ACTIVITIES REPORT
Partners' Institution:Bildungswerk ver.di
Project's period (from/to):November 2007 - March 2009
WP concerned:WP 1 - Creation of German course
Objectives of activities carried out:Development of the online Course “Business German for secretarial and administrative staff”
Description of activities carried out:After the meeting in Florence we discussed its outcomes and detailed project demands. The most important step to be followed was to start with the development of the content of the training packages. Production of course started.
Outcomes:Most parts of Unit 1 and Unit 2 of level 1 are translated or new contents created and put in the database of the portal. A basic structure for the German language course with a profile of professional standards of vocational training was worked out.
- Meanwhile the contents for Unit 1 to Unit 8 are produced and uploaded.
- contents for sections and activities for Unit 1 to 8 translated from English to German or adapted and new created and produced.
- Audiofiles produced, worked on, cutted and synchronized
- Glossary for the ELS portal completed
- Frames/buttons translated
- all units of the basic level course including audio files are
completed at the end of September.
- All units of the independent level course are created and sent to Connectis for uploading them.
In February 2009 the development of the German course was completed. The development process involved:
- development of almost 90 DinA4 pages with basic rules and examples of German grammar
- development of at least 80 complex exercises and games to practice the correct use of German grammar
- translation of 40 dialogues
- fragmentation and handling of approx. 20 text components for each dialogue (total of 800)
- upload of 800 text components to the server (bit by bit)
- recording of 40 dialogues involving 2 to 3 speakers for each dialogue
- editing, handling and upload (1200 single upload processes) of approx. 800 audio files
- development and translation of 200 games and exercises for the chapters In the office, On the telephone, Correspondence, Culture and Internet
- development and translation of 40 sample letters and internet pages
- translation of 40 simulation exercises for the Chapters Internet and Correspondence
- creation of a German glossary with approx 500 entries
- Meanwhile the contents for Unit 1 to Unit 8 are produced and uploaded.
- contents for sections and activities for Unit 1 to 8 translated from English to German or adapted and new created and produced.
- Audiofiles produced, worked on, cutted and synchronized
- Glossary for the ELS portal completed
- Frames/buttons translated
- all units of the basic level course including audio files are
completed at the end of September.
- All units of the independent level course are created and sent to Connectis for uploading them.
In February 2009 the development of the German course was completed. The development process involved:
- development of almost 90 DinA4 pages with basic rules and examples of German grammar
- development of at least 80 complex exercises and games to practice the correct use of German grammar
- translation of 40 dialogues
- fragmentation and handling of approx. 20 text components for each dialogue (total of 800)
- upload of 800 text components to the server (bit by bit)
- recording of 40 dialogues involving 2 to 3 speakers for each dialogue
- editing, handling and upload (1200 single upload processes) of approx. 800 audio files
- development and translation of 200 games and exercises for the chapters In the office, On the telephone, Correspondence, Culture and Internet
- development and translation of 40 sample letters and internet pages
- translation of 40 simulation exercises for the Chapters Internet and Correspondence
- creation of a German glossary with approx 500 entries
Evaluation of the work undertaken:It took some time to coordinate all project activities, to identify responsibilities, to check all important documents and to find one’s way trough the structure of the administration and database area of the portal. The evaluation form was used which gave a feedback to content and some still existing technical problems of the portal. Links in the administrative area were proofed, revised and set as well as the use and presentation of mutated vowels on the portal checked.
- Not all content could be translated directly from English into German because some content had to be considered under cultural differences and habit.
As already stated not all sections and activities from the English version could be translated or adapted because of different structure and requirements of both languages. This is evident for the grammar section but also for several exercises and games where new content had to be developed and created. For example: use of preposition, time, or the use of translated words from an English crossword puzzle don't fit in the German one. Also Section "Culture" had to be developed from scratch.
- Some of the content of the English course and multiple choice answers does not correspond to the requirements of real office life and needed to be changed.
- check of the Glossary still necessary, work in progress
- the Glossary was finally checked and revised and sent for upload in
September
- the evaluation of the German portal was finished, the results written down in the evaluation forms and then sent to Connectis. Some of the evaluation results are not put into practice in the German course yet.
- Not all content could be translated directly from English into German because some content had to be considered under cultural differences and habit.
As already stated not all sections and activities from the English version could be translated or adapted because of different structure and requirements of both languages. This is evident for the grammar section but also for several exercises and games where new content had to be developed and created. For example: use of preposition, time, or the use of translated words from an English crossword puzzle don't fit in the German one. Also Section "Culture" had to be developed from scratch.
- Some of the content of the English course and multiple choice answers does not correspond to the requirements of real office life and needed to be changed.
- check of the Glossary still necessary, work in progress
- the Glossary was finally checked and revised and sent for upload in
September
- the evaluation of the German portal was finished, the results written down in the evaluation forms and then sent to Connectis. Some of the evaluation results are not put into practice in the German course yet.