This module builds upon the linguistic knowledge acquired in Year 1 Advanced (Route 1). It covers topics relating to aspects of the Target Language (TL)-speaking culture. It also deals with topics of contemporary relevance, such as, indicatively, political, economic, social and cultural issues, and with contemporary varieties of the language.

For Erasmus students, this course corresponds to a B2/C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• Understand most spoken discourse, recognise regional variation (indicatively, vocabulary, accent) and understand the significance and appropriateness of different spoken registers
• Keep up with and participate in discussion and conversation on familiar and complex topics and present similar topics, with reasonable effectiveness and precision
• Understand some complex factual, literary and persuasive material and some specialised texts and read longer texts, extracting main points and/or detail
• Write clearly in a variety of styles and registers with fluency and accuracy
• Transfer information from spoken and written TL texts into English, indicatively, through translation, summary and commentary, and do the same from English into the TL

Teaching, learning and assessment are designed to enable you to achieve the learning outcomes described above. The aim of this module is to enable you to communicate in the TL at Year 2 level. in your particular areas of interest. You will continue to learn the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of the language and also about the cultural context in which it is used. While part of any class is likely to involve direct teaching, the emphasis is on student participation and you will be expected to take part actively in discussion and in tasks like small group and pair work, role play, and individual or group presentations. In most cases, the target language will be used

• To develop further analytical skills
• To develop and encourage accurate writing in the TL
• To develop cultural and linguistic awareness in preparation for the year abroad
• To encourage the development of advanced IT skills
• To encourage both independent and group working skills
• To improve the knowledge of the TL through listening and comprehension exercises
• To develop and encourage accurate spoken expression in the TL
• To develop awareness of registers (both written and conversational), accents and pronunciation
• To develop further the understanding of social and cultural aspects of the TL
• To develop the skill of translating short passages from the TL into English (and, when possible, from English into the TL)
• To develop awareness of key translation problems and techniques for overcoming these
• To develop transferable skills

Teaching, learning and assessment are designed to enable the student to achieve the learning outcomes described above. While part of any class is likely to involve direct teaching, the emphasis is on student participation and they will be expected to take part actively in discussion and in tasks, indicatively, like small group and pair work, role play, and individual or group presentations. The tutor will give the students plenty of support to build their confidence, and in the case of assessed work, will provide feedback which will help them to make progress. Teaching materials will be derived from authentic print and audio-visual media.

The course focuses on the study of the complex sentence, concordatio temporum, indirect speech and on the practice of the four skills of the language in order to reinforce the grammar studied in class; understanding and reporting of written and aural material; aural and oral training and practice through the use of a wide range of audio/video materials both for class teaching and independent learning. Regular coursework exercises.

• Buscha, A. (2009) Erkundungen: Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Integriertes Kurs- und Arbeitsbuch. Sprachniveau C1. Leipzig: Schubert.
• Collins Complete and Unabridged German Dictionary, 7^th ed. London: Collins, 2007.
• Durrell, M. et al. (2002). Essential German Grammar. London: Arnold.
• Fagan, S. M. B. (2004). Using German Vocabulary. Cambridge: CUP.
• Fehringer, C. (2002). German Grammar in Context: Analysis and Practice. London: Arnold.
• Künzl-Snodgrass, A. and Mentchen, S. (2003). Upgrade your German. London: Arnold.
• Oxford German Dictionary, 3^rd ed. Oxford: OUP, 2008
• Spencer, M. and McCrorie, M. (2000). Help yourself to advanced German grammar. Harlow: Longman