Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll have a tutor to 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. The module content is supported by group tutorials delivered online by a tutor. Face-to-face tutorials may also be available. Depending on where you live and on current guidance regarding face-to-face events, the mix will vary. Although you’re not obliged to attend, we strongly encourage you to take part, as they will provide you with plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to German.
Assessment
You can find the assessment details for this module in the facts box.
The TMAs test your writing and speaking skills. The EMA tests your writing skills.
Residential school
A compulsory residential school takes place in Germany.
The one-week residential school usually runs in February/March and provides excellent opportunities to enhance and develop the skills covered in the module, to practise your German in a variety of situations and learn more about the country. On most days, the programme runs from approximately 09:00 until 19:00, with breaks between activities.
If you can't attend the school for reasons beyond your control, you'll complete an online alternative extended school that runs in March/April over several weeks. It takes place using a computer conferencing system that allows you to speak with your tutor and fellow students in real-time. This programme offers opportunities to enhance and develop skills covered in the module, to practise your German in a variety of situations and learn more about the country. However, we'd recommend the residential school in Germany as this can offer you a wider range of learning opportunities.
To pass the module, you must take part in either the residential school or the online alternative.
Residential school and online alternative dates are provisional and subject to change.
Future availability
German studies 2: language and culture of the German-speaking world starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2023. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.