CultureLearning a language goes beyond the acquisition of the four skills of

speaking, listening, reading and writing. You also learn about the cultural

practices of the speakers of that language. As you learn about another culture,

you gain a new awareness of your own culture. The authentic written and

audio materials, along with the culture boxes (in pink), give you an

opportunity to learn more about the culture of German-speaking communities.The culture boxes often give additional information on topics covered in the

Lernziele within which the boxes appear.

4.5 ReflectionIn addition to culture boxes, you will also see reflection boxes identified by

an icon . These encourage you to apply any new information you have

gained to your personal context. For example, a reflection box may ask you to

reflect on possible differences and similarities between cultural practices

such as social customs in German-speaking communities and where you

come from. These reflection boxes can help you become aware of attitudes

and preconceptions you may have. There are no model answers for these

questions; your own thoughts are all that is needed as you consider some of

the issues that arise during your study of a different speech-community and its

culture.

4.6 TranscriptsTranscripts of all audio recordings are provided at the back of each module

book, in the Transkripte sections. You will probably find the transcripts aninvaluable resource as you study Rundblick, but always try to listen to theaudio recordings on their own first. If you automatically read the transcript the

very first time you listen to a recording, you will lose the opportunity to checkhow much of the language you can understand. A better learning strategy is

only to look at transcripts at the end of an exercise for checking answers or

for practising your pronunciation by reading along with the transcript while

listening to the audio recording.

4.7 Answer keyThe answer key, Lsungen, provides you with answers to the activities. Thereare various ways of working with the answers provided in the Lsungen. Youmight like to check answers after each activity, orfinish a group of activities

and then check the answers to them all in one go.

Some activities have answers that are either right or wrong. Others have open-

ended answers. Both sorts of answer can let you work out how well you have

completed a task.

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Your spoken or written answers do not need to be identical to the model

answers. Sometimes you will find alternative ways of expressing yourself that

are equally appropriate. It is always worth doing the more open-ended

questions and then comparing what you have written or said with the answers

provided. You can check to see if you have the same content points. You can

see if you have used similar words and phrases. You might like to note down

some of the ways things are written or said in the Lsungen and see if you

can use these expressions in your own German.

Model answers to speaking tasks are provided on audio recordings where

appropriate; there are also written transcripts.

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5 Module audio-visual materials

The module provides you with many audio recordings. Some of these are

scripted and some are authentic. Audio recordings include dialogues, short

monologues and pronunciation activities. Some audio recordings are very

short, others are longer. Longer recordings may present more information on a

specific cultural or other topic. They allow you to get used to listening tolonger stretches of spoken German.

Some audio recordings form part of a culture box but most frequently they are

part of activities, and you use them to practise listening and speaking skills.

Some listening activities include warm-ups which will help you to

understand better what you are about to listen to. Other audio activities have

questions for you to answer after listening to the recording, and are designed

to help you understand what you have heard. Many of the audio recordings

help you to develop your speaking skills in German. You might be asked to

repeat what you hear, to use prompts to give information or to give a short

spoken presentation.

For each Kapitel there are audio and video materials on the website. Theseprovide a basis for listening and speaking revision. There are listening,

speaking and pronunciation exercises, as well as authentic video materials and

podcasts.

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6 Module assessment

Regular assessment is important in language learning to help you to evaluate

your progress.

6.1 Elements of assessmentThe Rundblick module includes three elements of assessment: TMAs, iCMAsand an EMA. For further information on these, please refer to the assessment

guide which is available on the module website.

6.1.1 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)

At intervals during the year you will need to complete and submit four tutor-

marked assignments (TMAs). The TMAs are designed to help you pace your

study throughout the year. The TMAs count towards your final module result,

and test your speaking and writing skills. Along with the results of your

TMA, your tutor will provide feedback on your work (see Section 6.2 for

information on how to work with your feedback).

6.1.2 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)

You will need to complete four formative iCMAs. The iCMAs test the skills

of listening and reading. They are compulsory: you must submit these

assessments electronically to be able to pass the module, but the marks from

these iCMAs will not count towards yourfinal module result. You will receive

instantaneous feedback after completion.

6.1.3 End-of-module assessment (EMA)

The end-of-module assessment is a written test of your written German, basedon what you have learnt across all units of the module. It is compulsory and

counts towards yourfinal module result.

6.2 Working with feedbackProviding feedback on your assignments is a vital part of your tutors role. As

well as indicating your overall strengths and weaknesses, your tutor will

suggest priority areas for you to work on and ways to improve your

performance. The latter may take the form of specific advice on language, or

on study skills such as how to use your dictionary, check your work or take

notes more effectively. In addition to providing written comments, your tutor

will record spoken feedback on your speaking assignments to help you withpronunciation and fluency.

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Ways to make the most of this feedback include the following:

. When you submit your assignment, let your tutor know which particular

aspects of the task you have been concentrating on (your pronunciation,

for example), what you feel has gone well and where you have

encountered difficulties. Your tutor will then be able to respond to these

points specifically.

.

When you receive your tutors feedback, make the time to go over it

carefully. Make a note of his or her suggestions for future reference. Try to

correct or improve your work and decide what your priorities should be as

you work towards your next assignment.

. Contact your tutor if you have any questions about his or her feedback, or

if you are unsure about any aspect of your studies.

. When you are preparing for a new assignment, look at the feedback you

received for previous assignments and see if that could help you with your

current task.

. Feedback on your iCMAs will be generated instantaneously, and you will

be given advice on how to improve your performance.

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7 Studying the module

As you have seen, Rundblick offers a comprehensive range of materials andactivities which are designed to enable everyone to achieve the modules

intended learning outcomes. How you achieve these outcomes is largely up to

you. People come to the module with different experiences of learning

languages, different commitments outside the module and differing personalgoals or reasons for studying the module. Therefore, no two people will tackle

the module in the same way.

Studying a language at a distance is both challenging and rewarding. Well be

there to support you, of course, but much of the time you ll be working on

your own, so youll need to stay motivated, focused and determined to

complete your course of study. As well as learning a language, you ll gain a

whole range of vital skills, including using online environments, finding and

analysing information, and managing yourself.

As an OU student you will be allocated a personal tutor who will support

your study of the module materials. The name and contact details of your

personal tutor will be visible to you on StudentHome, and she or he willnormally get in touch with you at the start of the module.

It is your allocated tutor who will mark and give feedback on your

assignments and run regular tutorials for you and the other students in your

tutor group. A timetable for the tutorials will be available to you at the start of

the module. There will normally be around 20 students in your tutor group.

Advice about making the most of your tutor and tutor group is given in

Section 7.3 below.

The OU offers further support in a range of areas, including subject-related,

computer and careers advice. You can find more details about everything the

OU has to offer from your OU centre or through the OU website.

7.1 Getting startedAs soon as you receive the materials and have gained access to the module

website, we strongly encourage you to start familiarising yourself with the

module materials, including this guide and the module website. Familiarising

yourself with the materials will help you to find specific information when

you need it, and to navigate your way through the module.

Check that you have the correct electronic equipment as specified in the

module description and on the website. Install any new software you will need

on your computer, and familiarise yourself with the OUs conferencingsoftware. Guidance on IT-related matters is given on the module website (see

Section 3.4.1). The OU computing helpdesk should be able to provide

assistance in case of any problems or queries.

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We recommend that you follow the interactive study planner on the website

(see Section 3.1). This tells you which Kapitel you should be working on andwhen your assignments are due. The number of Lernziele varies from oneKapitel to another. At the start of each new Kapitel, we recommend that youwork out how many Lernziele you will need to study each week in order tostudy everything you need for that month.

The study planner also indicates points in the module where time has been setaside for you to take a break from studying. Note, however, that you do not

have to take breaks during the weeks specified in the calendar; you might

instead choose to work through them and take your breaks at different times.

Before you start studying Rundblick, you should think about:

. Your time: how you are going to manage your study time in relation to all

your other commitments. Work out the best study slots for you and how

you will work around family and friends demands. Think about when

your low- and high-concentration periods are, and how you will establish

priorities and make choices with regard to your studies when you have to.

. Your study environment: where you are going to study and how you are

going to organise the various materials and documents you will need.

. Your strengths and weaknesses: what you usually do well and what you

often find difficult; time your activities accordingly.

. Your goals: many people set themselves goals as they study. You may find

it useful to work out what you are trying to achieve what you hope to

get out of your language learning. Rundblick is just the first step you cantake in learning German. How far you want to take your language learning

depends entirely on you and on your personal circumstances particularly

relating to the time you have available, but also how much access you

have to resources and facilities. Set yourself some realistic and achievable

goals.

. Your preferred methods of learning: discover how you best rememberthings. You may prefer to see everything written down, or you may prefer

to hear the language. Perhaps you like to analyse the different elements of

the language or maybe you like to hear and use the language in context. It

is useful to know which works best for you, as this will help you define

your approach to learning and study more efficiently.

More opportunities for reflecting on your own study methods are provided for

you in the module books.

7.2 Studying the materials

These tips are not comprehensive, but they should help you to startdeveloping study skills.

. Study a little and often. Learning a language is a cumulative process, so

studying for short periods of time at regular intervals will benefit you more

than cramming trying to learn a lot at one time. Revising what you

have already studied also helps to consolidate your knowledge of the

language and save you time for the preparation of the assessment.

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. Try to attend tutorials, both online and face-to-face, as often as possible.

Your tutor is there to help you, and practising the language in the

relatively safe environment of the tutorial will prepare you to interact with

fluent speakers of German.

. Make use of the forums on the website. This, along with participating in

tutorials, will let you get to know others who are studying on the module

and share any problems you might encounter. You will more than likely

find that others are struggling with the same issues as you, allowing you to

solve any problems together and letting you know that you are not alone.

. Be positive and patient. Learning a language takes time. You will not

always get it right first time in fact, making mistakes is part of the

language-learning process. You might reach a point where you feel you are

not making any progress. If this happens, look back at what you have

learnt since the beginning of the module and take heart that you will

progress further.

. Make notes regularly. Doing this can help you reflect on your learning and

your progress. Reflection is an important part of becoming an independent

learner. You should pause from time to time and take stock of what you

have learnt. This is particularly important during preparation for yourassessment.

. Monitor your progress. Use a learning diary or log to keep a record of

your achievements. Make notes of your tutors feedback and things you

need to do for your next assessment. Use the revision activities and the

checklists of key learning points to monitor your progress.

7.3 Making the most of your tutor and tutorgroupYour tutor not only marks and gives feedback on assignments and runs

tutorials for your group, but will also be available to help between tutorials. If

you have questions about a particular learning point, the module material, the

assignments or ways of studying the language, you should contact your tutor.

Your tutor will usually tell you at the start of the module when he or she is

available to take OU phone calls and how often he or she will read and

respond to email queries.

Tutorial arrangements may differ depending on local circumstances, but most

tutor groups will have online tutorials and a number of face-to-face or

telephone-conference tutorials. Although participating in tutorials is not

compulsory, they offer an excellent opportunity for you to practise speaking

with other students and your tutor and to gain advice on and practice in

certain study and learning skills. Tutorials are invaluable for sharing learningexperiences and information with other learners. If for any reason it is

impossible for you to attend tutorials, do let your tutor know. Your

assignments are marked by your allocated group tutor, but in fact you may

attend tutorials conducted by any tutor teaching on the module for example,

if these are at a more convenient time for you. In such cases it is usual to

contact both tutors in advance.

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Between tutorials, you should try to keep in touch with other students, both to

practise your German and to give and receive support and encouragement.

You might arrange to meet online between tutorials to practise speaking.

7.4 Staying motivatedMotivation is one of the keys to successful language learning and you will

need to think about what keeps you personally on track.

Although it may seem hard to imagine this now, you may find that during the

module there are times when you feel discouraged, especially if progress

appears slow. This certainly can happen from time to time when you are

learning a new language. If it does happen, its a good idea to look back on

your goals and objectives and remind yourself of just how much progress you

have made. Breaking down your plan for achieving goals into smaller steps

can also help you stay motivated.

Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. Help and support are

always available so if you are having difficulties, let us know. You can get

individual help from your tutor if you get

stuck

or have any questions aboutthe module material or assignments. Do contact your tutor, or the OU, if you

fall behind in your studies or if you feel you are struggling. Don t let yourself

be discouraged by practical problems, by IT-related issues, or by workload.

The other students on the module are another potential source of support.

Your family, friends, work colleagues or neighbours may also be able to help

you in a variety of ways.

7.5 Future language studiesL193 Rundblick is a Level 1 module. Level 1 modules provide core subjectknowledge and language skills, as well as the study skills needed for both

higher education and distance learning. After you complete L193 Rundblick,you might want to continue your studies with the OUs intermediate, upper-

intermediate and advanced German modules. The OU offers a range of

qualifications from certificates and diplomas through to degrees for example,

the BA (Hons) Language Studies. For further information about modules and

qualifications, please visit the Study at the OU webpage.

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8 Additional resources

Although the module materials contain everything you need to complete

Rundblick successfully, you may at some stage wish to broaden your studiesor explore in more detail aspects of the module that particularly interest you.

If so, you may find some of the resources below useful.

Note that the module team keeps lists of recommended books and other

material under review. Recommendations may change as new material is

published and existing material is revised.

8.1 Recommended bookHarperCollins (2010) Collins German Dictionary and Grammar, 6th edn,Glasgow: HarperCollins.

ISBN: 978-0-00-732316-6

8.2 External audio-visual and online resourcesLanguage learning can be greatly enhanced by what you do beyond your

study of the materials.

You can take advantage of real-life resources that are available to you. The

internet gives you easy access to authentic German without having to travel to

a German-speaking country or region. For example, the BBC website

www.bbc.co.uk provides language-learning materials. If you feel confident

watching television or listening to the radio in German, you might like to

investigate some of the many resources that are easily accessible.

Television channels accessible on the internet include:

www.zdf.de www.ard.de www.orf.at www.sf.tv

You can access information about Germany relevant to language learners, in a

range of media formats, via German state radio, Deutsche Welle: www.dw.de

Certain websites offer information that is up-to-date and reliable. The sites

may be available in German and in English. Here are a few you might like to

investigate:

www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de offers information about aspects of life in

modern Germany

www.goethe.de/ges/mol offers information about current trends, cities and

regions, youth, and much more

www.austria.info/at is an online tourist guide to Austria

www.swissworld.org/de/ offers information about modern Switzerland,

including So lebt die Schweiz, leisure and the environment

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8.3 Additional readingIf you are interested in further developing your awareness of German-speaking

countries and cultures, you might try some of these factual books:

. Kitchen, Martin (2012) A History of Modern Germany: 1800 to thePresent, Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell.Provides an overview of different phases of modern German history.

. Anderson, Jeffrey J. and Langenbacher, Eric (2010) From the Bonn to theBerlin Republic: Germany at the Twentieth Anniversary of Reunification,New York/Oxford: Berghahn Books.

A collection of academic essays.

. Beller, Steven (2006) A Concise History of Austria, Cambridge, CambridgeUniversity Press.

An overview of Austrian history.

. Bernasconi, Moreno (2006) Switzerland: Places and History, Vercelli(Italy), White Star.

Written by a Swiss journalist, this book includes photographs.

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9 Learning outcomes

By the time you have completed your study of Rundblick you should be ableto do all the things listed below.

9.1 Knowledge and understanding. Communicate with competent non-native or native speakers of German in

a limited range of predictable and simple contexts relating to everyday

situations.

. Understand and use simple German grammatical structures (for example,

questions and statements, ways of expressing the past, present and

imminent future), and high-frequency German vocabulary (for example,

terms for everyday objects and events).

. Recognise and use German phrases in formal and informal styles of

communication, and use polite forms of address and greetings, as well as

basic means of expressing gratitude, regret and apology.

. Recognise and reproduce the pronunciation of German sufficiently wellthat you avoid being misunderstood.

. Show intercultural communicative competence, including a reasoned

awareness and critical understanding of German-speaking cultures and

societies, with the ability to describe, analyse and evaluate the similarities

and dissimilarities between those cultures and societies and your own.

9.2 Cognitive skills. Show that you can understand main points in short, clear, simple messages

and basic spoken information relating to areas of most immediate personal

relevance (for example, basic personal and family information,

employment, daily activities) in conversation with a competent non-native

or native speaker of German.

. Use strategies to gain a better understanding of spoken German, such as

learning to ask for clarification and gleaning meaning from context.

. Show that you can read and understand very short, simple texts written in

German, and that you can find specific, predictable information in written

texts relating to everyday situations.

. Use your knowledge of German sentence structures and reading skills and

strategies to cope with texts which include some language structures and

vocabulary beyond your current level.

.

Be able to talk in simple terms, with a certain degree of confidence andinitiative, on familiar topics and activities relating to areas of immediate

concern.

. With the help of brief notes, give short, straightforward presentations on

everyday issues.

. Write simple notes and messages about everyday matters and needs and

uncomplicated personal letters (for example, a thank-you letter), and

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describe daily activities relating to work or leisure, using grammatically

simple phrases and sentences with a degree of accuracy.

9.3 Key skills. Use basic standard oral and written forms of communication in everyday

or familiar situations, showing that you are aware of your messages

purpose and of your intended audience.. Use some basic strategies to ensure that you communicate successfully (for

example, in thanking and apologising).

. Participate in teamwork and develop your problem-solving abilities

through language activities that require this mode of working.

. Extract and use very simple numerical data (in timetables, receipts, bills,

etc.) from text and recordings.

. Use self-assessment strategies to check your own progress and

performance.

9.4 Practical and/or professional skills. Show that you can use very simple written, visual and recorded texts in

German (for example, in order to make a very short presentation).

. Show that you can edit and correct your own work.

. Show that you can work on your own towards your aims and objectives in

a disciplined way.

. Show that you can use learning aids successfully (for example, bilingual

dictionaries, grammar books, and communication tools such as recordings

and conferencing and ICT-based facilities).

. Show that you can carry out certain job-related tasks in German, by letter,

telephone or email.

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AcknowledgementGrateful acknowledgement is made to the following source:

Cover photo: Cubolimages srl/Alamy.

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Documents

l193 Study Guide