Auftakt: intermediate German
On this page
Auftakt: intermediate German follows on from Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193). It revises and consolidates the knowledge of German you already have and teaches more advanced language in the context of German-speaking countries and communities. Study resources – including printed course books and interactive DVD-ROMs – are carefully designed to develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This key introductory Level 1 course also teaches good study skills and language-learning strategies.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Languages.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | L130 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
Auftakt will develop your confidence in understanding, speaking, reading and writing German, whether you want to improve your German for personal or for vocational reasons. It offers insights into many aspects of everyday life in modern Germany and Austria, so you should also gain a better understanding of issues that concern German-speaking people.
The course consists of:
- A website – that helps you to navigate through the course and pace your study, as well as offering you the opportunity to interact with other students.
- Two study guides – that help you to navigate through the study material and also contain key language-learning sections.
- Two DVD-ROMs – that include video and audio clips recorded in Leipzig, Tübingen and Graz, and a wide range of interactive language activities to develop your speaking and listening skills.
- A reading and writing book – that will also develop your reading and writing skills.
The material covers themes such as Menschen und Städte, Alltag und Arbeit and Freizeit. There are model answers (Lösungen) to all the tasks.
Auftakt is an ideal preparation for Motive: upper intermediate German (L203).
This course is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level B1 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference of Languages. You will have developed your knowledge and understanding of the language as well as an awareness of cultural diversity in German speaking countries which form a key part of the learning outcomes for studying at this Level. By the end of the module you will have developed key Level 1 undergraduate study skills such as learning to work independently and using strategies which enable you to solve problems and analyse data.
Vocational relevance
The Chartered Institute of Marketing now recognises this course under their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.
Entry
This is a key introductory Level 1 course. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you progress to courses at Level 2.
Auftakt requires a working knowledge of German. It is ideal for students who have successfully completed Rundblick: beginners' German (L193) or who have reached a similar standard. Your knowledge need not be formal. It could come from adult education classes, time spent in German-speaking countries, regular contact with German-speaking people or other sources. You should be able to understand the gist of what native speakers say and hold a basic conversation in German, in everyday situations such as talking about yourself, your family and where you’re from; booking a hotel; or asking for directions.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
If you have time before the course begins, we suggest that you continue to use your German in any way you can. You could do this by: redoing some of the activities in Rundblick: beginners' German (L193), particularly Rundblick 6 (book and audio CD) which takes you through a revision of everything learnt in the course; watching and listening to the L193 audio materials; reading a German newspaper; using online resources; or watching some films in German. Anything you can do to keep practising your German will be helpful. L193 materials are either available to buy from The Open University Worldwide website or for viewing at your regional or national centre.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Please note that this course makes substantial use of audio and visual materials. Full transcripts of the audio and visual materials are provided except for those used for assessment purposes. The written and spoken elements you will be asked to complete as part of your assessment use audio and possibly visual stimuli. A comb-bound version of the written study materials can also be provided on request. The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
You’ll need to make extensive use of a personal computer and will need access to the website on a regular basis. You will also be offered tutorials via an online conferencing system.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
DVD-ROMS and books. Access to a website which includes links to forums and a real time audio-visual conferencing tool that allows you to communicate with fellow students and your tutor.
You will need
You will need a headset with a microphone and earphones to record speech in activities featured on the DVD-ROMs as well as for use with the real time audio-visual conferencing tool.
Please also check the Computing requirements and Assessment sections.
Your Auftakt study materials will refer to the Collins German Dictionary plus Grammar; however, you could use any other dictionaries or German grammar.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Collins German Dictionary & Grammar, Collins £12.99 - ISBN 9780007323166
Students who have previously studied L193 will have bought a copy of this book.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written and spoken tutor-marked assignments (TMAs). You can also ask your tutor for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. This course usually includes a mix of face-to-face tutorials and online tutorials. Please note that depending on where you live, the mix will vary and in some places face-to-face tuition may be replaced by telephone conferencing. We may also be able to offer day schools. All of these will provide plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to German. Where face-to-face tutorials or day schools are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above – please note this may be subject to change.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
If you wish to submit your TMAs by post, please ensure you have an audio cassette recorder (full size, not mini format) with microphone and at least one blank cassette to record and submit your speaking assignments.
The TMAs test your written or spoken skills. The end-of-module assessment (EMA) has a written element and a spoken element. The spoken element will be in the form of a group oral carried out at a compulsory online tutorial.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2013. It will be available again in October 2013. We then expect it to be available once a year, in October.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Languages.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | L130 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
This course was my first OU course and I really enjoyed it. The materials are all excellent, especially the DVD-ROM's. ...
Read more
I really enjoyed this course. The materials were very good and my tutor was wonderful. The problem learning languages at ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
Browse the prospectus
Get a prospectus
Download or
order
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.