Instructor: Beth Lillskau
Phone: 848-5500
E-Mail: [email protected]
Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 3 or permission from teacher
Grade:11-12
Credit: 1
Required Materials
Three-ring binder, two spiral notebooks, glue stick pencils, ballpoint pens
Basic language principles are reviewed. There is further development of language skills through discussion, dictation, and composition. Reading is also emphasized. Texts include news articles, audio-visual resources from the Internet, fairy tales, and audio-stories. German is the primary language of instruction and discussion. The main instruction of this course will be pre-AP, as most students will continue onto the AP German Language and Culture course. Students who advanced from level 2 to this course are expected to continue through AP.
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 textbook, Denk Mal! will serve as a foundation, but it will be heavily supplemented with authentic materials and other instructional materials when deemed appropriate by the instructor.
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.
Communication Basics are the vocabulary and grammar structures that provide the base for all of the other standards. These are so important because without this base, none of the other standards are possible.
There are also 6 themes that flow though all of the levels of German. They are: Global Challenges, Personal and Public Identities, Beauty and Aesthetics, Family and Community, Science and Technology, and Contemporary Life. These themes help to deepen understanding of culture.
The goals for intermediate low - intermediate high learner are as follows:
Semester I:
- Student can understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment).
- Student can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.
- 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 read very short, simple texts.
- Student can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and can understand short simple personal letters.
- 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 communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities.
- Student can handle very short social exchanges, even though he or she can't usually understand enough to keep the conversation going himself.
Semester II:
- 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 use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms my family and other people, living conditions, my educational background and my present or most recent job.
- Student can connect phrases in a simple way in order to describe experiences and events, my dreams, hopes and ambitions.
- Student 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 my reactions.
- Student can write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate needs.
- Student can write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something.
- Student can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. He or she can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.
Required Materials
Three-ring binder, two spiral notebooks, glue stick pencils, ballpoint pens
Grading
Students will be evaluated on the following standards:
- Interpretive Communication (listening, viewing, reading)
- Presentational Communication (speaking and writing)
- Interpersonal Communication (speaking and writing)
- Communication Basics (vocabulary and grammar)
- Culture
Assignments may include the following:
Sample e-mails 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 score 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
Possible Topics:
Familie & Schule Goodbye Lenin
Feste und Fieretage Fasching & Elvis in Köln
die Umwelt Legende und Märchen
Berufe und Trinkgeld
Pacing and Instructional Goals:
In the course, the book Denk Mal! will serve as a support. 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. Various Web 2.0 programs are used to enhance the student performance in the language. These include: Google Voice, Blogging, Padlet, Quia and Quizlet etc.