SY 2014-2015
COURSE TITLE:
German I
PREREQUISITE:
None
DESCRIPTION:
Students experience an introduction to the German language and to the
culture of German-speaking countries. The basic objectives are to help
each student attain an acceptable degree of proficiency in the four skills of
listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and to present the language
within the context of contemporary German culture.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will learn to recognize vowel and consonant sounds;
comprehend basic vocabulary, phrases and simple sentences; extract
information from various sources.
Students will learn to reproduce German sounds and intonation patterns
and use learned vocabulary and structures appropriately to express
themselves in various situations.
Students will learn to recognize written words and phrases in isolation
and in context, and to interpret their meaning.
Students will learn to copy and/or reproduce from memory in a
progressive manner, letters, syllables, words, phrases, and simple
sentences; make appropriate responses to questions; write guided
sentences; compose dialogues and simple paragraphs combining active
vocabulary and learned grammatical structures.
Students will familiarize themselves with elements of culture which may
include daily life, geography, history, art, music, customs, holidays and
festivals, and entertainment.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language
requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one
language or two years each of two languages). Students who receive
credit for German I in middle school may count this course in meeting
both credit and subject area graduation requirements.
SY 2014-2015
COURSE TITLE:
German II
PREREQUISITE:
German I
DESCRIPTION:
German II continues to emphasize the communication skills of listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. This course requires students to practice
communicating in a variety of practical situations. The reading selections
emphasize vocabulary development and further expose students to learn
grammatical structures in context. Written work demonstrates correct use
of vocabulary and syntax. Students continue to explore various aspects of
German culture.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will learn to distinguish and comprehend more complex speech
by a variety of native speakers.
Students will refine and reinforce previously learned vocabulary and
structures in statements, questions and answers, and initiate limited
conversation.
Students will read for global comprehension, summarize the content of
reading selections, and answer questions based on contextual clues.
Students will be able to use correct spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization; to respond to questions; and to compose sentences and
short paragraphs using appropriate grammar structures.
Students will explore cultural aspects of German-speaking countries in
greater depth.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language
requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one
language or two years each of two languages).
SY 2014-2015
COURSE TITLE:
German III
PREREQUISITE:
German II
DESCRIPTION:
German III continues to emphasize comprehension and communication
skills. Complexity increases in all phases of language study. Reading
selections and writing assignments review and reinforce grammar and
vocabulary. German culture continues to be an integral part of the course.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will extract and comprehend information from longer and
more complex passages from a variety of sources.
Students will more readily formulate questions and responses relating
to lesson topics while refining pronunciation. German will be used as
the primary means of communication in the classroom.
Students will read level appropriate materials for more detail while
continuing to read more complex authentic materials for global
comprehension. They will summarize and answer content questions
on reading selections.
Students will use correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization to
create more detailed complex sentences and compositions.
Students will explore cultural aspects of German-speaking countries in
greater depth.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language
requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one
language or two years each of two languages).
SY 2014-2015
COURSE TITLE:
German IV/V Honors – Upper Level
PREREQUISITE:
German III/IV
DESCRIPTION:
In German IV Honors, students will refine their comprehension and
communication skills in the context of authentic texts and various literary
works. The course uses a thematic approach, including such topics as
current social issues, travel, the environment, media, music and art.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will sustain understanding over longer stretches of connected
discourse and grasp principle ideas of more specialized presentations.
Students will demonstrate ability to communicate in a variety of
contexts with a wider range of grammatical structures with greater
accuracy; will circumlocute occasionally to express thoughts. German
will be used in classroom communication.
Students will read a wider variety of texts with greater consistency of
comprehension.
Students will refine and expand their use of complex grammatical
structures in creative writings and guided writings and will begin to
consistently include idiomatic expressions.
Students will explore cultural aspects of German-speaking countries in
greater depth, with an emphasis on the upper level themes covered on
the AP exam.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language
requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. All year long honors
courses receive a “weight” of .5.
SY 2014-2015
GERMAN AP SYLLABUS
Course components:
1. Pre-reading activities and vocabulary
2. Grammar review
3. Essays
4. Cloze exercises
5. Reading comprehension and discussion activities
6. Speaking tasks
7. Listening activities
Pre-reading activities and vocabulary: The pre-reading activities vary according to the reading selection and the
thematic unit. If the reading is from the book, there is a set vocabulary. If the reading is something based on current
events, the vocabulary will be developed from the text.
Grammar review: The grammar book provides an excellent review. It includes basic grammatical concepts.
Although students should have mastered much of the grammar, a quick review of even the most elementary
concepts is beneficial. As the grammar becomes more and more complex students will refine their skills as they
apply these concepts to oral and written assignments.
Essays: The instructions on the essays are similar to those found on the AP Exam. As the year progresses more time
is devoted to essay writing incorporating more advanced structures and better organizational skills.
Cloze exercises: Students practice completing cloze exercises comparable to the AP Exam. Strategies are developed
to facilitate the selection of the appropriate semantic elements.
Reading Comprehension and Discussion Activities: Discussion activities revolve around current events as well as
the literary texts covered in class. Activities range from rudimentary comprehension to comparative analysis.
Speaking tasks: Students practice speaking including AP picture sequences and short answer questions.
Listening activities: Listening resources include textbook related materials, as well as authentic and relevant
samples from native speakers.
CREDIT INFO:
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language
requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. All students enrolled in
AP classes are expected to take AP examination. AP final grades are
“weighted” by 1.0 if the student passes the course and takes the related
examination.
SY 2014-2015
Bibliography: Books
Dreke, Michael, and Wolfgang Lind, eds. Wechselspiel: Sprechanlässe für Partnerarbeit im kommunikativen
Deutschunterricht. Arbeitsblätter für Anfänger und Fortgeschritte. Belin:
Langenscheidt, 1985.
Plauen, E.O., ed. Vater und Sohn: Bildgeschichten. Stuttgart: P. Reclam, 1994.
Plauen, E.O., ed. So ein Dackel: 22 Bildgeschichten fün den Sprachunterricht. Stuttgart: Ernst Klett Verlag, 1983.
Rankin, Jamie and Wells, Larry D., Handbuch zur Deutschen Grammatik. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 2004.
Scholl, Inge. Die Weiße Rose. Stuttgart: Ernst Klett Verlag, 1953.
Teichert, Herman U. and Hahn, Gabriele. Allerlei zum Besprechen. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company, 1998.
Teichert, Herman and Teichert, Lovette. Allerlei zum Lesen. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company, 2005.
Twomey, Paula Carmardella. Reflexionen: 35 Guided Essays in German. Teachers
Discovery, 2003.
Vail, Van Horn and Sparks, Kimberly. Der Weg zum Lesen. 3rd ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt College Publishers, 1986.
Wells, Larry D., ed. Mitlesen Mitteilen: Literarische Texte zum Lesen, Sprechen,
ed. Boston: Thomson Heinle, 2004.
Useful Websites
About: German Language, http://german.about.com (website)
AP Central, http://apcentral.collegeboard.com (website)
Filme und So, http://fileundso.de (podcast)
German News, Litserv@vm.gmd.de (website)
Kino im Kopf, http://feeds.feedburner.com/kinoimkopf (podcast)
Online newspapers from German speaking countries
Podster.de (directory of German podcasts), www.podster.de (website)
Schlaflos in München, http://schlaflosinmuenchen.com (podcast)
Schreiben und Hören. 3rd