2024-2025 Events for Utah DLI German Teachers

July 28 - August 1, 2025: AUDII 1 for all first-year DLI teachers (@ Utah Valley University)

July 28 - 29: AUDII 2 for all second-year DLI teachers  (@ Utah Valley University)

July 30-August 1, 2025: Summer Bridge Institute

November 21-23, 2025: ACTFL Convention in New Orleans

Utah DLI German Students Complete First DSD 1 Test Ever in the State

Over 100 German DLI students in 8th - 10th grade from four schools tested for the prestigious DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) German Language Level 1 Exam for the very first time in the state's history:  Tooele Junior High School, Tooele High School, Summit Academy Independence, and Summit Academy High School. The DSD exam can only be administered by authorized, rigorous German language programs approved by the German Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen and the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK). Students have to pass a written exam including listening and reading comprehension as well as an essay component. They give an oral presentation on a topic of their choice and follow with an extensive Q&A session. Kudos to the amazing German Language Advisor, Mrs. Gabriele Maiss-Minkler, for getting our schools approved, and kudos to the outstanding German DLI teachers who prepared these students well and worked hard during the demanding period of testing.  When the exam is passed, students receive the DSD 1 diploma to certify their B1 language skills which is valid as proof of language skills to study at a German university.

Summit Academy High School

Hosts GAPP Exchange

Summit Academy High School hosted their German-American Partnership Program (GAPP) exchange group from Kaiserslautern, Germany for two weeks in April.  There are numerous benefits for short and long-term exchanges. Read more below.

AATG Utah Bear Lake Retreat

Utah DLI, Bridge, and traditional German teachers enjoyed a beautiful retreat to Bear Lake on April 18 and 19, 2025. The agenda included a variety of culinary and creative activities, e.g. Döner for dinner by famous chef Dr. Jeff Packer (so delicious!) and easter egg decorating with world-renowned artist Anne Hickenlooper. Participants learned how to engage students in productive speaking exercises, led by teacher extraordinaire Judy Done, and how to incorporate poems into instruction, guided by poet-in-residence Dr. Jeff Packer. One of the many highlights was the German breakfast - if you have not tasted Dr. Doris McGonagill's home-baked bread you have not experienced life quite yet. All participants enjoyed immersion in the German language for a weekend and shared lots of laughter and joy. We hope to have you all join us next year for more fun and games in St. George.

AATG's Spring Newsletter

AATG Aktuelles, the newsletter of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG), is published four times per year (Herbst, Winter, Frühling und Sommer). The newsletter keeps members and friends of AATG up-to-date on the latest news about the association. The AATG distributes the newsletter to over 5,000 people quarterly. Click here to read the latest edition.

Articles Worth Reading

A warm shoutout to all our international teachers in Utah! We are glad to have you on our DLI team! We could not do the work without you and would not want to miss the fresh and culturally authentic perspective that you bring. Click here to read this news article of one of your colleagues!

It is spring time! What a perfect opportunity to take your antsy students outside and combine learning and nature! This article and video share great ideas how to bring nature to the classroom or students into nature.  Click here to access both the article and the video.

Math word problems are challenging - no matter whether they are written in English or in the target language. Here are great strategies for immersion and English partner teachers alike to tackle those pesky word problems and have your students walk away confident about their Math skills. Click here to read the full article.

Have you tried a "Which One Does Not Belong" activity? Or has it been a while since you tried one? This article reminds us of the benefits of using this activity as a hook or warm-up, engaging students in rich conversations and deep thinking. We are reminded that there is not always just a right or wrong answer. This activity is not limited to Math instruction. It can work in any other context. Click here to read the full article.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings opportunities and challenges alike. On the one hand, AI can speed up and reduce time when completing mundane tasks. On the other hand, teachers might reinvent how they teach and assign writing tasks to prevent students from using AI as a shortcut. This Edutopia article has a number of ideas how to make sure that your students' writings are still authentic. Click here to read the full article.

Lernmaterialien

USBE Releases Content Integration Crosswalks for Grades 3-6

From USBE:

We are excited to announce that the Content Integration Crosswalks for grades 3-6 are now complete and available for your use! These crosswalks are designed to help you effectively integrate various subjects, fostering a more connected and engaging learning experience for your students. The completed crosswalks provide a valuable resource for curriculum planning and instructional design. They offer clear connections between different content areas, enabling you to create cohesive and interdisciplinary lessons.

You can access the crosswalks using the links below:

• 3rd Grade Integrated Crosswalk

• 4th Grade Standards Crosswalk

• 5th Grade Standards Crosswalk

• 6th Grade Standards Crosswalk

We believe these crosswalks will be a valuable tool in your efforts to provide a rich and integrated educational experience for your students.

I had the opportunity to attend a webinar on the topic of KI Bilder im Sprachunterricht by Michaela Kühl. She is an expert on creating AI pictures and how to use them in language classes. She shared an amazing resource on literal pictures of German idioms with us. Click here to access the resource. Follow her website for more ideas on how to use AI pictures in your instruction.

Lernmaterialien vom PASCH-Netzwerk

Alle PASCH Materialien im Überblick gibt es hier. Man kann es nach Themenbereich oder Sprachniveau filtern. Eine wunderbare Ressource, wenn man auf der Jagd nach authentischem Material ist.

How do we celebrate birthdays in Germany? It is very different from how we celebrated in the past. Have your students read this text and listen to the audio to find out more. You can access all materials here.

Many know the diary of Anne Frank - one of the most well-known victims of the holocaust.  Her diary offers a unique, personal perspective on life during the Holocaust, capturing the experiences of a Jewish girl in hiding while also exploring themes of adolescence, hope, and resilience in the face of adversity. It serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit.  Click here to access the text about Anne Frank and her diary.

Are your students dreaming about studying in Germany? Have they heard of the Studienkolleg? Here is a B2 article on the topic explaining what they do and do not do. Click here to access the article and the audio files.

DAAD Updates

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has a website with lots of information for U.S. students that are interested in studying in Germany. The website is in English and German: https://www.study-in-germany.de. Please share with interested students!

Grants and Scholarships

AATG Grants and Scholarships

AATG has multiple grants and scholarships opportunities. Please click here to see them all.

Would You and Your Students Like to Be Featured in the August Newsletter?

Send pictures and blurbs to Michaela at mclaus-nix@utahdli.org by July  31, 2025.

Please share your hard work and the accomplishments of your students so that we can celebrate you!