Author Attitude in an Article on Apprenticeships
In Part C, the candidate reads a 300-word article about Germany’s dual apprenticeship system. The article opens: “Die duale Ausbildung gilt vielen als Erfolgsmodell.” It then notes that the number of applicants has fallen for three straight years, that some small firms cannot fill places, and that critics point to inflexible schedules. A quote from a chamber of commerce representative says, “Wir müssen das System nicht neu erfinden, aber wir müssen es für neue Zielgruppen öffnen.” The question asks for the author’s attitude toward the system. The candidate’s own experience in a similar program was poor, and the candidate is drawn to option D, “hostile.” The four options are: A) uncritical enthusiasm, B) critical but fundamentally appreciative, C) indifferent, D) hostile. The candidate underlines “Erfolgsmodell” and “kritisiert” but cannot decide whether the author endorses the quote or merely reports it. The candidate has 4 minutes left for two questions.
1. Which attitude option is best supported, and what textual markers decide it?
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Option B is best supported. “Gilt vielen als Erfolgsmodell” means the system is regarded by many as a success model; it does not commit the author to uncritical enthusiasm. The article then presents falling applicant numbers and criticism about inflexible schedules, which justifies the critical half of option B. The quoted representative says the system need not be reinvented but must be opened to new groups-a reformist, not hostile, position. The concessive “aber” and the reported nature of the quote keep the author at a measured distance. Option A overreads “Erfolgsmodell” as the author’s own praise; option C ignores the evaluative language; option D overreacts to criticism. The author acknowledges problems while treating the system as fundamentally worth preserving.
2. How should the candidate distinguish the author’s voice from reported speech?
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The candidate should look for attribution and hedging: “gilt vielen als,” “kritisiert,” quotation marks, and verbs of saying. These signal that a view belongs to someone else. The author’s own stance often appears in connectives and evaluative adjectives, such as a concessive “aber” or a phrase like “bleibt eine Herausforderung.” The candidate should also avoid importing personal experience; the question asks about the author, not about the candidate’s program. A useful rule is to paraphrase each sentence with a source tag: “Many regard it as a success,” “Critics say schedules are inflexible,” “A representative argues for opening it up.” The overall authorial attitude emerges from the balance of these reports, not from any single positive or negative word.