Beginners' German Course for Engineering Students

Email: Vincent O'Connell

Room216, Arts Millennium Building

Tel: 00 353 91 524411 Extension 2226/3396, Direct: 00 353 91 492226/493396

This course is offered to 

• Civil Engineering students ( 2BE1 ) who are about to commence their second academic year. 
• Mechanical/Biomedical ( 4BG1/4BM1 ) 
• Industrial Engineering students ( 4BI1/4BI2 ) commencing their fourth academic year.

Course Aims

Though this course is categorised as a Beginners course for students, it is seen more as a common course that primarily deals with German language in both written and spoken for the purpose of living and working in a German speaking country at a later date. This would be of benefit to those who have finished their third academic year in the field of Engineering and would wish to spend time in Germany, Austria or Switzerland as part of their practical experience. The course is also designed to give the student a sufficient knowledge of the language as such that he or she would be in a position to take on an advanced course if it were available.

Course outline

The weekly timetable comprises of three grammar classes and one language laboratory class. Language and grammar material covered in previous classes is reinforced by the help of pronunciation exercises, listening comprehensions and dictation work in language laboratory classes.

Film portraits of cities and regions give the student a general insight into social and geographical elements of Germany, coinciding with the listening comprehensions in the language laboratory classes. In addition to this weekly schedule, a tutorial class, if required, is set up for students who may have difficulties in German grammar and syntax.

Mode of Examination / Allocation of Marks

Class tests, written assignments and work that is completed by the student in the language laboratory class, i. e. listening comprehensions and dictations, are 25% of the overall mark. Class attendance is also taken into consideration.

The remaining 75% goes towards the written examination in May ( 55% ) as well as the oral examination ( 20% ).

• Class tests written assignments Language Lab. assignments : 25%
• 3-hour written Examination : 55%
• Oral Examination : 20%

Contact hours (Semesters 1 and 2):

• 3 class hours
• 1 language lab. hour 
• 1  tutorial

Text : Neue Horizonte Introductory German Sixth Edition, Neue Horizonte-Workbook Sixth Edition by Dollenmayer / Hansen

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