GRMN 4484  Senior Capstone, Fall 2008

Every second Tuesdays, 5 until we're done!

Instructor: Dr. Muriel Cormican, a.k.a. MAC!

 

Description:

This course provides the graduating German major an opportunity to collect together, review and assess the skills they have developed in the German language, its cultures and literatures over the course of their studies.  It asks the student to present (and guides the student in presenting) materials that demonstrate how s/he has attained curricular goals, thus underscoring processes of self-reflection in learning and encouraging the student in the development of the skills necessary to become a life-long learner.  The course provides the student an opportunity to identify and work intensively on an area that for him/her has proven particularly challenging.

We will meet once every two weeks to discuss progress toward the goals set out.  Students must do a substantial amount of work alone and will receive bi-weekly feedback on that work.

 

What the student must do:

  1. Create an online portfolio that

(a)    is in German.

(b)   introduces themselves personally and professionally.

(c)    discusses their time in Germany and makes cultural comparisons between Germany and their own country.

(d)   shows their familiarity with German language literature and their ability to analyze it cogently and within the German language historical contexts.

(e)    shows their familiarity with German language film and their ability to analyze it cogently and within the German language historical contexts.

(f)    shows their familiarity with a third language.

(g)   shows that they are familiar with online resources for German.

(h)   shows their ability to work with technology: creation of website, skills in word processing, digital cameras, etc.

(i)     discusses any other interesting events in German for them (teaching a class, going on the total immersion weekend, etc)

(j)     includes a curriculum vitae

  1. Take an exam at the Goethe Institute.  This exam will cost about $150 but is a necessary exit exam.  Since there are no required textbooks for the course, students may consider this the normal textbook expense.  Sorry!  It won’t look bad on cvs either though!!
  2. Present their portfolio in German to the German faculty (oral).
  3. Pass a written exam on German Grammar and vocabulary.

 

Learning Outcomes:   

  1. Student demonstrates speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills at the advanced level.
  2. Student demonstrate skills necessary to analyze and compare cultures and practices of the target area with their own culture.
  3. Students can situate the history of the target culture within a broad historical framework.
  4. Students demonstrate competence in a second foreign language.
  5. Students demonstrate familiarity with technologies allowing them to access sources in the following areas:  current news from the target country, bibliographical and other sources related to coursework, contemporary culture sources, and interactive communication sites.

 

Grading:

Portfolio                     60%

Goethe Exam             20%

Other                          20%