English   Danish

2023/2024  BA-BBLTO1024U  Area Studies 4 - German: Green transformation of firms, climate change and sustainability

English Title
Area Studies 4 - German: Green transformation of firms, climate change and sustainability

Course information

Language German
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc and MSc in Business, Language and Culture, BSc
Course coordinator
  • Philipp Alexander Ostrowicz - Department of Economics (ECON)
Main academic disciplines
  • Language
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 26-06-2023

Relevant links

Learning objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to:
  • Content:
  • Write a well-structured synopsis in German that captures the essential points and arguments of the chosen topic from the syllabus.
  • Show a clear understanding of the green transformation of firms in the region studied, in regards to climate change, sustainability and managing beyond borders, based on the concepts and themes from the syllabus.
  • Identify and discuss the main ideas of the chosen topic e.g. giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options and relating it to the material posed.
  • Language:
  • Present the exam topic in German using an appropriate vocabulary and structure suitable for the topic.
  • Comprehend the questions posed during the examination and communicate in coherent German so that their responses flow and are intelligible
  • Write a grammatically correct German, avoiding major grammatical, lexical, idiomatic or errors that inhibit the understanding of the exam topic.
  • Interact with fluency and spontaneity.
  • Speak grammatically correct and well-pronounced German without major grammatical, lexical, idiomatic or pronunciation errors that inhibit communication. At this stage, students must be able to show their linguistic awareness by correcting errors in the exam situation.
Examination
The exam in the subject consists of two parts:
German: Green Transformation of Firms, Climate Change and Sustainability - Content:
Sub exam weight40%
Examination formOral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group examIndividual exam
Size of written productMax. 1 page
Assignment typeSynopsis
Release of assignmentSubject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale7-point grading scale
Examiner(s)Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam periodSummer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
German: Green Transformation of Firms, Climate Change and Sustainability - Language:
Sub exam weight60%
Examination formOral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group examIndividual exam
Size of written productMax. 1 page
Assignment typeSynopsis
Release of assignmentSubject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale7-point grading scale
Examiner(s)Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam periodSummer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

 

The fourth semester of Area Studies in German is built on two dimensions: Content and Language

 

The overall aim of this course is to give students the written and oral language skills in German needed to successfully engage and communicate with a range of different actors in social, academic and job related/professional settings.

 

The specific aim of the content dimension is the introduction of area specific perspectives on the firm and its environment in regards to the challenges of climate change and the sustainable transformation. It has its particular focus on the following topics: the transformation of businesses and organizations in regards to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the social, economic and environmental consequences of the climate crisis and globalized capitalism. The course aims to give students an insight into the possible transformations into sustainable alternatives.

 

The language dimension is aiming at improving the students’ oral as well as written interaction and expression in an academic, social and professional context. Focus is on grammar and lexical skills, use of conjunctions and formal idiomatic expressions, as well as spontaneity and fluency of oral communication in a given context.

 

Integration

The course builds on the German Area Studies of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Semester courses. It also complements the themes of the parallel course teaching in Politics of Sustainability, and the Corporation in Society: Managing Beyond Borders.

 

Nordic nine

In the course the students develop a clear understanding of green transformations and approaches to sustainability in the regions studied which helps them contribute to green transformation and sustainable development locally and globally for the benefit of companies and for the benefit of future generations. They learn to understand challenges and ethical dilemmas in business contacts arising from differences in culture, history and identity in the regions studied and ways to approach such dilemmas based on their knowledge of culture.

 

Description of the teaching methods
The course aims at integrating content and language learning, so that the foreign language is used to acquire content combined with language instruction.

A combination of lectures, class discussions and student presentations will develop the students’ knowledge and ability to analyse and understand current cultural and social processes in the chosen region. All teaching and reading will be in German.

Written exercises will help the students to work independently with the topics and to train linguistic phenomena that they will need for the oral discussions. The students are offered 2 voluntary written assignments of 3 pages each. One with focus on content and one on language. These exercises will help the students to work independently with the topics and to practice linguistic phenomena needed for using German in a professional context. The course embraces blended learning and seeks to integrate online and offline activities.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be given continuously through written and oral assignments, both as teacher supervised peer-to-peer feedback, quizzes and tests (online and offline) and as individual/group discussions (online and offline). Students will receive a short feedback on their presentations. Written exercises will help the students to work independently with the topics and to train linguistic phenomena needed for the oral discussions. Students are encouraged to participate in feedback activities and to make use of the weekly office hours for individual feedback (office hours can also be online by arrangement).The students are offered 2 voluntary individual written assignments of 3 pages each that will receive written feedback from the teacher.

Student workload
Lectures on content 18 hours
Lectures on language 18 hours
Preparation 169.5 hours
Exam 0.5 hours
In total 206 hours
Further Information

This course will run for the first time in the Spring 2023.

Expected literature

To be announced on Canvas

Last updated on 26-06-2023