BEGINNING
GERMAN I+

GER 111

Willkommen!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to you and congratulate you on learning a foreign language! Just by enrolling in this class, you have demonstrated a rare willingness to learn, unlearn and relearn something taken far too often for granted in this country—language itself. This course is designed for students who have not previously studied German. We will explore German-speaking cultures and learn to write, read, hear and speak the German language. By the end of the semester, you will be able to understand simple sentences and frequently-used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. basic personal and family information, hobbies, abilities, local geography, shopping, travel, employment, etc.). You will also learn how to respond appropriately to basic questions and elicit information from a variety of basic German language texts. The course will cover 4 chapters of the main textbook Impuls Deutsch 1.

Incentive Credits for German at High School

If you have taken German at high school, please ask your instructor to connect you to the Course Coordinator for a correct placement based on your current skills and to learn more about the Foreign Language Incentive Program. You may be able to receive free credits if you join a higher course than GER 101. For example, students who took level one of German at high school and sign up and pass GER 102 as their first course, may get free incentive credits for GER 101, without taking GER 101.

Class Meets

MATERIALS

Required Books

This course uses the Blended Bundle of the textbook series Impuls Deutsch 1 - Second Edition.

Please purchase your "12-Month Student Blended Bundle" at the URI Campus Store (Memorial Union, 50 Lower College Rd). While the textbook is also available on the publisher website (https://klettwl.com/store/product/impuls-deutsch-1-2nd-ed-12-month-student-bundle-the-kwl-hub), it's significantly more beneficial for you to have a print textbook on hand during the initial two weeks of classes, rather than waiting for online orders to arrive.

The Blended Bundle includes the print version of the In-Class Book MACHEN and online access (12 months, via the KWL Hub) for both the Before-Class Book LERNEN and the After-Class Book ZEIGEN.

SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY

Brightspace. This course relies heavily on Brightspace, accessible via https://brightspace.uri.edu/ using your eCampus ID and password. There you will find additional course information, handouts, announcements, event schedules (e.g., video evenings), and other resources. Please note that the Brightspace course will not appear in the list of courses for this semester. We recommend bookmarking it.

KWL Hub. On Brightspace, you will also find the link to register for the KWL Hub where most of our preparatory and post preparatory work for our class will be done (see "Homework in the Flipped Classroom" below). In order to register for the KWL Hub, you need to follow the directions listed under "Start Here" on Brightspace.

Lingco. All vocabulary sets will be on Lingco. In order for you instructor to see your progress (and for your to receive credit), you need to join the Lingco class created by your instructor. Please follow the directions listed under "Start Here" on Brightspace to join the class.

To complete some of your homework assignments, you will need access to:

Microphone and Camera (for recording and video assignments)
Speakers (for listening comprehension assignments)
Presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc. - free for all URI students)
Word processing software (Word, Google Docs, etc. - free for all URI students)
Google Chrome (works best with the homework platforms)
Internet access

To be successful in this course, you will need the following technical skills:

Using presentation programs
Using email with attachments
Saving files in commonly used word processing program formats
Copying and pasting text, graphics, or hyperlinks
Working within two or more browser windows simultaneously
Opening and accessing PDF files

To complete the quizzes (Check-ins and final vocab quiz), you will need to bring a computer to class (tablets are not recommended). If this could pose an issue, please let your instructor know in advance of the quiz so that alternative options can be worked out.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Course Outcomes

Learners are expected to reach a level of “Novice High” or “Intermediate Low” on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale or the “A1” Level delineated in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) by the end of their first year of German. This is what you will be able to do at the end of the first semester:

Presentational Speaking and Writing: You can introduce yourself and others using practiced or memorized words and phrases; present about important people in your life (such as friends and family), and their relationships to you; identify and name pieces of clothing, and describe what you and others wear; express likes and dislikes about clothing choices; describe your daily routine; compile grocery lists based on recipes; give others directions based on simple recipes; describe your home and express preferences about your ideal housing situation, describe selected works of art in simple language; write short texts (for example, a simple postcard, a general description of your apartment / home, and a simple poem); give short presentations based on information gathered in interpersonal conversations.

Interpretive Listening and Reading: You can understand and express basic formal and informal greetings in spontaneous spoken conversations; read and interpret timetables for trains and other forms of transportation; follow directions from a recipe; read and interpret food labels; gather food options in German-speaking cities through websites like Yelp; gather the key information from authentic texts (for example about the labeling of food items, basic principles of molecular cuisine, or health effects certain foods have); read simple statistics (for example about housing preferences in Europe and the U.S.); read basic chemical and mathematical formulas.

Interpersonal Speaking and Writing: You can to interact in a simple way; ask and answer questions about personal information such as name, age, height and occupation, where you live, people you know and things you have; exchange preferences with others about likes and dislikes; talk about your daily routine and ask others what they do on a normal day at college; talk about and compare different clothing options, talk about the weather and meteorological trends; make simple, straightforward transactions (i.e. ordering food in restaurants and cafés, shop for groceries, produce, vegetables, etc. in different types of stores); talk about potential dangers in your house, and how to avoid them; exchange simple technical information

General Education Student Learning Outcomes

This course satisfies the requirements for two Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) in the General Education Program:

Humanities Knowledge Area (Student Learning Outcome A3, Full Coverage)

You will be able to identify facts, vocabulary, definitions, terms, concepts necessary for developing basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, interacting and writing in German.
You will be able to recognize concepts and tools relevant to read, write and communicate effectively and appropriately in German at an elementary level.
You will be able to ask questions relevant to the analysis and comprehension of a range of elementary written and spoken authentic German texts, dialogues, and other communications.
You will be able to collect information relevant to reading and writing elementary German texts – e.g. use of glossaries, dictionaries, authentic language materials and reference grammars.
You will be able to analyze the grammar and syntax of elementary German texts and communications to arrive at a basic understanding thereof.

Global Responsibilities (Student Learning Outcome C2, Full Coverage)

You will develop a sense of Global Identity and Global Self-Awareness as you explore, understand, and appreciate the cultures of German-speaking peoples and their contributions to an interdependent and multicultural global society.
You will gain a sense of the importance of Global Communication and the importance of Global Language as a conveyor of cultural values, thought and expression as you create, process, and negotiate meaning in German.
You will gain an understanding of the Global Impact of Perspective Taking by examining the cultural values and norms revealed in traditional cultural activities and experiences of German-speaking countries and contemporary features of modern German culture.

ASSIGNMENTS

This course is setup as a flipped classroom with three parts:

LERNEN (studying, learning, preparing) – at home

WHAT: The LERNEN activities on the KWL Hub and the vocabulary sets on Lingco will help you learn and practice new structures and vocabulary at your own pace prior to coming to class. Everything that follows depends on this step, so you must commit to independent study and preparation before every class.

WHEN: The LERNEN activities and Lingco vocabulary sets are always due at the beginning of the class that you are preparing for. For example: If we are covering Unit 19 next time in class, do all assigned LERNEN activities and study the vocabulary for Unit 19 before that class. You are not allowed to hand in LERNEN assignments late. If due date extensions become warranted because of illness or other emergency circumstances, please reach out to your instructor as soon as you can and before the due date.

POINTS: You are only practicing at this point, so not everything has to be 100% accurate on the first try. Therefore, you have up to five attempts for most activities in LERNEN. In order to receive 100% for your vocab sets, you have to "learn all items". Feel free to "review" as often as you like! Your grades for each chapter will be transferred from the KWL Hub and Lingco to your Brightspace Gradebook at the end of each chapter.

MACHEN (doing, making, performing) – in and after class

WHAT: When we meet in class, you will have already familiarized yourself with the material so that we can proceed directly to practice and group work. Your instructor will generally not lecture or introduce new material during this time period. Instead, the instructor will create situations in which you can actively use new and scaffolded structures during the class period. Remember, you are not expected to have a ‘perfect’ performance in class--learning a language always means accepting uncertainty and making informed guesses. Rather, the emphasis is on using the material to express yourself verbally with increasing confidence, variation and accuracy.

To further develop your newly acquired language skills in informal settings, you will also participate in four German Section activities, such as special events (e.g., BBQs), film screenings, or Kaffeestunde. These activities offer an opportunity to practice your German and learn more about German culture with your peers. If your schedule does not permit you to attend four events this semester, please contact your instructor.

Finally, you will participate in four conversations with German speakers (two will be with German professors at URI and two will be with buddies, tutors or interns in the German program). You will receive a notification via email when it's time to make your appointments (including the deadlines), and these assignments also indicate the topics for each conversation. Your conversation partner will notify your instructor right after the conversation, and your instructor has to receive this notification before the deadline in order for you to receive credit.

Due to various circumstances, adjustments to in-class work may be necessary. This could include remote instruction, alternative assignments, student workgroups, or a combination of these and other forms. Students will be informed of any such changes promptly. Please check your emails/messages regularly and contact your instructor with any questions or concerns.

ZEIGEN (showing, demonstrating) – mostly at home

WHAT: After each class, you will have time to revisit and/or reflect on the covered material and show what you've learned with help of the ZEIGEN assignments on the KWL Hub. In addition to the ZEIGEN assignments, more formal assessments will include (pop) quizzes, two tests, a midterm, and a final exam. These formal assessments will allow you to demonstrate what you've learned in previous units and what you can already do with the language.

WHEN: The ZEIGEN assignments on the KWL Hub for a particular Unit are due prior to our next class meeting. It is highly recommended that you complete these exercises on the same day the material is incorporated in class. If due date extensions become warranted because you missed a class for reasons of illness or other emergency circumstances, please reach out to your instructor as soon as you can, before the due date.

All test, midterm, and final exam dates are provided on the syllabus, with the exception of occasional pop quizzes.

POINTS: Now you are not practicing anymore; you are showing/demonstrating that you understand what you learned in LERNEN and practiced/used in MACHEN. You will have three attempts for most ZEIGEN activities on the KWL Hub and will receive points matching how much of each activity was done correctly. Your ZEIGEN grade for the chapter will be transferred to your Brightspace Gradebook at the end of each chapter.

In summary: You will study new vocabulary and prepare for the next class on the KWL Hub (LERNEN) and Lingco (vocabulary). After each class, you will demonstrate that you understand what we did in class on the KWL Hub (ZEIGEN) and through quizzes, tests and exams. For example, after Unit 4 in class, you are doing the ZEIGEN assignments for Unit 4, and the LERNEN assignments and vocabulary study for Unit 5 at home. Then you come prepared to do Unit 5 in the then class. Then again: Home (LERNEN and vocab for Unit 4), Class (MACHEN for Unit 4), Home (ZEIGEN for Unit 4 and LERNEN for Unit 5), Class (MACHEN for Unit 5), Home (ZEIGEN for Unit 5 and LERNEN for Unit 6) etc.

REQUIREMENTS & INFORMATION

Classroom Communication

Together we will create a Learning Community, a safe and respectful environment in which each person can learn and grow. Racism, discrimination or hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated in our work together inside or outside of the classroom. Let us work together to make the class something we all look forward to. Please keep the lines of communication open. Inform me as soon as possible if you’re struggling to keep up in class: during or after your online work, during office hours, via email, phone or video call – no matter which medium, communication is key!

The language in the classroom is German. Since there is so little time to practice, we will use German exclusively in all of our classroom interactions. Outside of our online class, we can speak/write in English or German. Take advantage of the opportunities provided in class to practice and experiment with the language.

Participation

Attendance in this class is required and essential. It is impractical/difficult to make up missed classroom work, which benefits from group and other collaborative interactions. Participation is a large part of your final grade (see grading below), and generally, you can only participate when you are in class. Please remember that your classmates rely on your contributions in class to make their own learning experience successful!

But, please note: If you are sick, please do not come to class. Especially when you are experiencing Covid symptoms, please do NOT go to class. In case of illness or emergency, notify your instructor as soon as possible. Courtesy notifications about your attendance due to ill health should always be emailed to your professor prior to class when feasible, and you are responsible for both making up missed work and preparing for the next session. In response to your notification, your instructor will inform you about options for making up class work, especially in the case of more than one absence. Makeup work for those absences can include but is not limited to tutoring sessions, specific makeup appointments with the instructor or tutors, or online class work (synchronous or asynchronous).

Proficiency and ICC Testing

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures is invested in ensuring that your proficiency and intercultural competence develop during your language studies. As a result, there may be diagnostic proficiency and/or intercultural competence testing affiliated with one or more language classes that you take. You may be asked to take these tests as part of your class requirements. You should try your best on these tests, but your performance will not impact your grade. If testing is affiliated with the course you are currently enrolled in, more information will be provided to you later on in the semester.

Workload

Your preparation outside of class will help you to get the most out of classroom activities. As defined in the University Manual (section 8.31.10), the basis of 3 credits at URI include 3 hours of classroom time and 6 hours of preparation per week (4 credits: 4 hours of classroom time and 8 hours of preparation).

Language Center

Among the resources available to you for language learning as covered by your course fees, you have access to the Language Center in Swan 301. It is a community hub for regular language club meetings, conversation tables, tutoring sessions and cultural activities. The space offers tables and bean bag chairs that allow for individual and group study, as well as quiet study rooms. You will find resources such as books, magazines, films, games and much more!

GRADING

30 % LERNEN (studying, learning, preparing)

- Lingco vocabulary sets

- LERNEN homework on the KWL Hub

30 % MACHEN (doing, making, performing)

- classroom participation

- conversations with faculty and peers

- German Section activities

40 % ZEIGEN (showing, demonstrating)

- ZEIGEN homework on the KWL Hub

- (pop) quizzes, tests, midterm and final exam

Grading Scale

A 94-100
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 60-66
F <60)

SYLLABUS STATEMENTS

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to be honest in all academic work. A student’s name on any written work, quiz or exam shall be regarded as assurance that the work is the result of the student’s own independent thought and study. Work should be stated in the student’s own words, properly attributed to its source. Students have an obligation to know how to quote, paraphrase, summarize, cite and reference the work of others with integrity. The use of AI-generative tools is not allowed (see below). The following are examples of academic dishonesty:

Using material, directly or paraphrasing, from published/web sources (print or electronic, including ChatGPT) without appropriate citation. This includes the use of translation tools such as Google Translate and any AI-generative tools.
Submitting any work done with support of any German-speaking people (friends, parents, teachers, ...), online resources (such as Google Translate and similar tools) and AI-generative tools. See also below ("GenAI and Other Tools")
Claiming disproportionate credit for work not done independently.
Unauthorized possession or access to exams
Unauthorized communication during exams
Unauthorized use of another’s work or preparing work for another student
Taking an exam for another student
Altering or attempting to alter grades
The use of notes or electronic devices to gain an unauthorized advantage during exams
Fabricating or falsifying facts, data or references
Facilitating or aiding another’s academic dishonesty
Submitting the same paper or homework assignment for more than one course without prior approval from the instructors.

Please note that the charge of academic dishonesty will go on your record in the Office of Student Life. If you have any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, visit the following website: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/avoiding_plagiarism/index.html, the URI Student Handbook, and UNIVERSITY MANUAL sections on Plagiarism and Cheating at http://www.uri.edu/facsen/8.20-8.27.html - cheating. Any good writer’s handbook as well as reputable online resources will offer help on matters of plagiarism and instruct you on how to acknowledge source material. If you need more help understanding when to cite something or how to indicate your references, PLEASE ASK.

GenAI And Other Tools

In this class, it is essential that all submitted work reflects your own understanding and skills. The use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or similar technologies is not permitted, unless certain assignments explicitly state that you can or should use AI tools. This ensures that your submitted work genuinely represents your personal knowledge and capabilities. Any use of AI tools on submitted work in this course will be considered a violation of the university’s Academic Requirements in the University Manual (see 8.27.10 – 8.27.22).

Helpful tools:

dict.leo.org
PONS Dictionary
Dict.cc
linguee.com
use an online dictionary to check a noun gender, plural, or a verb form (please do!!)
Ask a peer specific questions
Ask your professor or tutor specific questions
Copy individual words or set phrases from a textbook or reading, e.g. “Kein Rauch ohne Feuer.”
use GoogleTranslate to check individual words (write a word and then compare). You are far better off with an online dictionary.

Not Allowed:

Using GoogleTranslate or AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or similar technologies to create entire sentences or paragraphs in German
having a peer, tutor, or native speaker edit/proofread your work that will be turned in for a grade
copying out complex sentences or paragraphs from another source and claiming it as your work
Using outside sources without citation.

Rationale:

As a beginner, you need to learn the foundations of the language, and your instructor needs to be able to identify areas where students still need practice. If you use outside tools, it is no longer a reflection of your current German skills.

Viral Illness Precautions Statement

The University is committed to delivering its educational mission while protecting the health and safety of our community. Students who are experiencing symptoms of viral illness should NOT go to class/work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people who are experiencing viral illness should stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and they are fever free (without medications) for 24 hours. They should take added precautions for the next 5 days.

Excused Absences

Absences due to serious illness or traumatic loss, religious observances, military service, or participation in a university sanctioned event are considered excused absences. Students are responsible for work missed during an excused absence but will not be penalized by grading or assignment/exam make-up policies. Students should notify faculty in advance of absences due to religious observance or university-sanction events, and as soon as possible for other absences See University Manual sections 8.51.11-8.51.16 for details.

Mental Health and Wellness

We understand that college comes with challenges and stress associated with your courses, job/family responsibilities and personal life. URI offers students a range of services to support your mental health and wellbeing, including the URI Counseling Center, TELUS Health Student Support App, the Wellness Resource Center, and Well-being Coaching.

Land Acknowledgement

The University of Rhode Island occupies the traditional stomping ground of the Narragansett Nation and the Niantic People. We honor and respect the enduring and continuing relationship between the Indigenous people and this land by teaching and learning more about their history and present-day communities, and by becoming stewards of the land we, too, inhabit.

Anti-Bias

We respect the rights and dignity of each individual and group. We reject prejudice and intolerance, and we work to understand differences. We believe that equity and inclusion are critical components for campus community members to thrive. If you are a target or a witness of a bias incident, you are encouraged to submit a report to the URI Bias Resource Team at www.uri.edu/brt. There you will also find people and resources to help.

Disability, Access, and Inclusion Services for Students

Your access in this course is important. Please send me your Disability, Access, and Inclusion (DAI) accommodation letter early in the semester so that we have adequate time to discuss and arrange your approved academic accommodations. If you have not yet established services through DAI, please contact them to engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations in the classroom. DAI can be reached by calling: 401-874-2098, visiting: web.uri.edu/disability, or emailing: dai@uri.edu.

Anti-Discrimination Resources

Several offices provide support to help faculty comply with the University’s commitment to maintain an educational and working environment free from discrimination, and to uphold our collective obligation as a community to foster an inclusive, people-centered culture.

Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO)

The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) leads institutional civil rights compliance efforts and supports the belief that all individuals have a right to enjoy equal opportunity in employment and equal access to all university programs, services, and activities, without regard to their protected status. OEO’s primary focus areas include: anti-discrimination, affirmative action, equal opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act Compliance, education & training, and language access. OEO is available to address inquiries from faculty, staff, students, and service recipients and to work with departments to promote compliance with the university’s Policy on Nondiscrimination, Policy on Language Access, the University’s Language Access Plan, and applicable civil rights laws and regulations.

Title IX.

Any student, faculty, or staff member with questions or concerns about the Policy on Sexual Misconduct or who believes that they have been the victim of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual violence, as defined under Title IX, is encouraged to contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator. Matters involving employees that do not meet the burden of proof under Title IX are forwarded to the Office of Equal Opportunity and the Office of Human Resources. The Title IX Office, in collaboration with the Dean of Students, provides support for and ensures enforcement of the University’s Policy on Sexual Misconduct. The Title IX Coordinator also provides support to pregnant and parenting students, in collaboration with the Dean of Students, and to pregnant and parenting employees, in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources. Faculty with questions or concerns about potential sex-based discrimination or sex-based harassment violations, or departments seeking training, should contact the Title IX Coordinator at tixc@etal.uri.edu. More information is available at: Know your Title IX – Sexual Violence Prevention and Response.

Providing equal access for students with disabilities

Every qualified student with a disability has the right to equal access to educational programs, services, activities, and facilities. Documentation-supported accommodations are communicated to faculty through a letter from Disability, Access and Inclusion (DAI), delivered by the student. Faculty are required by law to provide these accommodations and are encouraged to review the information on the DAI website. The Academic Testing Center is available to support testing accommodation needs. Students seeking accommodations in their roles as internal payroll employees should contact the Office of Human Resources. This includes Graduate Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants. Students seeking accommodations in their roles as Federal Work-Study recipients should contact the Office of Human Resources and their placement supervisor. Testing accommodations are administered by the Academic Testing Center and must be coordinated by the faculty. Visit ADA Compliance – Office of Equal Opportunity for a list of ADA Liaisons at the University of Rhode Island.

Disability, Access, and Inclusion Drop-In Hours

Questions about student DAI accommodations? DAI staff are available each weekday from 2-4pm in their webex room, or call 874-2098. DAI leadership also provides special Faculty WebEx Drop-in Hours, for the first month of the Fall and Spring semesters on Mondays from 11AM-1PM and Wednesdays from 8-10AM. Please also reach out to us at dai@uri.edu if you would like to discuss a Workshop for your department or colleagues, we can work with you to tailor this to your individual needs and interests.

Academic Enhancement Center

All Academic Enhancement Center support services for Spring 2025 begin on January 27th and are offered at no added cost to undergraduate students. Visit Academic Enhancement Center – University College for Academic Success for more information about our programs described below. Appointments can be scheduled in TracCloud located in Microsoft 365.

Undergraduate Writing Center

Receive peer writing support at any stage of your writing process. Schedule in-person or online consultations through TracCloud or stop by Roosevelt Hall Room 20 –new location! Learn more at the Writing Center – Academic Enhancement Center

Rhody Outpost Basic Needs Pantry

Food insecurity affects up to 30% of college students. That means you might not have enough food to get through a day or week, you don’t have money to purchase groceries or personal products, or you are primarily eating foods that don’t provide a lot of nutrition because they’re all you can afford. This can all impact your academic success.

Rhody Outpost provides URI students who are food insecure with emergency food services and resources. The Outpost is housed at the Dining Services Warehouse at 10 Tootell Road, between Flagg Road and West Alumni Avenue. We are open every Friday from 3-5:30. Any student in need is welcome to visit the Outpost after filling out a brief request form.

If you have questions about food or housing insecurity, contact Barbara Sweeney, Coordinator of Food Security Outreach, at barbara_sweeney@uri.edu, or 401-874-5633. We want to help all students succeed and make URI a place with #NoRamHungry.

HOW CAN I BEST SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE?

Participate in class activities (this requires your presence in the classroom)
Focus fully on course activities during meetings. Refrain from using cell phones, laptops and tablets during class for activities that are unrelated to this class.
Complete and turn in all assignments on time.
Meet with your instructor or tutor if you encounter difficulties. The earlier we learn of a problem/situation, the better we are able to help.
Check your email and Brightspace on a daily basis. Check the site FREQUENTLY for information, announcements, assessments, and assignments.
Communicate. If you must miss a class, notify your instructor beforehand AND contact your classmates to get notes. Please contact your instructor immediately if you think you will miss a test, so that other arrangements can be made. Do not assume you will have an option to retake a missed assessment unless you contact your instructor.

BEGINNING GERMAN I+