German

German has more than 100 million native speakers and is the third most popular foreign language world-wide. Knowledge of German opens up the rich culture of German-speaking Europe as well as its history, philosophy, literature, music and scientific traditions. The German Studies Program has a proud history of more than half a century at the University of Melbourne and provides students with the opportunity to complete part of their studies overseas through scholarships and exchange programs.

German language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence of units from German 1 through to German 10 and has four entry points (German 1, 3, 5 and 7). Placement in the correct entry point is determined by the German Program, based on the results of the online placement test. Hence all students who enrol in German at The University of Melbourne for the first time need to undertake the placement test. Thereafter students normally progress through the sequence in consecutive order. Accelerated progression is possible with the permission of the course convenor. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers.

Students who complete this major will:

• Interpret a range of different genres relevant in German-speaking social and cultural contexts;
• Communicate effectively in a variety of oral and written formats, comprehending and producing German discourse with fluency (relative to entry level) and appreciate its cultural contexts;
• Specialize in at least one of the three core areas of modern German literature, linguistics, and cultural studies;
• Apply relevant research and analytical skills combined with a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
• Appreciate German-speaking cultures in a differentiated and informed way;
• Engage critically and to constructively in intercultural dialogue as a bicultural and bilingual person and as a global citizen;
• Independently apply a wide range of learning techniques (in German and English) as autonomous, motivated, self-directed and well-organised learners;
• Act confidently in German-speaking milieus and target culture, and work effectively in a cooperative way using German and English as media.

A 100-point major and 75-point minor sequence is available. The sequence is as follows for the four most common entry points for the Major and Minor.

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the German Program, based on the results of the online placement test. Please refer to the following link for further information:

http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/german/german-placement-test

The following description of the entry points below is indicative only:

• German 1 entry point: for students who have very little or no background in the German language.
• German 3 entry point: usually for students who have undertaken four or five years of secondary school German or who have obtained a low VCE German score.
• German 5 entry point: usually for VCE German students.
• German 7 entry point: usually for native speakers or near-native speakers of German, or for candidates who have spent a number of years in a German speaking country.

Students completing a major in German will usually undertake 25 points at level one, 37.5 points at level two and 37.5 points at level three. Students completing a minor will usually undertake 25 points at level one, 25 points at level two and 25 points at level three.

For an example of a typical German major structure for each of the four entry points, please visit: http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/lcr/

GERMAN 1 ENTRY POINT:

German 1 entry point - Level 1

Students completing a German major or minor with a German 1 entry point are required to complete the following Level 1 subjects (25 points).

German 1 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the German major with a German 1 entry point are required to complete the following Level 2 subjects (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete German 3 and German 4 (25 points).

German 1 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the German major with a German 1 entry point are required to complete the following Level 3 subjects (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete German 5 and German 6 (25 points).

GERMAN 3 ENTRY POINT:

German 3 entry point - Level 1

Students completing the German major or minor with a German 3 entry point are required to complete the following Level 1 subjects (25 points).

German 3 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the German major with a German 3 entry point are required to complete the following Level 2 subjects (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete German 5 and 6 (25 points).

German 3 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the German major with a German 3 entry point are required to complete the following Level 3 subjects (25 points) and one Level 3 elective (12.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete the following Level 3 subjects (25 points).

GERMAN 5 ENTRY POINT:

German 5 entry point - Level 1

Students completing the German major or minor with a German 5 entry point are required to complete the following Level 1 subjects (25 points).

German 5 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the German major with a German 5 entry point are required to complete the following Level 2 subjects (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete German 7 and 8 (25 points).

German 5 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the German major with a Post-VCE entry point are required to complete the following Level 3 subject and two Level 3 electives (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete the following subject and one Level 3 elective (25 points).

GERMAN 7 ENTRY POINT

German 7 entry point - Level 1

Students completing the German major or minor with a German 7 entry point are required to complete the following Level 1 subjects (25 points).

German 7 entry point - Level 2

Students completing the German major with a German 7 entry point are required to complete the following Level 2 subjects (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete German 9 and German 10 (25 points).

German 7 entry point - Level 3

Students completing the German major with a German 7 entry point are required to complete the following Level 3 subject and two level 3 European Studies subjects (37.5 points). Students completing the German minor are only required to complete German Cultural Studies C and one Level 3 European Studies subject (25 points).

German Electives - Level 3