German 1 is for first-year students who have little or no prior knowledge. It is geared toward high school students who wish to satisfy foreign language requirements. Younger students are welcome but should expect high school level work.
This course will serve as an introduction to German language and culture. With a focus on conversation skills, students will learn basic vocabulary and grammar which will align with the novice low to novice mid ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines (Level 1 proficiency).
They will learn basic vocabulary used to express common needs and interests.
The grammar will focus on basic sentence structure, present tense, and the case system. To maximize the opportunity for speaking practice, students will be strongly encouraged to answer in German. In addition to basic conversation practice during class, students will be given links to songs, shows, and skits to improve their listening comprehension and to provide an opportunity to listen to native speakers.
Games, challenges, mini-projects, and worksheets will be designed to reinforce each week’s language topic with quizzes and tests designed to help students mark their progress toward proficiency.
Students will also learn about German history, geography, and culture as well as regional variations and how the Bible gave Germany a common language.
As with learning any foreign language, students will gain a greater understanding of English grammar. Because English is a Germanic language, they will also gain an understanding of how languages change and adapt over time and learn a little about the history of the English language.