Willkommen!
Heather Fleming, Ph.D., M.A. Ed.
“Frau Fleming”
hfleming@pleasantonusd.net
Room B-33
German I, II, III, AP IV, Honors V
(and World Lit and two periods of Expository
Reading & Writing)
Advisor: German Club & Yoga Club
Personal Background

California native
 I learned German at an East Bay high school, just like your child!

Education
 B.A. ‘87 German Literature (UC Berkeley)
 M.A. ’91 & Ph.D. ’97 German Literatures and Languages (U. Pennsylvania)
 M.A. Ed. ’06 (U Phoenix)
 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification 2011 (Downtown Yoga, Pleasanton)

Teaching and Language Experience
 I’ve taught German since 1989, and I’ve been at FHS since 2005
 Lived in German-speaking countries a combined total of about 7 years, either
attending university (Göttingen, Berlin, München), teaching (Freiburg), working as
a translator (Berlin), or travelling with homestays (München, Münster, Essen,
Vienna)
Go Falcons!!
Danke schön!!
I know you pull out your checkbooks for your kids‘
schools, sports, music, and other activities a lot these
days, and you‘ve done so for our small program as well,
and for that, I am deeply grateful.
 I also know that for many people, allowing their child
to study German is a leap of faith – it was for my
parents too (my maternal grandfather was killed in
France in WWII) – and so it is my great honor to
spend the next few years with your children.
 What I know most of all is that it is all worth the
effort: German matters!

◦ Just look at that great big building just over the freeway that hosts
a branch of the largest software company in the world!
May we boast a bit?
Our standardized testing scores rock!



Year after year, at least 50% FHS German students (levels 25) place in the 70th percentile or higher on the National
German Exam.
◦ This means that FHS German students are among the best
in the country!
The average pass rate on the AP German exam is +/-85% for
Foothill German students
◦ 90% of the students who have taken the challenging new
AP German Language and Culture exam in the two years
since its inception in 2012 have passed with flying colors!
80% earn a score of 4 or 5.
Alumni of the FHS German program proceed to various
international study and training opportunities, with at least
1/3 of graduates studying in a German-speaking country
during their college years.
The Five C‘s of Language Acquisition
We address all five areas
The Five C‘s of Language Acquisition:
three modes of communication
Content Areas in Levels 1-5
in preparation for the
AP German Language & Culture exam
and beyond
Classwork = Collaboration
 Practicing, explaining
homework
 Frequent partner & group work
 Cultural presentations & activities
 Films, songs, kinesthetic activities

Kein Englisch in der Deutschklasse!
Homework
=
Review
&
Study
Telefonpartnerarbeit expected 3 times per week, due every

two weeks.
ONE OF THE KEYSTONES OF FHS GERMAN
Parents need to sign EACH time for credit.
Objective: to improve fluency in spoken German.
NOTE: This assignment is on the HONOR SYSTEM. Students who
fill out the log without doing the work will get credit... But those
students who choose to cheat will NOT make progress in their
speaking skills, and in time, this will become plainly obvious to me
on oral assessments. By German 3 at the latest, the difference
between those who practice and those who don’t becomes
PLAINLY OBVIOUS.
 PROFICIENT ACADEMIC FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKING
SKILLS MATTER IN COLLEGE!!!!!




Übung macht
den Meister!
Practice makes
perfect!
 I will get your child there, IF your child participates
fully and consistently in my assignments and activities.
Homework = Review & Study

Daily study of all provided materials as well as reading and
writing activities are emphasized
 15-30 minutes for German 1-3 (often less, sometimes more)
 30-60 for AP / Honors

 Students should continually review vocabulary (this is
essential to acquiring a new language)
Übung macht
den Meister!
Practice makes
perfect!
Vocabulary study (10 words/expressions daily)

 Use flashcards, a flashcard app, and/or Quizlet.com
Revisions of tests and compositions
 compositions must be typed in MLA format!
Grading
Slow and steady wins the race!
 Workbook & other small assignments = 5 points
 Essays and projects are worth 10+ points
 Grades are based on cumulative points on a
percentage basis

◦ 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, etc.
Extra Credit

NO discrete extra credit assignments!
◦ Extra credit opportunities are embedded in regular
assignments and assessments
Extra Telefonpartnerarbeit
Writing out chapter vocab lists x3 before the
chapter-end test
 Periodic extra credit tasks on quizzes and tests
 Going the extra mile on in-class participation
 Eco-friendly practices
◦ Using pre-used paper to print out computergenerated assignments
◦ Bringing in pre-used paper, from the office, etc.
◦ Saving paper when printing out online activities


Language Lab, or LARC
The LARC (Language Acquisition Resource
Center) is everyone’s favorite!
 Using it is a privilege…

◦ Equipment must be treated with TLC or the
privilege will be lost.
Students practice pronunciation and listening
 Teacher may listen in on student work
 Students may be required to record themselves
 NOTE: The World Language Department has a
new state-of-the-art lab, thanks to the support
of AABC and PUSD Core Funding! Danke!!!

Cultural Activities





Cultural days (i.e. Oktoberfest): we request a $10
donation to cover the cost of food for 3-4 different
cultural celebrations
Immersion Day: German day camp in March
Outing to a German restaurant
Other field trips depending on availability and
interest
German-American Partnership Program: reciprocal
exchange program with our partner school in Halle,
Germany, ongoing since 1992!
◦ Next exchange trip to Germany:
June/July 2015
All students who are interested should participate; scholarships are available
for students in need who carry a grade of A or B in German and a 3.0 GPA
Classroom Needs
Native speakers to provide regional cultural
information to AP German students, in
compliance with the new AP exam
 Boxes of Kleenex
 a butcher paper roller
 used paper (8”x11” paper that’s been printed
on one side) (we recycle because we’re
umweltfreundlich!)
 environmentally friendly cleaning supplies
 empty ink cartridges and old cell phones (we
recycle to raise funds!)
 Young adult literature and magazines in German

Vielen Dank