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What comprises the three year sequence Level One German course? Check out the resources below to find out!
Students will... communicate using German in all four modalities (speaking, reading, writing, listening) from day one, by experiencing:
Daily small talk warmup routines
A variety of authentic materials/resources and materials/resources developed for learners
Focus on comprehension and communication, and meaning before form
Inquiry/inductive (PACE) grammar and writing workshop lessons to refine language & learn structure
Regular self-reflection and opportunities for feedback
Various cultural-history elements (holidays, dates, traditions) throughout the year
What standards are used in German?
What standards are used in German?
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language establishes five Goal Areas and eleven World-Readiness Standards for teaching and learning languages.
What guides instruction in German?
What guides instruction in German?
What will learners be able to do by the end of middle school?
Regardless of explicit instruction and learning, language acquisition is an individual process and each student acquires German at a slightly different paces. Most learners move through the Novice Low stage quickly and then, depending on the task/skill, mode, and context, will perform at the Novice Mid or High level by the end of Eighth grade. German is considered a "level 2" language of difficulty for English speakers.
What's the difference between performance and proficiency? Performance is the level of ability a learner demonstrates once, in a specific context, possibly with preparation. It's what a learner can do in an environment like class. Proficiency is what a learner can do consistently, spontaneously, in a variety of contexts. It's what a learner can do in an environment like a city where German is spoken.
How do I know my learner is making progress? How do they know?
There are expected benchmarks for each grade: novice mid 2 by the end of 6th grade, novice mid 3 by the end of 7th grade, and novice high 1 by the end of 8th grade. Learner progress toward these goals is noted at the midterm and final speaking exams.
What does class "look like", "sound like," and "feel like"?
There are a few things about German that might make it seem different than other classes your learner has been in before. We don't use a textbook, for one (though this doesn't mean we don't have structure, don't worry!). Something special about a language class is that the goal of instruction and learning is also the means of instruction and learning.
Students want to be able to communicate in German... so they do that by communicating in German! They do this through listening and responding nonverbally, then by reading, then eventually writing and speaking.
They focus on the message before the structure, just like we do as toddlers acquiring our first languages and imperfect speakers of second (third, fourth, fifth) languages trying to buy something at the market in another country.
In our classroom community, we anchor language in culture, and we learn about ourselves and each other. We get curious and stay kind.
Part of that curiosity gets aimed at the language itself. Students become detectives and linguists encouraged to notice and wonder. They develop their monitor skills as they learn about structure (grammar, spelling conventions) through inquiry and self-editing.
Graphics to the left via Martina Bex at Comprehensible Classroom.
Syllabi - Deutsch 6, 7, & 8
Syllabi - Deutsch 6, 7, & 8
2526 Syllabus - Deutsch 6.pdf2526 Syllabus - Deutsch 7.pdf2526 Syllabus - Deutsch 8.pdfPage updated
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