Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Welcome to German 103! I look forward to another great term with you!

Basic information: GER 103 is the third term in first-year German. It is for students having completed GER 101 and GER 102 or the equivalent.

Placement: If you have experience with German and are unsure if GER 103 is the right class for you, please email me about taking a placement test:  fdeutsch@pcc.edu

All course materials (syllabus, required class materials, handouts, lecture recordings , weekly lessons and assignments, as well as your grades will be available in D2L, PCC’s online learning system.

Class modality: GER 103 will be meeting on Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday@ 11 -12:50 pm.  The class is taught in German immersion, so students hear and speak German as much as possible. Each class session includes lots of in-class practice with other students. Attendance at these classes is required, although some flexibility and make-up options are built-in. *Please note: 6 or more "unexcused" absences will result in an automatic non-passing grade.

As an extra resource and extra help for you, I will post videos of my grammar lectures for you to refer back to after coming to class, should you need more clarification. Students find these videos very helpful, and I know you will, too.

Assignments are posted weekly and always due by the end of the week, on Sunday by midnight. Assignments will consist of vocabulary and grammar exercises, listening comprehension exercises, writing exercises, discussion boards, recordings, and watching the weekly lectures. In class we will be working together, in groups, and with partners, and we will play lots of games. Tons of fun! :) 

Time commitment: The time commitment for this course consists of 4 hours a week classroom time in person (4 hours per week for a 4-credit course) plus another 3-4 hours a week spent on studying and completing two homework assignments per week (both due on Sunday by midnight).

Textbook requirements:

We use the first year German textbook and online website Kontakte Connect for GER 101-102-103 and the online access is valid for 24 months. Students will need to purchase the materials via the McGraw-Hill store at this link: Purchasing and Registration Link for Kontakte Connect ("textbook"). As mentioned above, you have the option to also buy the leafbook (besides the digital code that is required either way) if you feel better using an actual book in class or when you study.

For students using financial aid, the textbook is also available for purchase.  Go to this link and you can enter the CRN for the course or the name of the book. *Please note that the book is more expensive through the PCC bookstore and may cause a delay in receiving your textbook since financial aid does not always come in by the first week of the term. However, you can sign-up for the free two-week trial via this link. 

Once completing GER103, students then can move into second year German (GER 201) Fall term, GER 202 Winter term, and GER 203 Spring term the following academic year. GER 201 is offered ONLY in the fall. 

Please note: completion of 2 years of a language at the college level is required for a Bachelor of Arts degree and 2 terms will count towards the Gen Ed requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree. Please consult with an advisor from a 4 year university if you have questions about transferability (e.g. PSU, U of O, etc.).

I am looking forward to meeting you/seeing you again. I will have office hours by appointment, and tutors will also be available, so rest assured that you will be in good hands. Please email me with any questions (fdeutsch@pcc.edu[opens in new window]) and once you are registered for the class, expect a welcome email from me a few days before the term begins.

If you decide to buy ONLY the access code, which includes the ebook, you will need a computer or tablet in class. You will need to have a camera and a mic, and please have the camera on during class.

If you decide to also buy the leafbook (at a discounted price, through the same website), that might be easier to use when you study, or even during class.