This course is part of the Intermediate German: People, Places, and Traditions ExpertTrack
Intermediate German: People and Lifestyles
Explore German-speaking countries and the language used to talk about different regions and towns.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
4 hours100% online
How it worksIncluded in an ExpertTrack
Course 1 of 3
Intermediate German: People and Lifestyles
Expand your German language skills with those who live there
On this four-week course, you’ll meet a number of people from Germany who will help you develop your ability to understand authentic spoken German.
Through their video case studies, you’ll listen to the way they introduce themselves and talk about where they live. You’ll learn about their home region and their city or village and what it is like to live there. Focussing on how they talk about their living environment, you’ll discover how it influences their lives and identities.
Sharpen your German language skills with practical activities
You’ll have the opportunity to put your new conversational skills into practice within your own context by introducing yourself to co-learners on the course and telling them about yourself.
You’ll investigate the role of German speaking countries as holiday destinations and further hone your spoken and written German skills with a practical activity to help you plan a trip around German-speaking countries.
Explore and revise basic German grammar
Throughout the course, a variety of engaging audio, video and written materials will help you revise several basic language points, including prepositions, cases, and articles.
You’ll revisit how to recognise subjects and objects in a sentence and examine the language and vocabulary used to locate and describe places and living environments. You’ll also review the use of prepositions and the cases they govern, strengthening your grasp of German in written and spoken contexts.
With a focus on authentic pronunciation throughout, you’ll finish this course having improved your spoken German and having the confidence to use it in a wide range of situations.
What topics will you cover?
- Introducing yourself and where you live
- Saying where a place is situated
- Describing places - cities, towns, and regions
- Planning a trip in a German speaking-country
- Revisiting cases and prepositions in German
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- Make your career dreams a reality.
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Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Communicate with enhanced confidence in written and spoken German
- Apply your knowledge of basic German grammar and use a wider range of vocabulary
- Draw on new insights into societies and cultures in German-speaking countries
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for those with a good basic knowledge of German (fully at Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ‘Elementary’) who want to improve their German language skills and deepen their knowledge of German culture.
This course will be useful to those who wish to improve their competence in German to help further their career or have a general interest in contemporary German-speaking societies and cultures.
Who will you learn with?
Dr Susanne Winchester is an Associate Lecturer in German at The Open University and has authored on various German modules. She has a special interest in learning theory and vocabulary learning.
Who developed the course?
The Open University
As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.
Established
1969Location
Milton Keynes, UKWorld ranking
Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
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Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
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Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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