Overview

• General information
• Units of study in German language
• Placement information
• Junior units of study
• Units of study in German literature and culture
• A major in Germanic studies
• Students in BA (Advanced) and B Liberal Studies

The department offers units of study in both the German language and in the culture for which that language is the medium. Language teaching is regarded as a central part of the curriculum and the department endeavours to place all students in a language class that will improve to the maximum their competence in speaking, reading, writing and listening to German. Cultural studies extend across the field of German literature, culture and society in the German-speaking countries.

All students, regardless of their prior experience of the German language, have access to the full range of units of study in German, subject only to normal rules of progression. Junior language units are available at introductory, intermediate and advanced level. Senior language units are available at intermediate and advanced level. Students, whether they come to the department as beginners in the language, or with an HSC in German, or even as native-speakers, can take a major in German and proceed to an honours year and/or postgraduate study.

There are three broad levels of language study: introductory, intermediate and advanced. In all cases, students will be directed by the department as to the appropriate language unit for them to enrol in.

The department's language courses are aligned with the European reference framework (cf. European Language Portfolio of the Council of Europe). Students of each level will reach the equivalent of one of the internationally recognised German certificates, the Zertifikat Deutsch, the Zertifikat Deutsch Plus, the Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung, TestDaF or the Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung.

All students with very little or no experience of the language should enrol in Junior German 1 (GRMN1111). For students who enter Germanic studies at this level and wish to continue with their German language studies, the normal progression would be GRMN1111, GRMN1122, GRMN2611, GRMN2612, GRMN2613, GRMN2614.

Students who completed HSC German Beginners or German Continuers should initially enrol in German 3 (GRMN1211). For students who enter Germanic Studies at this level and wish to continue with their German language studies, the normal progression would be: GRMN1211, GRMN1222, GRMN2613, GRMN2614, GRMN2615.

Students who completed the HSC German Extension Course or the HSC German Continuers Course should initially enrol in the unit of study Junior German 5 (GRMN1311). For students who enter Germanic studies at this level and wish to continue with their German language studies the normal progression would be: GRMN1311, GRMN1322, GRMN2616, GRMN2617, GRMN2618.

In all junior units of study language and cultural content are combined. Students will enrol initially in Semester One in a 6 credit point unit of study at their appropriate level.

Students progressing into senior levels of language study are advised to pre-enrol according to the above progressions; however some variation of enrolment may be required at the commencement of the next semester of study should the department, at its discretion, deem it appropriate. In all cases the department reserves the right to determine the level of senior German language to be taken by a student.

Students who have successfully completed GRMN2614, GRMN2616, GRMN2617 or GRMN2618 may sit for a range of examinations (see above) and thus obtain an internationally recognised certificate of German language proficiency.

Students undertaking senior units of study need to complete 12 credit points of German at junior level (not including GRMN1133), in order to ensure they have a sufficient command of the language. Students lacking the formal prerequisite who nevertheless believe their knowledge of German is sufficient should discuss the matter with the department, when the prerequisite may be waived.

Some senior units of study may be counted towards a major in European Studies or International and Comparative Literary Studies, and in some cases in other interdisciplinary areas of study.

A major comprises both the German language and the culture for which that language is the medium. To obtain a major in German, students must complete 36 senior credit points.

For students coming from Junior German 3 and 4 (intermediate level) and from Junior German 5 and 6, the department advises that 18 credit points must be gained in language units of study and 18 must be gained in non-language units of study.

For students coming from Junior Introductory German 1 and 2 (junior introductory level), the department advises that 24 credit points must be gained in language units of study. Students must also include GRMN2631 Reading Comprehension and Text Study amongst their non-language units of study.

BA Advanced students should identify themselves to the Chair of Department as early as possible. If you already have advanced German language skills, it may be appropriate to enter Senior thematic units in your first year.

Similarly, students in the B Liberal Studies are required to complete 18 senior credit points of language study. Any senior German unit meets the 'language study' requirement, not just the language acquisition units.