As we are embarking on this journey to become self-reliant learners in a distance learning format, we need to adjust expectations and get used to the new set-up. This period of distance learning is a great opportunity to become more self-reliant in your learning and an advocate for your needs. This is a skill you will need 100% when you are in college. You will be taking online or hybrid courses, so here is your chance to practice these skills in a safe environment. Below are some suggestions to keep you on track and all of us sane and productive in the process.
1. Set a schedule for yourself
Most important: Impose a structure on yourself for every day. Set aside normal school day time for studying and completing assignments, e.g. “I start at 9 am and will work on class assignments in the following order (e.g. English, Math, German, Enviro etc) I will take a 20 min break at 11 am and have lunch at 1 pm. I will finish all work for the day at 3pm, so I can have some free time”.
2. Assign yourself a daily workload
Distance Learning instructions are oftentimes given for the whole week instead of every day. Set aside a certain amount of time or a certain amount of work you want to accomplish every day. You will have to mature quickly here, distance learning takes a whole lot of self-motivation. You will also spend a bunch of time in front of the computer or your phone. If you are normally struggling to get your homework done in the afternoons, make sure you set goals and follow a schedule!!!! It is always nicer to get through the material earlier in the week on your own than to be totally overwhelmed by the end of the week when everything is due at once. This allows you also extra time in case technology breaks down or you have unexpected questions or need support.
3. Have a planner for assignments and deadlines
Have a planner or a calendar (physical or online) to take down all deadlines and note down assignments for each day. Since distance learning assignments are oftentimes given for the entire week, break assignments into chunks you would like to accomplish every day (e.g. I am going to study the vocab on Monday, do vocab test and listening assignment on Tuesday, write journal entry and book exercises 1-4 on Wednesday, etc.)
4. Recruit help from others to stay on track
Recruit your parents/guardians/older siblings/friends to help keep you on track. Come up with an agreement for work hours with your parents/guardians/friends. Show them or tell them about the work you have accomplished for each class at the end of the day, have them safe-keep your video game console until the work is done. Ask them to check in with you multiple times each day to make sure you are moving forward. Have them limit screen time on social networking websites during work hours (I know this seems scary, but do it for your own good!)
5. Read instructions – twice
As we were setting up technology to complete assignments, I have been inundated with messages of students who had trouble signing into a service or have a hard time using technologies such as google docs. Oftentimes students sent me a message asking how to do it only to follow up a few minutes laster saying that they now realized on their own what to do. I want to plead with you to PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TWICE AND LOOK FOR ATTACHMENTS OR OTHER INFO. READ ALL OF GIVEN INFO AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN. GIVE IT A REAL EFFORT. Still having problems? Look at Confused – what to do. And I am also available to help. My goal
6. Confused – what to do
Technological Issues
Content Issues
7. Work with a buddy
Many of you (particularly in the intermediate and above classes) already have a buddy in class. Please let me know who your study buddy is (it is also ok to have a group of three or four) and help each other out with questions, confusion etc. This is a person you can text or call to go over material, to check answers and to do oral exercises with. You are welcome to complete worksheets together as long as it is not required as individual work. Working together means that you are each doing the work, but are contacting each other to go over answers or have a joint face time or phone work time. It does not mean copying from one another! If you cannot come up with a person for a study buddy yourself, please let me know and I will help get you connected.
8. Create a team!
Just like we had class teams in the table arrangements, I would like to continue with class teams of 3 or four students to help each other out. The team will be the table you sat at most recently. This is your support system. You may also propose your own team or three or four and I might take that into consideration. I will make final team assignments.
9. Use office hours
Office hours will be regularly posted on my website. I will use Zoom to hold live office hours. Please accept invitation if you have questions and then dial or join office hours. This is a new but pretty easy format, just follow instructions. Office hours at this point will be open to all grades. Expect a new invitation (via remind) to office hours each day. You only have to join office hours in case you have questions, concerns or suggestions (or to say hi!)
10. Complete work early, so you have a chance to deal with technical difficulties or questions that arise as you complete the assignment
Having dealt with distance learning both as a student and as an instructor, I cannot stress this enough. Get your work done early so you are not bogged down with technical difficulties or last-minute questions. Office hours are for questions, doing your work just before it is due will mean that you will miss a chance to ask questions!
11. Use your book or online resources
Much information can be found in your book or by doing an online search.
12. Do not use google translate or other translation services (that includes your great aunt in Germany)
This is cheating and will result in 0 points. Sometimes you might get away with it, oftentimes I can tell. I will ask you to explain grammar structures, vocab choices, content ideas. If you cannot answer the questions, I will assume it is not your own work. Second incident or cheating on a larger assignment will result in the incident being reported to the RUHS administration. I am really strict on this. My experience with my students is that they are are capable of producing good work on their own!
13. Frau Meyers as a Resource
I am available to help you along the process. I got your back! But please remember that I am fulfilling a wide range of new duties at this point. Creating a website, creating assignments, making resources available, creating grammar instruction videos, creating guidance documents, creating online quizzes and test, contacting students and parents. The new format requires new adjustments from me, it is different than having normal classroom time. I am here to help you, but my time is not spent wisely responding to questions that can easily be answered by students being more thorough in figuring out answers. Please also note that I am working normal working hours, but I cannot stop what I am doing every few minutes to answer a remind question. I get 50+ student remind messages each day. Please follow guidelines under “Confused – what to do” above or wait until I check remind between tasks. Best way to be able to actually talk to me is during office hours (posted online). Instructions for assignment are available on our website. https://sites.google.com/site/uhsgermantucson/
I will update this website often, clarifying instructions as needed, adding FAQs as needed.
14. Be positive and kind.
This time requires extra patience and kindness with one another. Please make sure to email or text me or other students with kindness and patience. We all will be frustrated through this process with technology, unclear instructions, resources that are inexplicably inaccessible, assignments that are too hard or too easy etc. I will make mistakes and will need kind reminders and feedback about them. I will also apply this appeal to myself, to be patient with you and to react with professionalism and kindness rather than stress or annoyance.
Best of luck to all of us! This too shall pass! Stay healthy and do things to keep you sane. Be outside. Work out. Stay in contact with friends and classmates. Read positive affirmations. Meditate. Have fun. Participate in social distancing. Check in remotely on older family members and friends you have not been in contact with for a while. Think of the needs of the others. Contribute to chores and the well-being of all members of your family. Have a positive attitude. Be kind!
Where can I find assignments or work updates?
Our website lists weekly assignments with deadlines, points, where to access the assignment. Check the website!
Speaking: How to practice speaking when not in class
What content will we cover?
How will assessments work?
What is the workload for this class?
I am preparing for about 45 minutes of work for each day. Total work for the week will be about 4 hours. This will very much depend on the student. I am trying to make that the average time, for some students it will be 5 hours, for some students, it will be 2 1-2 hours, depending on work pace, comprehension, aptitude etc
Will I learn the material correctly?
The great news is that you are already ¾ of a school year in. You know how to write sentences, how to pronounce things, lots of grammar (even in German 1-2). We will build on what we know and we will spiral around to review the material we are covering again next semester again (I do this every year even in normal instruction). All thing we go over again and again, so do not be worried about having holes, I got you, we will continue working on these grammar points we are learning.
Will I get proper instruction?
Distance learning is definitely different than in-person instruction. When I was working at Pima College for many years, I saw students who completed the same level class (German 101)- one set of students who took the class in-person, a few students who took the class online. There is no questions in my mind that in-person instruction with a good teacher is far superior to online learning for learning world languages which depends so much on communication. Here is the good news: You already hat ¾ of a year with in-person instruction with a great teacher (not to toot my own horn too much), so a little online instruction will NOT hurt you! I will still address all the different skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking, culture). I expect to be back in the classroom with you in the fall at the latest, so let´s not fret!
What format will class exercises take?
We will use a wide variety of exercises: book and workbook and copy package exercises, videos, reading content online, grammar exercises, recording yourself and speaking, sometimes how-to videos with power-points, sometimes life lecture, sometimes recorded lecture. In some levels reading a book and doing a worksheet.
What about my studies being impacted by technological difficulties and communication issues?
For this class, our website, remind and google docs will be your best friend. Once we are fully set up, you will get used to the different technologies. Office hours on Zoom were super easy to navigate! Our website will tell you very clearly what you need to accomplish each week! Make sure to start working on assignments right at the beginning of the week, so you have time to address technical problems and get help from me.
What if we do not go over the material we would normally learn in class?
We will learn a modified version of the material we normally learn in class. For German 1-2 that will be Chapter 4 and prep for National German Exam, for German 3-4 that will be Chapter 9, for German 5-6 that will be several projects. For AP German it will be AP Prep. Whatever we do not cover, we will cover in the next level in the fall semester. Remember, I am the only German teacher on campus, I know where you left off and what we need to cover!
What is the National German Exam?
The National German Exam is a nationally recognized test for students of German. RUHS German students take the exam every year/level. It tests your abilities to understand audio and visual content, as well a comprehend texts and graphs in the foreign language. It is a great way to get some feedback about your progress in German.
I am worried about staying motivated at home!
Please read my tips on how to become a self-reliant distance learner. Routine is your friend. Get up for normal school hours (ok- maybe follow a modal schedule and get up at 9!) Set goals for each day. Work in a team via zoom! Recruit your parents to be cheerleaders!
How can I communicate with Frau Meyers?
First, before writing me with a question, please check if you have followed all the steps from the document “How to become a self-reliant distance learner” section: Confused – what do I do?
If you still have question, join my office hours or send me a remind or email. I will not always get back to you right away on remind or email, but I do check them multiple times a day. Remind office hours at 9am – 1pm after that I might or might not respond until the next morning.
Can I turn assignments in late?
NOOOOOOO, and I am going to be super strict on that. I am dealing with such a huge amount of data in all sorts of different formats, I will not allow for assignments to be turned in late. It is just too crazy for me to have to open all the different formats again, find you, open synergy etc. I just do not have the time to spare to spend 5 minutes just looking up one assignment, just like it is not a good use of my time to remind students 3 or 4 times to please complete a survey, please sign up for duolingo etc. You need to be a good class citizen and do things the FIRST TIME you are asked and you need to turn in assignments BY THE DUE DATE. Feel free to turn assignments in EARLY!
Can I still make up work from last quarter?
Unless you made an arrangement with me due to special circumstances, NO.
What if I get sick?
Please contact me and have your parents contact me to make special arrangements for make-up work or deadline extensions.
Will you please give us lots of reminders on when what is due?
NOOOOO, all this information can be found on your class page and is available to you 24/7, I will send only occasional reminders. Assignments and deadlines are clearly posted at the beginning of the week. It is your responsibility as a self-reliant distance learner to check the website regularly.
Can you be lenient with the work, because it might not be the best work?
NOOOOO, I am expecting your best work, excellent work, same level of work as I expect in class unless there are special circumstances that prevent you from doing good work. In that case, please contact me privately so we can discuss how to move forward. Otherwise, there is no reason to slack!
Will we ever go back to campus?
Right now, NO teachers or students are allowed on campus until further notice. You will at some point be able to pick up or receive your personal belongings. Please look out for information from Ms. Cislak.
What about AP exams?
The College Board announced shortened exams taken from home (45 minutes). More details will be forthcoming! Check for info from your AP teachers.
What if I do not have my book or binder?
In case you do not have book, I will make book pages for the chapter we are working on available to you. If you do not have your binder, you will have to look at the book to restudy grammar or vocab points.
What do I do if I am bored?
You lucky person! Find something fun to do – learn an instrument, learn more German (join a chat room, find a pen pal, play video games in German, watch German YouTube videos, listen to German music), meditate, read a book, doodle, learn how to cook, call your grandma, text your friends, clean the kitchen, watch the sunset, become an expert in a subject that interests you, paint your room, learn to crochet, start a work-out routine at home (circuit training), start a YouTube Channel, find all the prime numbers to 1,000,000. But most of all DO YOUR SCHOOLWORK!!!
What if I cannot find time for all the schoolwork because I have to take care of my siblings while my parents are working?
That is a real issue. Do contact me, so we can privately make arrangements of what you need to cover, how things are going etc. I do have your back and we will find a solution!
What is I feel nervous, anxious and distraught and have no one to talk to?
Please contact me or contact your school counselor directly, so we can help you. This is an unsettling time for all of us and a time great uncertainty. It takes many readjustments and it is normal to worry and feel anxious. The faculty, counselors and administration are all here to help you and our community to make it through this time and emerge stronger, so please do reach out!
Willkommen in der Deutschklasse bei University High School in Tucson!
This website will help you navigate this semester in German class. I have included practical information such as homework information and a calendar with significant dates, information about the German-American Partnership Program as well as copies of the class syllabus and class rules.
German Class News:
National German Exam is coming up for German 1-2
End of April
National German Honor Society for High School Students
Join the National German Honor Society! ΔΕΦ
We are ready to induct a new class into Delta Epsilon Phi, the National German Honor Society for High School Students.
What does Delta Epsilon Phi do?
· Delta Epsilon Phi seeks to recognize outstanding achievement in the study of German
· ΔΕΦ promotes interest in the study of German language, literature and civilization
· Membership looks great on college applications
· ΔΕΦ offers scholarships opportunities to visit Germany
To qualify, you have to…
· Have finished at least 3 semesters of German
· Have a GPA of 3.6 or higher in German class
· Have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4,0 scale
· Pay the $6 induction fee
· Be willing to work at least 2 hours in German Club next year (e.g. plan an activity, help out with an activity, promote German at Freshmen
night or online, participate in fundraisers etc. )
More info: National German Honor Society for High School Students
National German Exam:
Gold Medal Recipients are Eligible for Study Trip Award
If you received a gold medal on the National German Exam and meet certain other requirements, you are eligible to apply to win a Study Trip Award to Germany for this summer. Our Arizona Chapter will nominate one senior and one Junior/Sophomore as semifinalist to go on to the national selection of Study Trip Award Winners.
If you are eligible, please read the following information to see if you would like to apply. Application deadline is March 8. Please contact me asap in case you would like to apply, so I can write you a letter of recommendation.
About study trip award: http://www.aatg.org/page/StudyTripAward
Apply for study trip award: http://www.aatg.org/?page=NGEStudyTripApp
Study Trip Award selection process: http://www.aatg.org/?page=NGE_StudyTripSelect
Scholarship opportunities:
Summer Trip Stipend opportunties:
Member of National Honor Society for High School Students
Minority German Student http://www.aatg.org/?page=SummerStScholarships
National German Exam is coming up!
Test dates for the National German Exam for German 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, AP is January 23, 2018
Please make sure you have paid the NGE fee in the finance office.
AP Results are in! (July 10, 2017)
AP results for the 2016-17 school year are in and UHS German students did great!! We had 8 students take the AP test and five students received a 5, and three students received a 4! That is an mean score of 4.62 (in comparison to the Arizona mean score of 2.91 and the global mean score of 3.39) A score of 5 will mean between 12 and 16 credits at most institutions (some select private colleges might accept less credits for AP scores) Hurray for the German Penguins! Herzlichen Glückwunsch an alle AP Schüler.
Interested in taking the German AP class? For most students, AP class means the fourth year of German here at UHS. All students are encouraged to take the fourth year of language and take the AP exam as a score of 4 or 5 will for many universities not only fulfill the language requirement but also yield between 10-16 college credits (e.g. UofA score of 3, 4, 5 fulfills language requirement and score of 5 yields 14 credits)
(e. g. Stanford score of 4 or 5 fulfills language requirement)
National German Honor Society (May 18, 2017)
We revived the UHS chapter of the National German Honor Society for High School Students this year and inducted 15 new members in the society! Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
Interested in the NGHS? Here are the qualifications to join:
Minimum of three semesters of German with a German GPA of 3.6 or above
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above
Volunteer for the German club at least 2 hours in the past school year and continue to work at least 2 hours per semester for as long as you take German at UHS.
Pay the induction fee of $6.
National German Exam (May 11, 2017)
At the end of April, 25 German 1-2 students from UHS and Rincon participated in the German National Exam.
Results: 7 students received a gold medal
7 students received a silver medal
7 students receive a bronze medal
3 students received an achievement award
Outstanding work everyone! All German students are encouraged to participate in the National German Exam this year for accolades and prizes (including a summer trip to Germany!) Participation fee is $6. Exams for German 3-4 , 5-6 and AP students will be in December, exams for German 1-2 students will be in April.