The course aims to improve students’ written and oral communication skills and deepen their understanding of the German-speaking culture. The learning path will help students reach the level C1.1 (CEFR). According to the chosen curriculum, students will focus their attention on the specialized translation in the legal/commercial field or in the journalistic one, which requires a developed intercultural competence.
Course Prerequisites
Very good written and oral communication skills in German (CEFR: level B2 - this will be assessed through an entry test) as well as native-level oral and written Italian skills required (CEFR: level C2).
Since students will attend an intensive course, high motivation, commitment to learning and positive attitudes are necessary to achieve the set goals.
Teaching Methods
Practical activities are the key focus of each lesson, in order to help students developing their German language skills for intercultural communication. By working with authentic materials and dealing with current topics, students will be able to analyse critically different kinds of texts and approaches to problems/ situations. Students will be furthermore encouraged to apply what they are learning in realistic contexts which are meaningful and of interest to them, developing plurilingual and pluricultural competences.
Assessment Methods
The final examination is made up of two parts (written and spoken). Students need to pass the written exam first, and then can proceed to the oral exam.
The written part tests the following skills: Listening; Reading; Writing (semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic awareness and knowledge + text production), Translation in both directions.
The oral exam, to be held in German, consists of three tasks: sustained monologue, discussion with the examiner, presentation of a novel.
The final score is given as an average of the scores achieved in the written and in the oral exam.
Further information concerning the examination will be given during the course.
Contents
The course will develop speaking, reading, listening and writing in a practical, (inter)cultural context. The syllabus covers all the components of discourse competence listed in the CEFR.
In the so-called “laboratori” students will develop their translation competence and expertise alongside their linguistic competence. In the curriculum “Traduzione giuridica ed economica” students will train and improve their translation skills. They will translate in both directions specialized texts regarding economic and legal issues. In the curriculum “Mediazione linguistica, culturale e giuridica” students will explore fundamental questions of the German-speaking world and society through the analysis and translation of journalistic texts.
Course Language
German
More information
Students who can’t attend classes are required to agree with the professor on further supplementary reading for the oral exam (email address: chiaramaria.buglioni@uninsubria.it).
