SFT11019 Oral German and German Phonetics (Autumn 2025)

• Mandatory course in the One-year German Programme (full-time and part-time).
• Mandatory course in the 60 ECTS part of the Bachelor's Programme in Languages for students with German as one of their chosen languages.
• Elective course in the Bachelor's Programme in International Communication.

• One-year German Programme - full-time: 1. semester (autumn).
• One-year German Programme - part-time: 1. semester (autumn).
• Bachelor's Programme in Languages with German as one of their chosen languages, 1. year: 1. semester (autumn).
• Bachelor's Programme in Languages with German as one of their chosen languages, 2. year: 3. semester (autumn).
• Bachelor's Programme in International Communication: 5. semester (autumn).

The course is divided into:

a) Phonetics: This involves working on the articulatory description of individual standard German sounds and phonetic phenomena that cause difficulties for Norwegian speakers when speaking German.

b) Oral language proficiency: Developed through text production/presentation, text comprehension, and interaction. The focus is on pronunciation, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary in relation to different types of texts and situations.

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of basic features in German phonetics (standard pronunciation), particularly in comparison to Norwegian
• has knowledge of how digital tools can be used to practice oral language proficiency both individually and in interaction with others, and how such tools can be used after completing the studies to maintain and further develop oral language proficiency
• has familiarity with key features of German spoken language and simple oral, situation-dependent communication strategies

Skills

The student

• has proficient active skills in spoken German, able to adapt them to selected communication situations and needs and communicate with good pronunciation and intonation
• can understand spoken German in various types of media

General competence

The student

• has insight into phonetic terminology and how the knowledge acquired can be conveyed to others
• can use digital tools in various communication contexts

Partial exam 1 (phonetics): Individual home examination over one week (50%). A home examination is given where phonetic terminology, rule application, Norwegian-German contrastiveness, and transcription are tested. All aids are allowed, except communication and collaboration with others about the answers.

Partial exam 2 (oral German): Portfolio assessment, individual (50%). During the semester, two assignments are submitted documenting the students' activity in the subject based on what is mentioned under "Content/structure" above. The assignments must be submitted during the same teaching semester.

A-F grading scale is used for both partial exams.

Both partial exams must be passed. A final grade is set according to the A-F grading scale.

In case of appeal on partial exam 2, both assignments will be reassessed.

Feedback from our students is crucial for us to offer the best possible courses and study programmes. This course is evaluated in the following manner:

• Mid-semester evaluation
• Ongoing evaluation/end-of-semester evaluation

The results are processed by:

• Teaching group
• Head of studies
• Programme committee