Introducing German!
Outreach Program for Furthering
German Language and Culture in Austin Schools
Department of Germanic Studies
University of Texas at Austin
Prof. Kit Belgum
phone: 471-4123; email: belgum@austin.utexas.edu
Graduate Assistants:
WEBSITE: https://introgerman.la.utexas.edu
To generate and further interest in German language and German culture in the schools, this project will develop a collaborative instruction program between the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and participating elementary, middle, and high schools of the Austin Independent School District (AISD).
Project Objectives and Implications:
* to increase awareness of German language and German culture among AISD elementary students
* to promote an interest in this cultural tradition and a recognition of its ties to American and Texas culture
* to enable students at UT to deepen their understanding of German and exercise their own skills with the language by teaching it to younger students
* to spark demand for German instruction at the middle and high school levels in AISD and thus counteract the recent decline in German enrollments and offerings in the local schools
* to establish a lasting collaboration between elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educators
Elementary Program – Spring or Fall
Who: University of Texas undergraduate students of German
What: teach German language
Levels: to 5th- and/or 6th-grade students (or younger if interested)
Duration: 8-lesson unit (conducted over an 8-week period)
How often: 1 language classes per week with UT German teacher
Optional: cultural materials available for use by classroom teacher
Topics: names, family members, colors, numbers, parts of body, clothing, hobbies, foods, weather, animals, geography
Expressions: greetings, introductions, polite expressions, describing people and things, talking about likes and dislikes, talking about recreational activities
Techniques: oral learning with written reinforcement, drawings and readings, songes, games, videa, stories and role play, TPR = total physical response (doing while saying)
Assessment: completion of student workbook, final poem or labeled picture
1-hour introduction for teachers (available on request)
German pronunciation, basic vocabulary, discussion of cultural materials