OVERVIEW

The course “Lingua Tedesca II” (German Language II) focuses on central aspects of the syntax of contemporary German and develops both linguistic analysis skills and language proficiency. The theoretical module introduces major syntactic phenomena of German, while the language practice component complements the course through practical activities aimed at strengthening written and spoken competences.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide students with a expert of a number of aspects of German linguistics, enabling them also to think critically about and describe the metalinguistic factors at play in language use

Language classes aim to improve students’ linguistic competence

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to develop linguistic and metalinguistic competences related to contemporary German, with particular attention to German syntax. It also aims to strengthen communicative competences corresponding to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• understand and use German language structures corresponding to CEFR level B1;
• demonstrate knowledge of the syntactic structure of sentences and phrases in contemporary German;
• identify and describe the main syntactic constituents and their functions;
• analyse the structure of simple and complex sentences, including both paratactic and hypotactic constructions;
• apply fundamental concepts and categories of German syntactic description;
• demonstrate knowledge of major theoretical approaches to syntactic analysis and apply them to concrete linguistic examples;
• analyse German sentences according to the topological field model (topologisches Feldermodell);
• use basic linguistic terminology related to German syntax appropriately;
• develop metalinguistic reflection skills through the analysis of authentic examples from contemporary German.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific prerequisites.

TEACHING METHODS

The theoretical module consists of lectures in which the main topics of contemporary German syntax are presented and discussed. The classes also include guided exercises aimed at consolidating and applying the course contents, supported in part by digital resources and teaching materials.

The language practice component is divided into two integrated parts, Sprachkurs and Grammatik, and consists of practical exercises aimed at developing and strengthening written and spoken language skills, with particular emphasis on the morphosyntactic aspects of German.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The theoretical module of the course introduces the fundamental concepts of German syntax. It focuses on the basic notions of syntactic description, the main models of syntactic analysis, and the structure of the German sentence.

The following topics will be covered:

• definition of syntax and levels of syntactic analysis;
• definition of the sentence (Satz) and criteria for its identification;
• notion of constituent and constituent tests;
• word classes and types of phrases;
• main models of syntactic analysis (traditional grammar, dependency/valency grammar, generative grammar);
• sentence structure and word order in German;
• syntactic and semantic functions in simple sentences;
• distinction between main clauses and subordinate clauses;
• types of subordinate clauses.

The language practice component complements the theoretical module through practical activities aimed at consolidating language skills, with particular reference to the progressive attainment of CEFR level B1 in the four language skills (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) as well as in the required grammatical competences.

Course attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. The examination syllabus is the same for both attending and non-attending students.

Validity of the exam syllabus: as per regulations, until February 2028.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Theoretical module

• Busch, Albert/Stenschke, Oliver (2018): Germanistische Linguistik. Eine Einführung. 4. Aufl. Tübingen: Narr Francke Attempto Verlag.
• Di Meola, Claudio (2014): La linguistica tedesca, Roma: Bulzoni.

The texts, or relevant excerpts thereof, will be made available by the instructor. Any additional relevant bibliographic material will be communicated and provided by the instructor via the Aulaweb platform.

Applied module

Akademie Deutsch A2+ Intensivlehrwerk, Hueber Verlag  (ISBN 978-3-19-121650-4)
Akademie Deutsch A2+ Zusatzmaterialien, Hueber Verlag (ISBN 978-3-19-131650-1)
Akademie Deutsch B1+ Intensivlehrwerk, Hueber Verlag  (ISBN 978-3-19-141650-8)
Akademie Deutsch B1+ Zusatzmaterialien, Hueber Verlag (ISBN 978-3-19-151650-5)
Motta: Grammatik direkt neu, Loescher, ISBN 9788820136581

Further teaching material will be communicated at the beginning of the semester by the lecturers and in Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Theoretical Module (Pellegrino): 30 hours, second semester
Start: February 2027

Language practice component - Lettorato: first semester + second semester
Start: late September 2026

Class schedule

GERMAN LANGUAGE II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The theoretical module includes a final written examination aimed at assessing students’ knowledge of the course contents. The written test, held at the end of the module and in subsequent exam sessions, focuses on the specific topics covered during the course and on the assigned study materials. It includes open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, and analytical exercises, designed in line with the activities carried out during the course and the in-class practice sessions. Assessment will consider not only the mastery of course content but also familiarity with the readings discussed in class and with the materials provided via the Aulaweb platform.

The language practice component includes a final written examination and a final oral examination, aimed at assessing the linguistic competences developed through the exercise sessions.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The achievement of the intended learning outcomes will be assessed through a written examination for the theoretical module and both written and oral examinations for the language practice component. The assessment methods are designed to coherently evaluate both theoretical knowledge and the linguistic and analytical skills developed during the course.

For the theoretical module, the written exam assesses students’ knowledge of the main aspects of German syntax and their ability to apply analytical concepts and tools to linguistic data. In particular, through open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, and analytical exercises, students are evaluated on their understanding of key theoretical notions, their ability to identify syntactic structures, and their correct application of the analytical models covered in the course. Assessment also takes into account familiarity with the assigned readings and teaching materials.

For the language practice component, the written examinations assess the attainment of CEFR level B1 in reading and writing skills, as well as knowledge of core grammatical structures in German. Assessment criteria include grammatical accuracy, the ability to express oneself appropriately in writing at the required proficiency level, and both global and detailed comprehension of written texts.

The oral examination assesses listening comprehension and oral interaction skills in German during a guided conversation. Assessment criteria include the correct application of grammatical structures, command of B1-level vocabulary, and the ability to express oneself appropriately and clearly in spoken German.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group

The module is compulsory for second-year students enrolled in the Degree Programme in Modern Languages and Cultures.

ECTS workload

The theoretical component and the language practice sessions are equivalent to 9 ECTS credits.

Language

The course will be taught in German.

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or other needs

Students who have officially submitted documentation of a disability, specific learning disorders (SLD), or other special educational needs are invited to contact both the departmental coordinator, Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), and the course instructor at the beginning of the academic year. This will allow for agreement on teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take into account individual learning needs and provide appropriate compensatory tools.