Herzlich Willkommen!
This page features the "Welcome to German" letters for each of the Pizitz German classes. These letters are directed toward parents and students of German at Pizitz Middle School and they contain important information regarding
class policies and procedures,
as well as a sampling of topics covered over the course of the school year (Course Syllabus).
Sample Letter: GERMAN 7
Herzlich Willkommen! Welcome to German at Pizitz!
We are off to a fantastic start in Deutschklasse 7! I hope that this will continue to be an interesting and rewarding experience for you, as you expand your study of German language and culture. In addition to learning to speak German, you will also explore various aspects of the cultures of German–speaking countries including: geography, history, music, traditions, food, current events, and popular culture. As you can see, learning a foreign language involves much more than just grammar and pronunciation drills…
Learning a foreign language is a fun and exciting adventure!
You have made a wise choice in your decision to begin your foreign language study in middle school. Did you know…?
• Statistics prove that the earlier you begin learning a foreign language, the better your accent in that language.
• Students who have studied another language score higher on their SAT’s than those who have not.
• In our global economy, the ability to communicate in a second language, as well as to display some knowledge of another culture and its business practices, are highly sought after qualities by employers.
• Most colleges require two or more years of foreign language study and often give credit for what you’ve learned (even if it’s not an AP course!)
By electing to take the year-long German course in the 7th grade, you have made a commitment to continue with the 2nd half of the course as an 8th grader. After completing German I at PMS, you will be ready to start German II at the high school as a ninth grader! Congratulations!
Here’s what you’ll need this school year and what you’ll need to do to make your 7th grade year of German the very best it can be!
SUPPLIES:
You should have the following items for 7th grade German:
Spiral notebook
High-lighters: blue, pink, yellow ** another color of your choice (purple perhaps?)
Note cards: blue, pink, yellow
A system for: class notes, homework, handouts and other resources
German –English dictionary (*optional)
It is imperative that you come to class prepared to succeed. Your notebook will be used for “Phrase of the Day” entries, vocabulary and journal writing. You should keep all handouts in a folder or a binder. The most important thing to bring with you each day is a positive outlook and warm and fuzzy behavior.
HAUSAUFGABEN:
Assignments are usually short, worth 10 to 15 points and either introduce or provide practice for what we do together in class. You should come to class with your homework completed and ready for review. You should have another pen or pencil which you can use to “edit” or correct your work. Once reviewed, selected assignments will be kept in a Portfolio Folder; a collection of each student’s work. Progress will be evaluated on a weekly basis and a combination effort/accuracy grade will be assigned. Every attempt will be made to post these evaluations to the web page on a timely basis. In addition to traditional homework practice, projects, computer tasks, and other activities will be used for student practice and evaluation. Homework assignments will be posted daily on the German webpage and a hard copy will be posted on the "Hermann the German Bulletin Board".
GRADES:
Homework, projects, quizzes and tests are all of equal weight in our class. Class participation will be an important factor in determining weekly and final grades.
Please use STI to check your grade; your grade should never be a surprise to you or your parents! Remember: enthusiasm, curiosity, and a positive attitude will go a long way toward achieving good grades, (and you’ll learn a lot too!).
ATTENDANCE:
If you must be absent from class, you should make every attempt to find out what was covered and to make-up that work as quickly as possible. You should see me before class begins and present your re-admittance slip for my signature. I will sign the slip after we discuss make-up work, etc.
Please check our web page at: www.quia.com/pages/fraurogers.html to keep up with assignments while you are out. I will also post hard copies of the page on the Hermann the German bulletin board in our classroom. According to the student handbook, you will not receive credit for work missed due to an un-excused absence. It behooves you to do this work regardless, and to present it to me for review and feedback.
BONUS:
Bonus opportunities are available throughout the 9-week grading period. Bonus can be earned by responding to “CHALLENGES” or by finding a “CONNECTION”. The possibilities are endless if you keep your eyes and ears open! Bonus should be reported using the index cards and bonus basket. Check the web page for surprise bonus challenges! A student may earn up to 15 Bonus points for Challenges/Connections each term. Additional bonus may be offered on tests or quizzes.
STUDY TIPS:
Learning a foreign language is a cumulative process, with one skill forming the foundation for the next. You could compare it to building a tower; you can only add more blocks and make progress if you have a strong base. We’ll discuss strategies for learning a language and you’ll start to figure out what works best for you and your way of learning. Sometimes I’ll suggest something to you that might sound sort of silly ( like singing a list of vocabulary words!) and I’ll expect you to give it a try and participate because I’ve seen that strategy work, and other times you’ll come up with study techniques that really work for you and you’ll do your own thing. What’s most important is that you never give up or skip over an important “block.” There’s one thing I know for sure about learning a language: you can’t “cram” for a test and try to learn it all in one night! Doing that would be like cramming for a swimming test-- you’d sink!
Learning German is for you!
Making the choice to take the German I course in the 7th and 8th grades takes energy and commitment. You’ve got to come to class prepared, stay organized, be as positive and curious as you can, and always try your very best. The rewards for making this choice will be huge. Our high school German program is the largest and best in the state. I will work with you to make sure you are prepared to succeed at VHHS. I want you to know that I love what I do and that I am committed to making learning German a fun and exciting and successful experience for you. I promise to try to do all that I am asking of you and more! I am very lucky to teach in a wonderful school system with super students (and parents!) and I take my responsibility seriously. I know that, working together, we’re going to have a great year!
WIR SPRECHEN DEUTSCH!
A Note to Parents
I hope that you have heard, and will continue to hear, a lot of German being spoken in your home! One of the best ways to assimilate a new skill is to try to teach to another that which you are learning. Here are just a few of the words, phrases and concepts which we will be addressing during the first weeks of Deutschklasse: (Please encourage your German scholar to “teach” to you!)
• Guten Tag!
• Guten Morgen!
• Guten Abend!
• Gute Nacht! (sing song with gestures)
• Hallo!
• Date written as: Tag-Monat-Jahr
• Wie heisst du?
• Ich heisse:_____________. (play the game)
• Auf Wiedersehen!
• Deutsch is fantastisch!
• Cognate words
• GASLL (Geography)
• Warm und Küschlig
• Ich kann Deutsch!
• Etc!
Please E-mail Frau Rogers at: : rogerskc@vestavia.k12.al.us to indicate that you and your child have read this letter. Please include any comments or questions.
Thank you for your support of foreign language learning and GERMAN at Pizitz! Please explore our web pages to keep abreast of all that we are doing in German class, and come and visit any time!
www.quia.com/pages/fraurogers.html
PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO FRAU ROGERS: rogerskc@vestavia.k12.al.us, TO CONFIRM YOUR RECEIPT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE LETTER. PLEASE INCLUDE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THANK YOU! **IF you prefer, you can open a specific letter and print a hard copy using these links. Or, please see Frau Rogers to request a letter and one will be provided for you.
Welcome to German 7
Welcome to German 8
Welcome to Unified Arts German
"...to learn to think and speak in another language is to change one's mind forever, forever to make it impossible to be locked into a single perspective or a single way to hear speech, music, or meaning. It is to be made forever aware that one is not alone, that one's way is not the only way; but also that one's own way has depths and riches and ties to one's identity that might never have appeared if they had not been illuminated by the prism of another language." Donald Friedman
|
|
