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Professional German I

Course developers

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the development of students’ foreign language (Germany) knowledge and skills necessary for comprehending, interpreting and evaluating professional information, explaining and comparing processes, participating in discussions, giving presentations in professional and academic environments as well as for communication with foreign students, specialists and academic staff. The focus is on the terminology related to heat energy, electric energy and alternative energy. The Germany language proficiency level corresponds at least to level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for foreign languages.
The assessment according to the 10 point scale.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge - understanding of terminology in the following fields:
- university education, studies at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the Faculty of Engineering; energy, force, power and their units of measurement; kinetic energy, potential energy, light energy, nuclear energy, chemical energy, useful energy, waste energy, heat energy, sources of heat, types of heat transfer (Test No 1);
- heat engines; types, main parts and operation principles of an internal combustion engine; electric motor, its structure and operation principles (Test No 2).
- electric current, voltage, resistance, alternating current, direct current, electric circuit, components and types of electric circuits, short-circuit, circuit breakers, fuses and their types (Test No 3).
Skills - students are able to define terms, select professional information, think critically, participate in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing descriptions, summaries, business letters; orally - in discussions, dialogues, giving a presentation.

Competence - of professional and academic Germany language in order to apply it creatively in spoken and written communication for student mobility, professional and academic activities in international environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

Full time intramural studies:
1. The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. The Faculty of Engineering. Introduction to the speciality. English dictionaries and glossaries related to power engineering. 4h
2. Energy, force, power. Energy conservation law. Energy transformation. 3h
3. Forms of energy. Kinetic energy. Potential energy. Light energy. Nuclear energy. Chemical energy. 3h
4. Heat energy. Sources of heat. Importance and usage of heat. 3h
5. Test 1. Heat engines. Steam engine. 3h
6. Types of internal combustion engine. Diesel engine. Petrol engine. 2h
7. Structure and operation principles of an internal combustion engine. Two-stroke and four-stroke engines. 2h
8. Cooling system. Lubrication system. Fuel system. Ignition system. Battery. 3h
9. Electric motor. Structure, operation principles. 3h
10. Test 2. Electric current. Voltage. Resistance. Alternating current. Direct current. 3h
11. Electric circuit. Components and types of electric circuits. Circuit breaker. 3h
12. Electric wires and cables. Types of electric wires. Materials used in production of wires and their properties. Comparison. 4h
13. Wall sockets. Plugs. Construction and types. 3h
14. Electricity meter. Components. Types of meters. Short-circuit and its prevention. 3h
15. Test 3. Basic principles of making presentations. 3h
16. Students` presentation of independent work. 4h
Part time extramural studies:

All topics specified for full time studies are accomplished, but the number of contact hours is one half of the number specified in the calendar

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal test.
It is made up of cumulative assessment.
Successfully written 3 tests, the glossary of terms for each topic, timely completed home works, completed individual work (reading of professional texts, presentation on a selected topic, the glossary of terms, summary). Tests and home works shall have a positive evaluation. The number of the missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual work:
1. Reading of the independently chosen professional texts (the amount: 25 000 characters);
2. A written summary (the amount – 2000 characters);
3. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (8-10 minutes) in front of the class;

4. Submitted glossary of terms (30 translations, 20 definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in 3 tests and a presentation of the individual work.The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct. All home works should receive a successful grade.

Compulsory reading

1. Engelhart R. Grundzüge der agrargeschichtlichen Entwicklung in Deutschland. 1. Aufl. GRIN Verlag, 2010. 36 S. ISBN-10:3-640-51759-8.
2. Eder F.X. Arbeitsmethoden der Thermodynamik. Verlag Springer, 2011. 540 S. ISBN-10:3-642-93227-4.
3. Haken K.-L. Grundlagen der Kraftfahrzeugtechnik. Aufl. Verlag Hanser Fachbuchverlag, 2011. 316 S. ISBN-10:3-446-42604-3

4. Ullrich C., Ulbrich Th. Der technische Service- und Kundendienstvertrag. Heidelberger Musterverträge, Band 101. 3. Aufl. Verlag Recht Und Wirtschaft GmbH, 2009. 39 S. ISBN-10:3-8005-4279-X.

Further reading

1. Kornmeier M. Wissenschaftlich schreiben leicht gemacht: für Bachelor, Master und Dissertation. 4. Auflage. Verlag Utb GmbH. Stuttgart, 2010. 322 S. ISBN-10:3-8252-3154-2.
2. Riedl H. Das Lexikon der Kraftfahrzeugtechnik. Verlag: Motorbuch Verlag, 2010. 540 S. ISBN-10:3-613-02996-0.
3. Lochner H., Breker J. Grundstufe Landwirt. Fachtheorie für Boden, Pflanze, Tier, Technik, Züchtung, Ökologie.

4. Aufl. BLV Buchverlag. München, 2011. 680 S. ISBN-10:3-8354-0525-X.

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the professional Bachelor’s degree study program Applied Energy Engineering