German Conversation 1 and 2
Membership of these groups is open to current members of York U3A. Prior to joining York U3A you may attend ONE 'taster' session on payment of the room fee. Please contact the leader before attending your first session.
As we had to social distance and keep trips out of the house to a minimum, we started experimenting with Zoom, and our adventurous members have responded well. Since then we have been zooming weekly almost since the beginning of lockdown and all through the summer. With the help of various digital features, we have had a varied programme - we have been able to get into groups to discuss, read texts, and listen to up-to-date videos about the Covid-19 virus in Wiesbaden. Apart from keeping our listening materials relevant, members have been using their German contacts to keep us in touch with events over there. Another time, a member organised a Q and A session with a young German relative. And the highpoint was a recent concert of German Volkslieder by a member on the accordion. With all the worries and uncertainties in the world outside, we have had something to look forward to each week.
If anyone would like to reawaken their language skills and join us on a journey of linguistic and self discovery, then please email: german@yorku3a.com
Unser erstes offizielles Treffen mit Zoom am 3. April 2020
Volkslieder auf dem Akkordeon am 3. Juli 2020
Konversation - reden, lesen, diskutieren (Lesen Sie unten die Kursbeschreibung auf Deutsch)
Description
These groups are intended for members who already have a reasonably good grasp of German and who would like to continue with their German and develop their communication skills in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The groups would not be suitable for near-beginners.
There will be a variety of texts (such as articles from the internet, short stories, extracts from novels etc.) as “prepared” input and a basis for discussion, as well as the opportunity for “free” conversation on everyday matters, current affairs, members’ interests and general issues.
Recently we have considered prejudice and a whole range of issues relating to this, such as attitudes towards immigrants at home and abroad and jokes targeting particular groups, as well as looking at Berlin now and the effects of 30 years of reunification. We have pondered whether the German language itself is in danger from Anglicisms and have learnt about the Hotel Mama phenomenon, fairytales and various Far-Eastern insect delicacies. We have also discussed events closer to home, such as the housing crisis, Brexit and of course Donald Trump and his German origins! From time to time, we try to watch a film, or an extract of one.
*Both groups have conversation followed by a reading text and discussion arising from this, but the Friday group uses shorter texts from easier sources, which makes it a good starting point for brushing up rusty grammar and vocabulary.
Members are welcome to introduce topics, bring along texts of interest to the group or lead a session.
This may all sound very serious, but basically, we try to learn something while enjoying ourselves.
For more information
Please e-mail german@yorku3a.com
Venue and Dates of Meetings
We meet in the Woolman Room at U3A, Clifford Street, on the 2nd and 4th Thursday / 1st and 3rd Friday mornings in the month, from 10-12 approx (plus some 5th Thursdays/Fridays).
Directions
The Woolman Room is part of the Friends' Meeting House in Friargate. However, we enter the U3A Building via Clifford Street, not the Friargate entrance.
Go along Clifford Street until you get to what used to the Go Down Restaurant.
Turn down the passage by the green sign marked U3A. Enter the building by the double doors on the left, with the garden on the right.
The Woolman Room is on your right, beyond the toilets and the kitchen
Wo und wann treffen wir uns?
Wir treffen uns in der Stadtmitte und zwar in der Clifford Strasse zwischen 10 und 12 Uhr morgens.
Was kostet es?
Als U3A Mitglied zahlt man jedes Mal £1, aber der Kaffee ist kostenlos!
Was machen wir und warum sind Sprachen wichtig?
„Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von seiner eigenen.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
Wir lesen und diskutieren über alles Mögliche, z.B. Was für Vorurteile die Deutschen gegenüber den Engländern haben und umgekehrt, die Geschichte Berlins, das Leben vor und nach der Wiedervereinigung, das Phänomen der Grusel-Clowns, warum Weihnachten nicht überall in Deutschland gefeiert wird, die Flüchtlingskrise und die möglichen Konsequenzen, und natürlich Donald Trump. Wir haben uns einige Folgen von Kommissar Rex, eine Fernsehserie, angesehen, sowie auch Filme, manchmal ohne Untertitel. Wo unterhält man sich sonst über Genf, Polizeistaat, billigeres Einkaufen, Eisdielen und Makkaronifresser in derselben Stunde?
Außerdem haben Wissenschaftler herausgefunden, dass Mehrsprachigkeit viele positive Effekte besitzt. Neben einer verbesserten Gedächtnisleistung, hilft es nämlich auch bei der Vorbeugung gegen Alzheimer.
Also, warum nicht Deutsch? Keine Sorge. Wir helfen uns gegenseitig mit den Vokabeln aus!
Neue Mitglieder, gerne auch Muttersprachler, sind sehr willkommen, wenn die Gruppe nicht voll belegt ist.
Was kann man noch machen, wenn man sich für Deutsch und Deutschland interessiert?
Wer sich für Deutschland, deutsche Geschichte, Kultur und Politik interessiert, würde vielleicht auch gerne der York Anglo-German Society (YAGS) beitreten.
Wer gern wandert, kann der Anglo-German Walks Gruppe beitreten (siehe unten auf der YAGS Seite).
Wer sich für Deutsch und Deutschland interessiert, würde vielleicht auch gerne der York-Münster Town-Twinning Association beitreten.
Wer sich gern mit anderen Deutsch Sprechenden und auch Muttersprachlern unterhalten möchte, sollte die The York German Language Meetup Group besuchen. Weitere Informationen: https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/The-York-German-Language-Meetup-Group/
oder Sie könnten auch DeutschSoc an der Universität York besuchen (Whether you're a German student, a native speaker or are simply interested in the language and culture, DeutschSoc welcomes anyone and everyone!)
A new member of the German Conversation Group this year has been Rhea the helper-dog, who accompanies her master and listens attentively. She is definitely bi-lingual if not tri-lingual, as I believe she also enjoys a bit of Italian.
For a treat, a member of the German Conversation Group kindly brought in some biscuits, baked in the shape of the Ampelmännchen, the little figures wearing a hat, who appear on the pedestrian lights, telling people whether they may cross the road or not. These are some of the rare items from the East which have been retained and have now become an icon of Berlin.
See Archive Page for memories of previous years.