Summer 2017/Pasadena

LG566

Scherer

LG566: THEOLOGICAL GERMAN (4 Units: 160 hours). Timothy J. Scherer.

DESCRIPTION: This course will immerse the student in the German language through daily readings from medieval to modern German theological texts. Due to its intensive nature, this course will demand a much more substantial time investment than students anticipate for a four-unit class. Prior work with German language is beneficial.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated that they (1) have developed strategies to quickly identify the lexical form of any word encountered in German theological texts and navigate passages with the aid of a dictionary; (2) can identify word forms, grammatical structures, and syntax in German; (3) can read aloud German theological texts; (4) have the ability to accurately translate German theological texts in a reasonable timeframe by using a standard lexicon and other tools; and (5) can provide a careful summary of German theological texts.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion. At least ten hours of study outside of class per week are typically required for adequate class preparation.

REQUIRED READING:

Wilson, April. German Quickly: A Grammar for Reading German. 7th ed. Peter Lang Publishing, 2007. ISBN: 978-0820467597, Pub. Price $44.95 [430 pp.].

Ziefle, Helmut. Modern Theological German: A Reader and Dictionary. Baker Books, 1997. ISBN: 978-0801021442, Pub. Price $40.00 [664 pp.].

A German Dictionary:

Oxford German Dictionary. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199545681, Pub. Price $55.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Class attendance and active participation (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and is absolutely essential to the success in this course] [40 hours].

  2. Weekly exercises, and grammar and vocabulary quizzes (40% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3] [100 hours].

  3. Midterm translation of one approximately 350-word German passage assessing knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and the ability to summarize content (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4, 5] [10 hours].

  4. FINAL translation exam of one approximately 500-word German passage assessing knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and the ability to summarize content (30% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4, 5] [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Audits permitted only with transcript evidence of prior study, and will be expected to complete all assignments except final exam.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.