Contest Resources

At the actual speaking event you will draw a card at random. Each card will contain similar kinds of information to the one below. You have two minutes to practice introducing the new you. Then you tell the judges about your new self, your family, interests, etc. in one minute. After the minute is up, a timer will interrupt you and tell you to stop.

You will be able to use the card during your presentation in front of the judges, but you may not write anything on the card during your preparation time.

The new you may be from Germany (BRD), Switzerland (CH), Austria (A) or Liechtenstein (FL). Please be aware of the country’s abbreviation.

A plus sign (+) is indicating something the person likes or is good at. The minus sign (-) is the opposite.

You might see the following information:

Gerd Müller geb. 9.12.2010

Marienstr. 6

Hamburg (BRD) Schüler

Familie:

Jochen Müller (41) Tischler

Sabine Müller (40) Hausfrau

Günter Müller (17) Schüler

Gabi Müller (10) Schülerin

Interessen:

Lesen (+) Schach (-)

Fussball (+) Comics sammeln (-)

Tennis (+)

Schule:

Schiller Gymnasium

9. Klasse

Englisch (+) Geometrie (-)

Lieblingsfarbe: blau

Lieblingsessen: Kartoffelsalat

High School Level 1

A. High School Level 1 Poem

Memorize this poem. (Don’t forget the title and the author!)

,,Ich, du, er, sie, es"

von Josef Guggenmos

Ich,

du

er,

sie,

es

standen am See

auf der Wiese

im Sonnenschein.

Da fiel

mir,

dir

und ihm

etwas ein.

Ich,

du

und er

riefen:

“Wir springen

ins Wasser

und schwimmen!”

Sie

und es

sagten:

“Schwimmt ihr im See!

Wir bleiben hier

und essen Klee.”

Ich war ich.

Du warst du

Er hieß Frosch

Sie hieß Kuh

Es hieß Kalb

Deshalb.

B. High School Level 1 Situation

Pretend you are the person listed on the card (sample card below) and introduce yourself.

At the actual speaking event you will draw a card at random. Each card will contain similar kinds of information to the one below. You have two minutes to practice introducing the new you. Then you tell the judges about your new self, your family, interests, etc. in one minute. After the minute is up, a timer will interrupt you and tell you to stop.

You will be able to use the card during your presentation in front of the judges, but you may not write anything on the card during your preparation time.

The new you may be from Germany (BRD), Switzerland (CH), Austria (A) or Liechtenstein (FL). Please be aware of the country’s abbreviation.

A plus sign (+) is indicating something the person likes or is good at. The minus sign (-) is the opposite.

You might see the following information:

Gerd Müller geb. 9.12.2010

Marienstr.6

Hamburg (BRD) Schüler

Familie:

Jochen Müller (41) Tischler

Sabine Müller (40) Hausfrau

Günter Müller (17) Schüler

Gabi Müller (10) Schülerin

Interessen:

Lesen (+) Schach (-)

Fussball (+) Comics sammeln (-)

Tennis (+)

Schule:

Schiller Gymnasium

9. Klasse

Englisch (+) Geometrie (-)

Lieblingsfarbe: blau

Lieblingsessen: Kartoffelsalat

High School Level 2

A. High School Level 2

Memorize this poem. (Don’t forget the title and the author!)

,,Der Unentbehrliche"

von Wilhelm Busch

Wirklich, er war unentbehrlich!

Überall, wo was geschah

Zu dem Wohle der Gemeinde, 

Er war tätig, er war da. 

Schützenfest, Kasinobälle,

Pferderennen, Preisgericht, 

Liedertafel, Spritzenprobe, 

Ohne ihn da ging es nicht.  

Ohne ihn war nichts zu machen,

Keine Stunde hatt’ er frei.

Gestern, als sie ihn begruben,

War er richtig auch dabei.

B. Level 2 Situation (two students)

Each pair will draw a situational card at random. There are six possible situations that are listed below. These are not the exact topics but they are fairly close, so that the students can prepare vocabulary. The two students have 5 minutes to prepare. Then they present their conversation in front of the judges. They need to talk at least ONE minute, but not more than two minutes. If the students desire, a timer can give them a signal when one minute is up. The timer will tell the students to stop when two minutes have passed. The students can hold on to the card at all times during the presentation, but no notes may be used during their preparation and presentation.

The two of you are planning a party.
You have just met and are getting to know one another.
The two of you want to go out together. You discuss when, where etc.
You discuss school and give opinions about it.
You discuss your interests, activities, and what you do in your free time.
You discuss your pets over the phone with your exchange partner in Germany.

High School Level 3

A. High School Level 3 Poem

Memorize this poem. (Don’t forget the title and the author!)

,,Was es ist"

von Erich Fried

Es ist Unsinn

sagt die Vernunft

Es ist was es ist

sagt die Liebe

Es ist Unglück

sagt die Berechnung

Es ist nichts als Schmerz

sagt die Angst

Es ist aussichtslos

sagt die Einsicht

Es ist was es ist

sagt die Liebe

Es ist lächerlich

sagt der Stolz

Es ist leichtsinning

sagt die Vorsicht

Es ist unmöglich

sagt die Erfahrung

Es ist was es ist

sagt die Liebe

* Level 3 Option

At this level, students have two options (B or C) for the speaking part.

B. Level 3 Situation (two students)

Each pair will draw a situational card at random. There are six possible situations that are listed below. These are not the exact topics but they are fairly close, so that the students can prepare vocabulary. The two students have 5 minutes to prepare. Then they present their conversation in front of the judges. They need to talk at least ONE minute, but not more than two minutes. If the students desire, a timer can give them a signal when one minute is up. The timer will tell the students to stop when two minutes have passed. The students can hold on to the card at all times during the presentation, but no notes may be used during their preparation and presentation.

You discuss problems at home, including your parents and your relationship with them.
You are planning a birthday celebration for your grandmother.
One of you has just returned from a vacation. You discuss it.
You discuss how each of you tries to stay healthy and fit.
You discuss money, obtaining it and spending it.
When your tennis game is rained out, you discuss alternate activities you can do.

C. Storytelling (individual)

The student draws a fairy tale at random and has two minutes to prepare one of the approved fairy tales (Rotkäppchen, Bremer Stadtmusikanten or Aschenputtel). He/she retells the fairy tale in a minimum time of two minutes and a maximum time of four minutes. The storyteller must sit in a chair; other costumes or props are not permitted.

High School Level 4

A. High School Level 4/5

Memorize this poem. (Don’t forget the title and the author!)

,,Die Lorelei "

von Heinrich Heine

Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,

Daß ich so traurig bin,

Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,

Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.

Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,

Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;

Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt,

Im Abendsonnenschein.

Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet

Dort oben wunderbar,

Ihr goldenes Geschmeide blitzet,

Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.

Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme,

Und singt ein Lied dabei;

Das hat eine wundersame,

Gewaltige Melodei.

Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe,

Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;

Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,

Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.

Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen

Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;

Und das hat mit ihrem Singen,

Die Lorelei getan.

* Level 4/5 Option

At this level, students have two options (B or C) for the speaking part.

B. Situation (two students)

Each pair will draw a situational card at random. There are six possible situations that are listed below. These are not the exact topics but they are fairly close, so that the students can prepare vocabulary. The two students have 5 minutes to prepare. Then they present their conversation in front of the judges. They need to talk at least ONE minute, but not more than two minutes. If the students desire, a timer can give them a signal when one minute is up. The timer will tell the students to stop when two minutes have passed. The students can hold on to the card at all times during the presentation, but no notes may be used during their preparation and presentation.

You have a discussion with your guidance counselor about future job possibilities.
You graduated and are determined to go to Europe. Convince a friend to come along.
You have a problem with a friend and ask another friend for advice.
You discuss a local or global issue.
You graduated and now you have to decide where to live.
You tell a friend about an interesting or funny TV show you saw. She/he responds, asks questions about details, or tells of his/her interesting or funny show.

C. Storytelling (individual)

The student draws a fairy tale at random and has two minutes to prepare one of the approved fairy tales (Rotkäppchen, Bremer Stadtmusikanten or Aschenputtel). He/she retells the fairy tale in a minimum time of two minutes and a maximum time of four minutes. The storyteller must sit in a chair; other costumes or props are not permitted.

Judging Ballots

JUDGING BALLOT (REGIONAL)

Participant: __________________________________________________________________

Circle the appropriate level:

Middle School HS Level 1 HS Level 2 HS Level 3 HS Level 4/5

Outstanding (5) Very good (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs Improvement (1)

Prepared Poem Rating (Circle a number; ½ points possible)

Pronunciation 5 4 3 2 1

(of individual words, sounds)

Fluency 5 4 3 2 1

(Flow of words)

Interpretation 5 4 3 2 1

(demonstrates understanding)

Memorization 5 4 3 2 1

(knowledge of text)

Comments:

Extemporaneous Conversation

Pronunciation of sight vocabulary 5 4 3 2 1

(Words on information card)

Comprehensibility 5 4 3 2 1

(Phrases presented in an understandable,

mostly grammatical way)

Amount of information presented 5 4 3 2 1

(Most of available cues conveyed in

the presentation)

Fluency 5 4 3 2 1

(Flow of words)

Comments:

_______________________________________

Judge’s Signature Total Point Value: _______

JUDGING BALLOT (STATE)

Participant: __________________________________________________________________

Circle the appropriate level:

Middle School HS Level 1 HS Level 2 HS Level 3 HS Level 4/5

Superior (5) Very good (4) Good (3) Average (2) Low (1)

Prepared Poem Rating (Circle a number; ½ points possible))

Pronunciation 5 4 3 2 1

(of individual words, sounds)

Fluency 5 4 3 2 1

(Flow of words)

Intonation 5 4 3 2 1

(Emphasis, pause, volume, pitch)

Physical presence 5 4 3 2 1

(Facial expressions, gestures, eye contact)

Comments:

Extemporaneous Conversation

Language skills - technical use 5 4 3 2 1

(Transition, vivid and appropriate

word choice)

Language skills - conversational use 5 4 3 2 1

(Initiative/responding, logical and

understandable)

Speaking skills 5 4 3 2 1

(Pronunciation, rate, pitch, inflection)

Physical presence 5 4 3 2 1

(Poise, facial expressions, eye contact,

gestures)

Comments:

_______________________________________

Judge’s Signature Total Point Value: _______