AP German
Instructor: Beth Lillskau
Phone: 848-5500
Email: [email protected]
Grade: 12
Required Materials Binder, 2 spiral notebooks, pencils, ballpoint pens, glue stick
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Open to students entering the fourth year level of world language study. Advanced placement German is a college preparatory course offered to a select few who wish to participate in a demanding study of world language. The course is intended to be a roughly equivalent both in content and in difficulty to a third-year college language course (fifth semester). Students who wish to take the course should have a good command of grammar and considerable competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The use of language for active communication will be emphasized. The student will be expected to become proficient in the four basic language skills. The Advanced Placement German Language & Culture test, which is given in the spring, is encouraged of each student. Depending upon examination results, many colleges may award advanced standing or credit. For additional information, interested students should check with the instructor, their counselor, and catalogues of the colleges they may be considering.
In this course, students will explore the German language and culture. While the main focus will be the language and culture of the people of Germany, students will compare and contrast the language and culture of other German-speaking countries.
The AP German Language and Culture course takes a holistic approach to language proficiency and recognizes the complex interrelatedness of comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. Students should learn language structures in context and use them to convey meaning. In standards-based world language classrooms, the instructional focus is on function and not the examination of irregularity and complex grammatical paradigms about the target language. Language structures should be addressed in as much as they serve the communicative task and not as an end goal unto themselves. The AP German Language and Culture course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use and not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication.
In order to best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught in the target language. The AP German Language and Culture course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of products, both tangible (e.g., tools, books, music) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions that underlie both practices and products). 1
Students will regularly demonstrate their competencies in the target language through the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational. These are the Communication Modes that are a direct tie to the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. They provide a redefining organizing principle, and an enriched view of language that reflects real communication.
The Interpersonal Mode is characterized by the active negotiation of meaning among individuals. Participants observe and monitor one another to see how their meanings and intentions are being communicated. Adjustments and clarifications can be made accordingly.
The Interpretive Mode focuses on the appropriate cultural interpretation of meanings that occur in written and spoken form where there is no recourse to the active negotiation of meaning with the writer or the speaker.
The Presentational Mode refers to the creation of oral and written messages in a manner that facilitates interpretation by members of the other culture where no direct opportunity for the active negotiation of meaning between members of the two cultures exists.
The goals for intermediate mid - intermediate high learner are as follows:
· speak only German in class (including partner and group work.)
be willing to speak even with mistakes (we all make them and can't get better without them!)
· correct mistakes and try to learn from them, so that they do not consistently make the same basic errors.
· ask for help from the teacher or classmates when they do not understand.
· not "blow off" any assignments and make an effort to complete to the best of their abilities.
· do work independently and turn in work on time.
· spend at least 20-30 minutes a day learning new vocabulary and structure. (you won't get a lot of homework, but working outside of class makes the difference between a 3 and a 4 or 5!!!)
· apply new expressions in written and spoken work.
· understand that reading is one of the best ways to improve comprehension and vocabulary; therefore, it is best to read selections several times before going to a dictionary.
· review the grammar portion of my interactive notebook on my own.
Semester I:
Grading All assessments will fall into the following bins:
Assignments may include the following:
Homework assignments Socratic Seminars
Writing samples Presentations
Blogs Quizzes
Conversations Tests
Role Plays Speaking exercises
Sample e-mails
Quizzes, journal entries, speaking and written assignments, and tests will be assigned various points. Grades are entered promptly. However, most of the inclass activities are learning centered, but not graded. There will be many non-graded activities. We will be taking weekly checks on vocabulary and grammar. These will be entered into the gradebook about every 4 weeks giving a single grade representating the trend of the proficiency. Homework is periodically collected, but students can be expected to be called upon daily to demonstrate their progressing skills or mastery level of the language
Pacing and Instructional Goals:
In the course, we will use the book Denk Mal! However, we will mostly be using authentic texts, videos, movies, etc. Students will write several entries in their composition book (Tagebuch), which stays in the classroom and serves as a portfolio for as long as they remain in the German program. These will be assessed periodically as part of their presentational communication. Various Web 2.0 programs are used to enhance the student performance in the language. These include: Google Voice, Voki, Quia, Quizlet, Padlet, etc.
AP German Language and Culture course is designed around themes in order to create an interesting, meaningful context in which to explore a variety of language concepts. The themes help teachers integrate language, content, and culture into an interrelated series of lessons and activities that promote the use of the language in a variety of contexts. The AP German Language and Culture course is structured around six themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Beauty and Aesthetics, Personal and Public Identities, Contemporary Life Families and Communities.
Topics will include, but are not limited to government, travel, holidays, immegration, social media and bullying, history, music, poetry, films, legends, apprenticeship programs, sports, art and architecture. My goal it to structure the course around the six themes, but also to include students' interests in some of the decisions.
National German Exam is in January! Cost $5.00 We have never given this exam at Prairie High School, but I would like to include it this year. This test is very good practice for the AP exam. I believe that everything we can do to prepare is time well spent. We will be discussing this opportunity during class 1st semester.
Exam: The AP German Language exam will be given in May. . Many class activities will mirror the type of questions and activities on the exam. Several practice exams will be given during the semester. The last few weeks before the test are a kind of boot camp to get students ready for the test and the time limits. This time will depend on the needs of the students.
Students will be required to use German exclusively in class discussion, blogs, writing assignments and unit projects. Planned units will include but are not limited to: travel and world-wide charitable organizations/projects, German 20th century history, die Wende: German reunification, German music & film
Instructor: Beth Lillskau
Phone: 848-5500
Email: [email protected]
Grade: 12
Required Materials Binder, 2 spiral notebooks, pencils, ballpoint pens, glue stick
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Open to students entering the fourth year level of world language study. Advanced placement German is a college preparatory course offered to a select few who wish to participate in a demanding study of world language. The course is intended to be a roughly equivalent both in content and in difficulty to a third-year college language course (fifth semester). Students who wish to take the course should have a good command of grammar and considerable competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The use of language for active communication will be emphasized. The student will be expected to become proficient in the four basic language skills. The Advanced Placement German Language & Culture test, which is given in the spring, is encouraged of each student. Depending upon examination results, many colleges may award advanced standing or credit. For additional information, interested students should check with the instructor, their counselor, and catalogues of the colleges they may be considering.
In this course, students will explore the German language and culture. While the main focus will be the language and culture of the people of Germany, students will compare and contrast the language and culture of other German-speaking countries.
The AP German Language and Culture course takes a holistic approach to language proficiency and recognizes the complex interrelatedness of comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. Students should learn language structures in context and use them to convey meaning. In standards-based world language classrooms, the instructional focus is on function and not the examination of irregularity and complex grammatical paradigms about the target language. Language structures should be addressed in as much as they serve the communicative task and not as an end goal unto themselves. The AP German Language and Culture course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use and not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication.
In order to best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught in the target language. The AP German Language and Culture course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of products, both tangible (e.g., tools, books, music) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions that underlie both practices and products). 1
Students will regularly demonstrate their competencies in the target language through the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational. These are the Communication Modes that are a direct tie to the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. They provide a redefining organizing principle, and an enriched view of language that reflects real communication.
The Interpersonal Mode is characterized by the active negotiation of meaning among individuals. Participants observe and monitor one another to see how their meanings and intentions are being communicated. Adjustments and clarifications can be made accordingly.
The Interpretive Mode focuses on the appropriate cultural interpretation of meanings that occur in written and spoken form where there is no recourse to the active negotiation of meaning with the writer or the speaker.
The Presentational Mode refers to the creation of oral and written messages in a manner that facilitates interpretation by members of the other culture where no direct opportunity for the active negotiation of meaning between members of the two cultures exists.
The goals for intermediate mid - intermediate high learner are as follows:
· speak only German in class (including partner and group work.)
be willing to speak even with mistakes (we all make them and can't get better without them!)
· correct mistakes and try to learn from them, so that they do not consistently make the same basic errors.
· ask for help from the teacher or classmates when they do not understand.
· not "blow off" any assignments and make an effort to complete to the best of their abilities.
· do work independently and turn in work on time.
· spend at least 20-30 minutes a day learning new vocabulary and structure. (you won't get a lot of homework, but working outside of class makes the difference between a 3 and a 4 or 5!!!)
· apply new expressions in written and spoken work.
· understand that reading is one of the best ways to improve comprehension and vocabulary; therefore, it is best to read selections several times before going to a dictionary.
· review the grammar portion of my interactive notebook on my own.
Semester I:
- Student can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- Student can understand the main point of many radio or TV programs on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.
- Student can understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language.
- Student can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters.
- Student can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken.
- Student can enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events).
- Student can connect phrases in a simple way in order to describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions.
- Students can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
- Student can narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or film and describe reactions.
- Student can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
- Student can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.
- Student can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar.
- Student can understand most TV news and current affairs programs.
- Student can understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
- Student can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints.
- Student can understand contemporary literary prose.
- Student can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.
- Student can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views.
- Student can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to his or her interest.
- Student can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
- Student can write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects related to interests.
- Student can write an essay or report, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view.
- Student can write letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences.
Grading All assessments will fall into the following bins:
- Interpretive Communication (listening, viewing, reading comprehension) 30%
- Presentational Communication (speaking and writing) 30%
- Interpersonal Communication (speaking and writing) 30%
- Communication Basics (grammar and vocab) 10%
Assignments may include the following:
Homework assignments Socratic Seminars
Writing samples Presentations
Blogs Quizzes
Conversations Tests
Role Plays Speaking exercises
Sample e-mails
Quizzes, journal entries, speaking and written assignments, and tests will be assigned various points. Grades are entered promptly. However, most of the inclass activities are learning centered, but not graded. There will be many non-graded activities. We will be taking weekly checks on vocabulary and grammar. These will be entered into the gradebook about every 4 weeks giving a single grade representating the trend of the proficiency. Homework is periodically collected, but students can be expected to be called upon daily to demonstrate their progressing skills or mastery level of the language
Pacing and Instructional Goals:
In the course, we will use the book Denk Mal! However, we will mostly be using authentic texts, videos, movies, etc. Students will write several entries in their composition book (Tagebuch), which stays in the classroom and serves as a portfolio for as long as they remain in the German program. These will be assessed periodically as part of their presentational communication. Various Web 2.0 programs are used to enhance the student performance in the language. These include: Google Voice, Voki, Quia, Quizlet, Padlet, etc.
AP German Language and Culture course is designed around themes in order to create an interesting, meaningful context in which to explore a variety of language concepts. The themes help teachers integrate language, content, and culture into an interrelated series of lessons and activities that promote the use of the language in a variety of contexts. The AP German Language and Culture course is structured around six themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Beauty and Aesthetics, Personal and Public Identities, Contemporary Life Families and Communities.
Topics will include, but are not limited to government, travel, holidays, immegration, social media and bullying, history, music, poetry, films, legends, apprenticeship programs, sports, art and architecture. My goal it to structure the course around the six themes, but also to include students' interests in some of the decisions.
National German Exam is in January! Cost $5.00 We have never given this exam at Prairie High School, but I would like to include it this year. This test is very good practice for the AP exam. I believe that everything we can do to prepare is time well spent. We will be discussing this opportunity during class 1st semester.
Exam: The AP German Language exam will be given in May. . Many class activities will mirror the type of questions and activities on the exam. Several practice exams will be given during the semester. The last few weeks before the test are a kind of boot camp to get students ready for the test and the time limits. This time will depend on the needs of the students.
Students will be required to use German exclusively in class discussion, blogs, writing assignments and unit projects. Planned units will include but are not limited to: travel and world-wide charitable organizations/projects, German 20th century history, die Wende: German reunification, German music & film