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German Language and Culture Classes at the New School of Northern Virginia, 2008/2009 Introduction to German Language and Culture This course is not a typical, traditional German III class, as it attempts to incorporate all aspects of German life and culture. Through the use of realia (actual items from the German-speaking world with German inscription or messages on them, e.g. signs, wrappers, gravy mixes) students will apply their multiple intellingences to first build a basic, then a more advanced vocabulary and slowly develop an understanding of essential grammatical structures—all along learning a lot about things German. Students present one German media item per week and complete a quarterly project of their choosing. An exit exam is required for continuing on the next level. All material suitable for the students’ foreign language portfolios is to be collected throughout the year. Acquiring language is a life-long process in your native language, and even more so in acquiring foreign language skills. As your teacher/coach, I look forward to sharing German language and culture with you in a variety of interesting ways. Students will be adequately challenged if they are enthusiastic, self-motivated, and take FULL ADVANTAGE of the opportunities we as faculty will make available. Don’t worry excessively about mistakes in the beginning. We expect many errors---but making errors in speaking or writing a foreign language does not constitute what we would call a “mistake” for grading purposes. The only real mistake you can make in my class is not truly trying. In time you will make fewer errors. You will be surprised at how much you can say and how much more you will actually be able to understand in just a few weeks if you ACTIVELY LISTEN in class. FLUENCY IS NOT A GOAL OR A REASONABLE EXPECTATION AT THIS LEVEL OF STUDY. We will build beginning and intermediate communicative skills and acquire insights into German-speaking culture and the geography (and related economy, etc.) of Germany. FOCUS SKILL: Managing materials and time to accomplish goals IMPORTANT DUE DATES: BY THE END OF EACH WEEK STUDENTS SHOULD MASTER ONE TARGET GRAMMAR GOAL (CONJUGATION, DECLENSION, OR A SYNTACTICAL PARTICULARITY) AND HALF A DOZEN OF SAYINGS/ IDIOMS. MEDIA “CLIPPING” ON A GERMAN(Y)-RELATED TOPIC ALSO DUE BY THE END OF EVERY WEEK QUARTERLY PROJECT TO BE PRESENTED IN WEEK EIGHT--TOPIC SHOULD BE SELECTED BY THE END OF WEEK FOUR OF EACH QUARTER. BY THE END OF WEEK SIX OF FOURTH QUARTER BE READY TO TAKE THE GERMAN EXIT EXAM FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF GERMAN. PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT: A new language is a new tool of COMMUNICATION--a new tool for COOPERATION--for SHARING EXPERIENCES---and for developing an UNDERSTANDING of others and of another culture. We are allies, conversation partners, tutors, and friends. We do not tolerate disrespect of one another in our classes. Disrespect and acts of unkindness undermine the entire philosophy of the cooperative learning experience and constitute, with minimal warning, a sure ticket out of class. An opportunity for re-admittance requires a written apology and an acceptable written statement regarding your mission in our community of German language learners. GRADING: 25% CLASS PARTICIPATION (OWNERSHIP/PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT): Although the teacher specifies the general activities in order to balance and accommodate the use of all of the multiple intelligences in the curriculum, the manner and extent of student participation is chiefly student-directed and requires serious initiative for maximum gain and credit. Prepare--Arrive on Time--Listen--Speak-up--Cooperate = Full credit. ACHTUNG! Lateness will be strictly deducted from your participation grade. It is crucial that you present yourself in class on time and ready to learn German. Also, pay full attention to the New School’s absence policy regarding automatic withdrawal in the most recent Student Handbook. Again, I do not expect fluency. But I do expect individual cooperation and cooperation in group activities. A daily grade is earned and computed weekly in Power School.. The essential skills emphasized in classroom participation: the ability to collaborate, to communicate effectively orally, to work creatively, to accomplish goals, to solve problems, to understand different perspectives, to think and act ethically, to persist in achieving quality, and to act for the benefit of the community. 25% ORAL PERFORMANCE: GENERAL DAILY STUDY is entirely student-directed. Be honest with yourself; do you possess the self-discipline to regularly study what is done in class and master the material outside of class? If not, German is probably not a good foreign language choice for you. Without sincere interest and sustained effort, the increasingly complex structures and irregularities can become too daunting for many students. Students and parents, please reflect on this fact NOW. There will always be some form of homework. If, after a few days of attending class, you do not understand what I mean by this, or you do not know how to study this way, you MUST see me immediately. Even if do not assign a specific oral or written exercise, I expect you to hear, read, speak or write German and/or work on your binder (see below) at least 15-20 minutes every day If you expect more than minimal progress, do more than this. You may be able to pass this class and have a good time doing the bare minimum if you so choose. You will not, however, gain a useful command of the language over time. The extent of progress is entirely up to the student. My teaching style assumes mature students and emphasizes the student-worker/teacher-coach relationship. Student-directed homework assumes the student will review interactive classroom activities and memorize important language structures and vocabulary from handouts, texts, and class notes. This step cannot be habitually skipped or crammed. Returning students know we play many games in class, and that they are fun and useful language learning tools. However, PLEASE do not make the mistake of considering them to be “play” as such. You must master, IN SCHOOL AND AT HOME, the skills and vocabulary we practice in class when we play. I enjoy presenting material in entertaining ways, and I really try to teach to the multiple intelligences; yet it is still the student’s responsibility to become engaged in the learning and progress. I will provide video and audio tapes. Play them repeatedly!! You will be "tuning" your ear to the new language. Tape-record yourself repeating after the native speakers. Compare and tape again, trying to imitate as closely as possible. There is plenty of evidence to indicate that those students who take the initiative and immerse themselves as much as possible do considerably better in language learning. Remember: you will gain comprehension over time. The more your exposure to the language, the more your comprehension and working vocabulary will grow. Even if you only catch a word here and there at first, you ARE making progress! I keep a library of German magazines, newspapers, books, audio and video tapes, interactive games in German for use in the classroom or to lend. There is everything from kindergarten level to ‘highbrow’ literature. Borrow materials! Ask me for things! I will make every effort to accommodate your requests for additional useful material. (But please be careful to keep track of these items.) 25% WRITTEN WORK: IN CLASS AND AT HOME (HAUSAUFGABEN) is generally short and most always prepare for or reinforce a classroom experience. This material must be prepared and turned in on time. I will not accept late homework for full credit. You need to be prepared to fully participate and make our interactive classroom experience go. I will be contacting the advisor/parents of any student who demonstrates chronic deficiencies in student work. This is defined as anything other than an occasional missed assignment. Homework is never busy-work; rather, the opportunity for preparation, repetition, and reinforcement that it provides is essential to foreign language progress. Work missed for illness or necessary absences must be handed in the day after you return. Prolonged absences will be negotiated with me on an individual basis. The essential skills emphasized in written homework preparation: the ability to work independently, to accomplish goals, to apply effective research methods, to solve problems, to work creatively, to persist in achieving quality and to communicate effectively in writing (in a foreign language). 25% ASSESSMENTS: Tests, Quizzes, Projects (although teacher-directed in nature, students receive considerable credit for demonstrating progress achieved through student-directed study): Several oral and written quizzes and a quarterly test are generally planned. Most oral testing is done in pairs or groups (low stress). Quizzes and tests are always well announced. The essential skills emphasized in assessments: the ability to work independently, and to collaborate (as in group assessments), the ability to solve problems, to contextualize information and make connections, to think and act ethically, to work creatively, and to communicate effectively at an appropriate level, both orally and in writing (in a foreign language) WEEKLY ARTICLE/QUARTERLY PROJECT : We will discuss this in class. Every week, hand in one article about something related to the German-speaking world. Quarterly Project: Many students will do this in English. Students choose a topic to investigate each quarter. Students have lots of freedom to follow their interests. Basically, I want you to investigate something you find interesting about things German (person, place, thing, event, organization, etc.) and share it with the class. There are a few boundaries I will discuss in class. I keep a binder of culture capsules in the classroom should you need to jump-start your imagination. There will be a minimum 1 page written report to be handed in and a 4-5 minute presentation to the class with a question/answer session afterwards. To receive full credit, you must turn in your written work on time. You must present on the day we agree upon. Think of these projects as “mini-exhibitions” and practice the essential skills appropriate to that setting. The essential skills emphasized in projects: the ability to work independently (and collaboratively in group projects), the ability to accomplish goals, to apply effective research methods, to solve problems, to appreciate and understand different perspectives, to contextualize information and make connections, to work creatively, and to communicate effectively. This grading system is deliberately weighted to give ample credit for active, constructive participation in class and gives students considerable personal control over their progress and the grade earned. The twelve essential skills generated by our faculty and staff will be routinely practiced in meeting the requirements of our German language learning class. Students who arrive on time and participate earnestly can take pride in their accomplishments and progress. Conversely, students arriving late, arriving without books, notebooks and writing implements, failing to take the initiative in student-directed study and arriving academically unprepared for the activities of the day will suffer considerably: first, by being aware of their lack of progress and second by earning minimal or poor grades. WHAT GRADE CAN I EXPECT? A Outstanding in all areas of consideration. Does more than assigned work, an independent thinker; is constantly reliable and responsible. B Above average in most areas. Does more than assigned work; often solves problems independently; is generally responsible. C Average in all or most areas. Does the assignments and meets basic requirements; is generally a consistent worker in class. D Below average expectations in most areas. Does not complete assignments; has not developed the ability for self-discipline. F Unsatisfactory in almost all areas of consideration. ONE MORE NOTE ON ATTENDANCE: An interactive classroom pivots on your being there! We need you! Excessive absences disrupt the group learning process and significantly hinder the language acquisition process. Note: please remember to find out what you missed and complete missed assignments by the next day when you are ill or elect to go on field trips during language time. Students who are not achieving at least a "C" average are strongly discouraged from taking time out of class for field trips. MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES BREAKDOWN OF ACTIVITIES: Visual/Spatial: drawing pictures, making visual ABCs, making town maps, using props for charades, using your imagination for visual imagery/association in the learning of noun genders and vocabulary, illustrated emotions poster, other posters, maps, drawing floor plans of home, photographing and describing family, home, and furnishings, video language-learning, films, art studies of Bauhaus,etc., interpreting fairy tales. Body/Kinesthetic: charades, pantomiming vocabulary, especially regarding emotion adjectives, role-playing and skits after viewing German videos, class play, playing games, student work on the board,, Folk dancing, responding to commands - TPR (total physical response) activities (e.g. ”count-in-German” Frisbee), field trips down memory lane to German ethnic spots. Musical: German folk songs, instructional rap beat tunes, student musical performances, group dancing, recognition of musical styles of major German composers. Verbal/Linguistic: speaking, performing dialogues, listening to German audio tapes, reading and writing fairy tales, writing, vocabulary (especially dictionary skills), grammar exercises, translation, pronunciation practice. Intrapersonal: concentration and visual imagery for associative learning, writing about yourself, describing yourself, collage of self, identifying motivation for language learning, goal setting for student-directed learning and independent projects, self assessment. Interpersonal: Internet activities, German language building CDs, group and whole class activities, partner work, dialogues, working cooperatively in computer lab and on geo/culture days, collage of social self, maintaining open communication with instructor, field trips. Logical/Mathematical: computer-based learning, crossword puzzles, word searches, learning numbers, telling time, finding patterns, identifying and manipulating important "superstructures" of the German language, categorizing prepositions, translation. Natural: hiking field trips, environmental appreciation—with German dictionary in hand. Dr. Peter Werres, September 2008 Please feel free to contact me with your concerns. You can leave a message with either Valoria in the office or via my e-mail address: pwerres@gmu.edu Student's signature_____________________________Date______________________ Parent's signature______________________________Date______________________ Please note: your reading and signing this (and having it signed by a parent) is part of your “Entry Project” into German!