German 1 Course Syllabus
2015-2016 School Year
Instructor: John Rhine
Room number: 107
E-mail: jrhine@huntsville-isd.org
E-mail: jrhine@huntsville-isd.org. I check my e-mail throughout the day, and can respond quickly via that medium.
Please feel free to contact me at any time should you have questions. I use e-mail to send out reminders, information
on up-coming quizzes and tests, the rubrics for projects, and any other information pertinent to the class.
Web page address:
My web page contains daily homework assignments, quiz dates, test dates, and project dates and rubrics. I try to
update my web page on a daily basis. Students and parents will find a listing of homework assignments, project due
dates, dates of quizzes and tests, tutoring times, a newsletter, as well as web links to helpful German web sites. We
have switched to a new webpage program, but I anticipate my page to be fully up-to-date by the end of the first week.
Conference period: My conference period is 5th period (12:33-1:28) this year. I am also available before and after
school most days. Please make an appointment if at all possible so that I will know to be in my room.
Course description: Acquiring another language is not a passive exercise. It requires a student to be actively engaged in
her/his learning both in class and at home. It requires students to engage in active listening, speaking, reading (both
silently and aloud), writing, viewing, and presenting. Students develop these communication skills by using knowledge
of the language, including grammar, culture, communication and learning strategies, technology, and content from
other subject areas to socialize, to acquire and provide information, to express feelings and opinions, and to get others
to adopt a course of action. While knowledge of other cultures, connections to other disciplines, comparisons between
languages and cultures, and community interaction all contribute to and enhance the communicative language learning
experience, communication skills are the primary focus of language acquisition. In short, we will be focusing on the five
targeted areas of learning a foreign language: a.) speaking fluency; b.) reading comprehension; c.) listening
comprehension; d.) writing; and e.) explanation of the grammar by comparing it to English. It is expected that the
student will improve in each of these areas over the course of the year.
Textbook: Komm mit! Holt German Level 1, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Materials/supplies needed for the course:
a. Several blue or black pens (please do not use other colors, as they are difficult for me to read) or pencils to use
throughout the year.
b. One small, inexpensive three-ring binder in which to put handouts, homework, notes etc.
c. I also suggest that the student get a good paper-back German-English/English-German dictionary for the
student’s personal use at home. These can be purchased at any of the campus bookstores or on-line. However,
there are also good on-line dictionaries the students may select. dict.leo.org is excellent, because it gives the
students a wide range of options, and also pronounces the words for them.
Course outline by topic for Semester 1 (August-December):
Vorschau (Introduction): The German alphabet; pronouncing consonants, vowels and diphthongs; basic introductions;
expressions for the classrooms; numbers 0-20.
Kapitel 1: Greetings and introductions; asking for information about someone; talking about where someone is from;
transportation.
Kapitel 2: Talking about interests; expressing likes and dislikes; saying when you do various activities; asking for an
opinion and expressing your own; agreeing and disagreeing.
Kapitel 3: Talking about where you live; offering something to eat or drink and responding; saying please, thank you, and
you’re welcome; describing a room and furniture; talking about family members; describing people.
Course outline by topic for Semester 2 (January-June):
Kapitel 4: Talking about class schedules; using a schedule to talk about time; sequencing events; expressing likes,
dislikes and favorites; responding to bad news; talking about prices; pointing things out.
Kapitel 5: Expressing wishes when shopping; commenting on and describing clothing; giving compliments and
responding to them; talking about trying on clothes.
Kapitel 6: Starting a conversation; telling time; talking about when you are doing things; making plans; ordering food
and beverages; talking about how something tastes; paying the check.
Kapitel 7: Extending and responding to an invitation; expressing obligations; expressing frequency; asking for and
offering help; using accusative case personal pronouns; talking about the weather and months of the year; correctly
using future tense.
Objectives for Semesters 1 and 2 (taken from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills [TEKS]):
The student, when dealing with familiar topics, should:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
understand short utterances when listening and respond orally with learned material;
produce learned words phrases, and sentences when speaking and writing;
detect main ideas in familiar material when listening and reading;
make lists, copy accurately, and write from dictation;
recognize the importance of acquiring accuracy of expression by knowing the components of language, including
grammar.
Tutorials: I am usually available every day after school for tutorials from 3:35-4:30. The student should always check
with me beforehand to make sure that I will in the classroom. I make every effort to ensure that my students are
successful in my class. However, if a student is having difficulties, I would like to encourage her/him to come to me for
extra help.
Grades and grading policy: Grades will be averaged according to HISD’s guidelines: at least nine daily grades and three
major grades each six weeks.
a. Daily work: Homework assignments are given to extend learning and practice time, processes which are
particularly important in learning a foreign language. I do not give homework either as punishment or as busy
work. As a general rule, homework will be given most days. Vocabulary acquisition is a daily necessity.
Whether a student has written homework or not, the student must study vocabulary words, phrases, and
expressions daily in order to master the language. All homework assignments will be posted on my web page. I
also expect my students to keep all their graded assignments neatly in their three-ring binder. If they do so,
they will qualify for a homework coupon at the end of each six-weeks.
b. Quizzes: Quiz grades and a few other assignments will be counted as double daily grades. That means they
have twice the weight of a normal homework assignment. The students will have a vocabulary quiz routinely
every Friday. These quizzes will always be from English into German. The vocabulary lists can be found at the
end of each chapter in the textbook. Other quizzes over different aspects of grammar will also be given. All quiz
dates will be posted on my web page so that the students will know when the quizzes are scheduled and can
plan accordingly. I do not give pop-quizzes. Please note: there are no re-takes of quizzes. The student should
keep all grade quizzes in her/his three-ring binder in order to qualify for the homework coupon (see above
under daily work).
c. Major grades: In my class the students will have a benchmark (chapter) test, a vocabulary test, and at least one
major project every chapter. This is the minimum. Other tests may also be given over different aspects of
grammar, depending on what is being studied in a particular chapter. Test dates will always be posted on my
teacher web page.
Retest policy: The students should always plan for every test and take them seriously. A little extra effort goes a
long way in being successful. However, if the student does fail a test and would like the opportunity to retest,
here is what I expect the student to do:
1.) He/She must have all his/her graded homework assignments and quizzes in his/her three-ring binder.
2.) He/She must come in for tutoring at least twice prior to the retest.
3.) The retest must be done after school during tutoring. It will not be retaken during class because that would
violate the integrity of the test.
4.) If the retest is a vocabulary test, tutoring is not required. However, the student must write all the words and
phrases ten times each in German and English, and then turn these in to me as proof of study. I will not
accept vocabulary terms done on a word processor. The list must be hand-written.
d. Projects: Projects are a major grade. For most chapters, the students will have one project to do, but in some
chapters the students will have two. Generally speaking, the students will have between two and three weeks
to do their projects. In-class projects are a different matter. For some of these, the students will only have one
class period to do them (i.e. a major writing assignment). For others, the students will have a few days to do
them (i.e. partner dialogues). Project due dates and the rubrics for the projects will be posted on my web page.
I also provide the students with a hard copy (a handout) of the rubric when I assign the project to them.
e. Oral participation: Oral participation (speaking) is a significant part of any foreign language class. Students
learning a foreign language are expected to improve their oral language skills, especially pronunciation and
intonation. I expect my students to practice speaking in German during class time, both to their peers and to
me. Opportunities to do so will be provided as the students respond to the teacher’s questions and works with
partners in communicative activities.
f.
BYOT (Technology) policy: I encourage the use of personal technology when it is used for appropriate
instructional or educational purposes. However, I have also discovered that many students use it for noneducational purposes (i.e. texting, Facebook, taking pictures, surfing the net, tweeting, etc.). Here are my
expectations for technology in the class:
1. Laptop computers, tablets, etc. are only permitted out when sanctioned by the teacher. Otherwise, they
must be kept in the student’s backpack or purse.
2. Headphones and ear buds cannot be worn when the students are in the hallway. These may be used in the
class as authorized by a teacher. I do allow students to listen to music when they are working on individual
assignments, providing it does not disrupt others.
3. Students may not charge cell phones or other electronic devices in the classrooms or other parts of the
school.
4. Cell phones are only to be used in class per direction of the teacher and only as part of instruction.
Otherwise, they must be kept in the student’s backpack or purse.
If a student is abusing her/his personal technology privileges, here are the following consequences:
1. I will verbally warn the student and ask her/him to put it away.
2. If there are any further problems with the device, I will turn the device into the assistant principal’s office.
I want to treat my students as the young men and young women that they are, and expect them to act
responsibly when dealing with technology.
g. Homework coupons: Homework coupons are a way for me to reward my students for doing a great job. There
are three ways students may collect a homework coupon:
1. Get an A (90-100) on a test
2. Have perfect attendance with no tardies each six weeks.
3. Keep all graded homework assignments and quizzes in their three-ring binder at the end of each six weeks.
h. Bonus work: Throughout the year, I am often asked by students (and parents) if the students can do a bonus
assignment to help raise a grade. I do not make special assignments for bonus work. However, students can
earn bonus points on most quizzes (I almost always add extra questions to every quiz), on some homework
assignments (they may have to do some extra work while doing the assignment); or by turning a project in early
(this shows initiative on the student’s part). I also build in bonus points on tests so that the students can earn
extra points.
Class rules:
1. You must be in the room when the bell rings, or you will be considered tardy. Do not loiter around
the door waiting for the bell to ring either at the beginning of class or at the end of class.
2. As soon as you come into class, get out the previous day’s homework (if any) and then begin the focus activity
posted on the board.
3. Use the restroom before coming to class. You may drop off your things on your desk and then go.
4. Have all your class materials (textbook, homework, pen, paper, etc.) with you when class starts.
5. Keep all your handouts, graded homework, and quizzes in your three-ring binder.
6. If you are absent, check my web page about missing work. Make sure you take care of any and all missing work
as soon as possible.
7. Please keep the room neat. Recyclables should go in the recycling containers and trash in the trash can.
8. Please do not apply make-up, perfume, cologne, nail polish, lotion, or deodorant in class. People are often
allergic to various fragrances and this could cause problems for them. And please do not eat in class. This is not
fair to others around you, and is also a school policy.
9. No foul (vulgar) language will be tolerated in class. This includes racial, ethnic, and sexual slurs.
10. Courtesy and respect for EVERYONE in the classroom makes the class much more enjoyable for everyone. If you
are having a bad day, please try to leave it outside. If you are having a really bad day, let me know. Do not
badger, annoy, bother, or insult your fellow students or your teacher.
Do you want to learn the language well? Do you want to get a good grade?
Many students tell me they want to learn to speak German and they also want a good grade. These are both admirable
goals, but you will need to put in EFFORT to achieve your goal. Here are a few steps that will help you.
a. Memorize vocabulary. Vocabulary is the foundation of every language. If you don’t know vocabulary , then you
can’t read, write, speak, or understand. You should study your vocabulary terms and words ten to fifteen
minutes every day. Flash cards really do help, and are easy to make.
b. Read and do your assignments. These are given so you can review and practice what was learned in class.
c. Talk to and work with others in German. Note: Working with someone is not the same thing as copying or
having someone else do the work for you. Collaboration means asking, discussing, and reviewing, not blindly
copying what someone else has done.
d. Participate in classroom activities. Jot down things to remember and look up new phrases and words and then
use them during class discussions. Look over graded assignments, quizzes, and tests to learn from your mistakes
and to see what you are doing correctly.
e. Repeat aloud the material being studied in class. It will help you improve your pronunciation. Stand in front of
a mirror at home and say the words, or better yet, say them to a parent, sibling or friend (teach them what you
are learning).
f.
Try to speak as much German as you can every day.
g. Ask the teacher. If you don’t know something or don’t understand something, please ask.