This course will focus on all four aspects of communication:
listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Students will be engaged
in vocabulary and grammar exercises, use of audio and video materials,
and limited cultural exploration. Success is dependent on the student's
commitment to daily review and independent study.
Grammatical Concepts:
-verb conjunction - regular and irregular verbs in the present, conversational
and narrative
past, subjunctive mood, and word construction
-gender, number, and adjectives
-use of adjectives
-word order, independent and dependent clauses
-pronouns - subject, direct and indirect object, and reflexive
-possession
-compounds
Communication and comprehension skills relating to:
media, festivals, music, vacation, occupations, literature, living, science
and technology, pop-
culture, and other countries
We will work:
-to understand German when spoken at a normal speed on a subject within
the range of
your experience
-to speak well enough to communicate directly with a native speaker on
a subject within the
range of your experience
-to read with direct understanding, without recourse to English translation,
material on a
general subject
-to understand many cultural aspects of the German speaking people
In first year German, you will
learn how to ask and answer questions about school activities, entertainment
and leisure time activities, traveling, shopping, clothing, and sports.
You will be able to talk about yourself, your friends, your family and
personal experiences. You will be able to make yourself understood
and react appropriately in simple social interactions.
In second year German, you will
expand your communicating skills and will be able to talk about hobbies,
foods, holidays and festivals, professions, vacation plans, health, camping,
and other topics. You will be able to talk to others about driving,
using various means of transportation, environmental issues, shopping in
different stores and markets. You will also learn how to write letters,
name animals, describe a German house or apartment, identify parts of a
car, and talk about major events and festivals in small towns and large
cities in Germany.
In first and second year German,
you gained an understanding of the German language and way of life of today's
German speaking countries. In third year German, you will be shown
highlights of past centuries and technological contributions made in science,
literature, and the arts. You will have discussions about the environment,
social problems, health, media and technology. As you can relate
both the German and American cultures, you will start to appreciate their
world just as much as we appreciate ours.
