OVERVIEW

The teaching unit addresses the German language within the context of German culture in relation to economic topics.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit is aimed at developing specific skills and introducing students, including also those approaching the study of German for the first time, to written and oral comprehension and production.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Expected learning outcomes
- Knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to understand and use basic business and professional vocabulary in German in simulated work contexts.
- Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to solve simple communicative problems in business or professional settings,
using German in simulated situations.
- Making judgements: Students will be able to select and use the most appropriate vocabulary for different work contexts presented during exercises.
- Communication skills: Students will be able to communicate clearly and unambiguously, both with specialists and non-specialists, using the basic technical language of the discipline in dialogue simulations.
- Learning skills: Students will be able to continue learning German independently, using resources indicated by the instructor, for future work contexts.

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required. However, for those who already have a basic knowledge of the language, the teaching unit is annual. Beginners can anticipate the acquisition of basic knowledge by attending the lessons dedicated to them in the previous academic year. Regular attendance is strongly recommended to achieve the required language proficiency.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons in person and online, group work, presentations, individual work, company case studies. Attendance is strongly recommended but not compulsory.

Students with certification of disability, specific learning disorders (SLD), or special educational needs should contact both the instructor and the Department’s disability liaison,
Prof. Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and exam arrangements that, while respecting the objectives of the teaching unit, take into account individual learning needs and allow the use of compensatory tools if necessary.

Available on Aulaweb: Yes

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Completion and further study of the main morphosyntactic structures.
Continuation of the study of economic and business vocabulary and lexicology, also through reading and commenting on authentic documents and topical articles, with particular attention to the comparison between Italy and Germany.
Various exercises, reading and conversation in German.
Non-attending students have the same programme.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Specific information on the reference bibliography will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the lessons.

Grammar: editore  Cornelsen Verlag - Grammatik aktiv A1-B1 : ISBN 978-3-06-122964-1 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Semesters: I and II
15 September - 12 December 2025
9 February - 15 May 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written and an oral test in the same session. The exam is the same for attending and non-attending students. Holders of an official certification (at least B1 level)
are exempt from the written test.

Passing the written test is required to access the oral test.

The written test includes:
- a grammar test with multiple-choice and open-ended questions
- a reading comprehension test with multiple-choice questions

The oral test aims to:
- verify knowledge of the programme
- assess the ability to present a business activity

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The grammar test will present, in German, sentences in which the student must demonstrate the ability to modify, correct, or complete (e.g., transform from main to subordinate clause,
change verb tense, insert prepositions, etc.).
The reading comprehension test requires the ability to understand an economic text, in order to correctly identify "true/false" or "yes/no" conditions.

The final examination is designed to check that the student is able to communicate effectively in German and is able to apply the knowledge acquired. Assessment criteria include: grammatical and terminological correctness, clarity of presentation and ability to apply knowledge. In furthermore, the oral test aims to verify whether the student has achieved language competence comparable to level B1 (entry level) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

FURTHER INFORMATION