German Upper Intermediate 4

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

Our Upper Intermediate courses are targeted at those who want to build on what they have learnt in the Intermediate courses to make progress to CEFR B2 level (‘independent user’). As ‘independent users’, students will develop their ability to interact with ease with native speakers and advanced users of the language on a broad range of topics, though you will have less facility when dealing with unfamiliar subjects. They will be able to cope with most of the everyday challenges of living in the country where the language is spoken. They will begin to engage in the cultural life of the country and engage in discussion on current issues.

In choosing where to start (Upper Intermediate 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6), students should consult the information on prerequisites.

The six Upper Intermediate courses (Upper Intermediate 1 to 6), taught over two years, represent a continuation of the Intermediate courses. Students will learn how to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers and how to achieve most goals and express themselves on a range of topics.

By the end of the courses, students will have reached the equivalent of level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions

For further advice on your level and the most appropriate course, please, read the prerequisites or contact languagesforall@ed.ac.uk

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Upper Intermediate 1 is targeted at:

Existing students who have completed all 6 Intermediate courses,
New students who have achieved a Higher or A or AS Level in the language,
New students who, through less formal contact, are able to express themselves in a limited way in familiar situations and to deal in a general way with non-routine information. These learners will be able to deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken, – i.e. those who have reached B1 in the CEFR: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions

Depending on their confidence in their ability to use and understand the language described in the level description for Upper Intermediate, new students may also like to consider joining the courses from Upper Intermediate 2 to 6.

In term 1 we run Upper Intermediate 1 and 4, in term 2 Upper Intermediate 2 and 5, and in term 3 Upper Intermediate 3 and 6.

If you have any queries, please, contact languagesforall@ed.ac.uk

In order to join the Upper Intermediate courses in Arabic students will need knowledge of the scripts of this language i.e. the ability to decipher as well as the ability with some ease to form the characters / letters.

Content of Course

The following will be covered across Upper Intermediate 1 to 6:

Narrative – understanding and telling stories
Debates and discussions on topical issues
Writing - longer texts and genres – correspondence, reports, reviews, etc.
Watching / listening to news broadcasts, documentaries, reports, etc.
Work, professions, job applications
Cultural background: e.g. music, art and museums, social and cultural conventions
Understanding TV dramas, films, etc.
Revision and consolidation of grammar from previous courses
Coverage of all areas of the grammar of the language apart from the more unusual items

The aim is for students to understand others and make themselves understood in these areas. Grammar and vocabulary will be presented and practised in the contexts above.

The above is a sample of the core topics typically covered at Upper Intermediate level and gives an indication of the likely content of the course. The content will vary from language to language.

Teaching method(s)

The emphasis of all of our courses is speaking and listening. The lessons focus on language that is required for communicating in real situations.

The lessons include whole class activities and pair or small group work, role-play, responding to short texts and dialogues and watching video clips. Grammar is introduced in context. More extensive written exercises and reading texts are normally only set as homework.

Learning is assessed informally throughout the course with the teacher providing feedback on practice tasks at the end of the course in revision and tests.

Typically, the primary language used in the class is the language being learnt.

Learning outcomes

By the end of all 6 Upper Intermediate courses students will:

Be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers.
Be able to achieve most goals and express themselves on a range of topics.
Have developed their ability to use grammatical structures and vocabulary to support this.

Sources

Core Readings

Em neu 2008 Hauptkurs – ISBN: 978-319-5016-95-7

Web Sources

Where appropriate web sources will be provided by the tutor.

Class Handouts

Handouts supplementary to the coursebook.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.