- Das Auto A
- Learning Objectives
- Tools
- Vocabulary
- Grammar and Structures
- Cultural Knowledge
- Tasks
- Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Activity 2: Presenting Information
- Activity 3: Exchanging Information
- Take-Aways
- Self-Reflection
- Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
- Das Auto B
- Learning Objectives
- Tools
- Vocabulary
- Grammar and Structures
- Cultural Knowledge
- Tasks
- Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Activity 2: Presenting Information
- Activity 3: Exchanging Information
- Take-Aways
- Self-Reflection
- Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
- Das Auto C
- Learning Objectives
- Tools
- Vocabulary
- Grammar and Structures
- Cultural Knowledge
- Tasks
- Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Activity 2: Presenting Information
- Take-Aways
- Self-Reflection
- Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
- Das Auto D
- Learning Objectives
- Tools
- Vocabulary
- Grammar and Structures
- Cultural Knowledge
- Tasks
- Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Activity 2: Interpreting Information
- Activity 3: Presenting Information
- Activity 4: Exchanging Information
- Take-Aways
- Self-Reflection
- Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Das Auto A
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
- communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as Perfekt tense;
- interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about German holidays;
- communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to German holidays.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
Regional differences | der Norden, der Süden, der Osten, der Westen
die USA: die Südstaaten, die Nordstaaten |
Holidays | der Feiertag – feiern – der Ruhetag – ruhig
das Verbot – verbieten – erlauben |
Comparisons | damals, letzt-, schon, heute, heutzutage, neulich
historisch, traditionell, modern
der Unterschied – im Vergleich – ändern |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
Perfekt tense | grillen: Ich habe…gegrillt.
shoppen gehen: Ich bin…shoppen gegangen.
feiern (to celebrate): Ich habe…gefeiert. |
Simple past tense (use this only for the common verbs haben and sein) | sein: Ich war zu Hause. Wir waren im Park.
haben: Ich hatte eine Party mit meinen Freunden. Wir hatten viel Spaß zusammen. |
Opinions | finden: Ich finde es (nicht) gut. |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
Germany was not a unified country until 1871. Each of its 16 states has unique cultural traditions and linguistic patterns. | Not all holidays are celebrated in every state because some are more traditionally Catholic and others are more traditionally Protestant. Therefore, shops may be closed in Mainz on a Catholic holiday but not across the Rhine river in Wiesbaden, which is in a more Protestant state. |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Listening/viewing/reading
- Interpreting Information
In preparation for the upcoming activities, please review these websites:
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
What does each “holiday” celebrate?
What is restricted on Karfreitag?
Where does each name come from?
Activity 2: Presenting Information
Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting to a German audience about an American holiday that is unfamiliar to Germans or has different traditions in the U.S. than in other countries such as Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Black Friday.
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can. Also use Perfekt tense to describe what you did last year on the holiday you chose.
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 2 minutes.
Activity 3: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
In German-speaking countries, Sundays and both secular and religious holidays often include prohibitions on the types of activities one can do, with many loud activities restricted, most stores closed by law, and most people staying at home or spending time outdoors. In the U.S., by contrast, our holidays are often are biggest shopping days and many low-wage employees have to work.
Share your opinion (likes / dislikes) about these cultural conventions in both countries.
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your conversation should last about 3-5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question.
Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Review this table which lists the official holidays and which states celebrate them (i.e., paid time off work, stores closed, etc.). How does this list differ from the U.S.? What does it tell us about Germany as a country?
Click on one or more of the individual holidays listed for a specific article about it. Read it, then report on the holiday: date, purpose, ways of celebrating, etc.
Das Auto B
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
- communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as ordinal numbers.
- interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about drivers’ licenses, car-buying, and/or public transportation options.
- communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to drivers’ licenses, car-buying, and/or public transportation options.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
Car buying | kaufen, verkaufen, herstellen
das Auto, der Gebrauchtwagen, das Modell |
Drivers‘ License | der Führerschein, die Fahrschule |
Descriptions | schwach – stark, modern – traditionell, zufrieden – unzufrieden |
Flavor words | na ja |
Transportation types | das Auto, die Bahn (der Zug), die Bus, die Straßenbahn, die S-Bahn
das Carsharing |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
Perfekt tense | kaufen: Ich habe…gekauft.
gehen: Ich bin…gegangen.
fahren: Ich bin…gefahren. |
Ordinal numbers | Erstens geht man… Zweitens lernt man… Drittens… |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
Drivers’ licenses are expensive in Germany as are cars generally. | Some people never get them, particularly those who live in big cities with ample public transportation and, among older Germans in particular, women. It’s not uncommon for a household to have only one car and possibly only one driver. Less than 25% of households have more than one car according to the Environmental Ministry. |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Listening/viewing/reading
- Interpreting Information
In preparation for the upcoming activities, please review one of these websites:
Führerscheinkosten: das kommt auf Sie zu (ADAC) [Text and video. Note: video allows slower playback]
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
First two links: What are the required steps to get a drivers’ license in Germany? How much does each cost?
Last link: What criteria should one consider when buying a first car? What bureaucratic steps does one need to take after buying it?
Add vocabulary words to the table above based on your reading. What specific words related to drivers’ licenses and car-buying have you discovered?
Activity 2: Presenting Information
Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting to a German audience about how the process of getting a drivers’ license or buying a first car differs in the U.S. Take them through the steps, costs, etc. If you’re presenting about buying a first car, add personal information about your first car in the past tense (Perfekt: ich habe einen…gekauft. Es hat…gekostet.) Some examples of phrasing can be found in the “Digging Deeper” activities below. In either case, use the ordinal numbers to organize your presentation (erstens, zweitens, etc.).
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can. Also use Perfekt tense to describe what you did last year on the holiday you chose.
This activity should take you 3-5 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 1-2 minutes.
Activity 3: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
Cities in the U.S. like Atlanta are known for their traffic. Germany has plenty of traffic (Stau, Verkehr) as well, but most German towns and cities have reliable, affordable, and convenient transit options. The fact that most people live in apartments makes the typical German town or city much smaller and public transit more convenient. Looking at the range of transit options in the vocabulary section above, discuss with your partner which transit options: (1) your town/city (or hometown) have; (2) which you think it should have (ich möchte…) and why. Then discuss generally which transit options you think are best and why, remembering to use ordinal numbers to rank them (erstens, zweitens, etc.).
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your conversation should last about 3-5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question.
Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Your first car: everyone remembers it, everyone has a story. Practice your reading and listening skills by reviewing one or more of these links below. Then compose your own brief presentation about your first (or only!) car using the last link as a model. (Note: that link is a slide-show: advance to the third slide and beyond for short, written models). Or use the 2 questions (in green) in the first link to start a conversation with your partner:
Das Auto C
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
- communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as ordinal numbers.
- interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about the impact of travel on the environment.
- communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to the impact of travel on the environment.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
Environment | die Umwelt, umweltfreundlich |
Nature | die Luft, die Natur, der Wald, das Wasser, der Wind |
Pollution | die Verschmutzung, verschmutzen |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
Ordinal numbers | Erstens reisen 40% mit… Zweitens… |
Dative prepositions | ab, aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu
Seit 1990 macht man…
Wenn man mit der Bahn fährt…
Außer dem Flugzeug sind alle Verkehrsmittel… |
Cultural Knowledge
Fact
During the divided era (1949-89), East Germany contributed significantly to pollution although the extent was largely hidden until 1990. Inefficient cars such as the Trabi were just one example. Learn more about it in the linked video.
Germany is known for being a land of recycling and sustainability, but also a land of car-lovers. Sound contradictory? Read more about recycling at Deutsche Welle.
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Listening/viewing/reading
- Interpreting Information
In preparation for the upcoming activities, please read one of the eight sections of this article about the impact of travel on the climate. Your teacher may choose to have you work in pairs:
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
Identify the main idea of each paragraph
Identify two supporting facts / statistics for each main idea
Add vocabulary words to the table above based on your reading. What specific words related to environmentalism have you discovered?
Activity 2: Presenting Information
Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting to the class your findings. Focus on 5 facts or statistics from your reading section.
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can. Use ordinal numbers (erstens, zweitens, drittens, viertens, fünftens) to organize your presentation.
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 2 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question.
Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Compare the climate impact of four different types of family trips, each using a different transportation method by clicking on “Datei herunterladen” on the site “Vier Familien, vier Urlaubsszenarien.”
Look at the list of “10 Umweltprobleme unserer Zeit.” Identify one of interest, read it, and take notes on the description of the problem, its causes (Ursachen), possible solutions (Lösungen). Note that each issues is described in 3 paragraphs, one for each of the above aspects. Present an overview of this one issue to your classmates. Include a few sentences about why you chose this particular issue.
Browse the “Umwelt im Unterricht” website for other topics of interest, perhaps for an extra credit presentation.
Das Auto D
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
- communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as Perfekt tense and questions.
- interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about road trips and road movies
- communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to road trips and road movies.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
Geography | der Berg (-e), die See/der See, die Küste, das Meer, der Wald, die Stadt, die Großstadt, das Dorf, das Land |
Trips and adventures | der Campingplatz, die Fahrt, das Hotel, die Polizei, die Reise, der (Um)weg
gefallen, helfen, passieren, planen, übernachten
unerwartet, die Überraschung, überraschen, ändern |
Departures, stops, destinations | abfahren, anhalten, ankommen
von…bis: von Atlanta bis New York
über: von Atlanta bis New York über Charlotte und D.C. |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
Perfekt tense | anhalten: Wir sind in Charlotte angehalten.
übernachten: Wir haben in einem billigen Hotel übernachtet. |
W-words (questions) | Wer...? (Wer ist mit Ihnen nach Florida gefahren?)
Wann...?
Wie...?
Wie viel...?
Wie viele...? (Wie viele Tage hattest du in Florida?)
Wo...?
Warum...? |
Ordinal numbers | Erstens sind wir… Zweitens… Drittens… |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
Germany taxes gasoline heavily but German cars are also very fuel efficient. Germany is also much smaller than the U.S.—a bit more than twice as large as Georgia. | Check out historical gas prices for different countries or current gas prices in Germany. Remember that there are 4 liters in a gallon! While a 5-hour road trip can be expensive, you can cross the country in that time (often, at much higher speeds). |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
- Listening/viewing/reading
- Interpreting Information
There is a tradition of road movies in German-speaking countries as there is in the USA. In preparation for the upcoming activities, please watch one or more of these film trailers:
Tschick (2016) (contains sexual content)
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
Describe the main characters
Why do they go on a road trip? What is their goal?
What problems do they encounter?
Activity 2: Interpreting Information
- Listening/viewing/reading
- Interpreting Information
Memorable road trips share similar characteristics such as spontaneity and good company. Watch this video and make notes about the:
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
What are the 7 rules of a successful road trip?
Which ones do you agree with and/or follow?
Activity 3: Presenting Information
Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting about a road trip you would like to take. Discuss your destination, why you chose it, whom you would travel with and why, stops you’d make along the way, etc. Organize your presentation with a picture and ordinal numbers (erstens…, zweitens…).
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can.
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 2 minutes.
Activity 4: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
Traditionally, a road trip movie focuses less on the destination and more on the adventures and mishaps along the way. Ask your partner about a road trip they have taken in the past: destination, stops along the way, who went with you, what vehicle you took, problems or adventures encountered, etc. Your partner should ask follow-up questions with the W-words above.
What does a successful road trip include in your opinion? Which of the 7 rules do you agree with? Which do you disagree with? Which would you add to the list?
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your conversation should last about 3-5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question.
Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Germans love their cars and road trips too. Explore this list of the top-9 road trips in Germany and decide which one you’d like to take. Use the links marked “Mehr Infos” for additional images and details. (An alternate list features four themed road trips: wine, volcanos, the Alps, or fairy tales.) Then present your choice to a partner and discuss why you chose it in a short conversation. Ask your partner follow-up questions about their choice too.
If you prefer a different type of road trip—on a bicycle—Germany has many options for you as well. These are some of the best.