Take a break from learning possessive pronouns! Some interesting, informative . . . and fun videos

and, related to Kapitel 2: Wie ich Wohne, a video about renting in Germany:

Sentence Structure Review: Short Video

In advance of a comprehensive review on Monday, 7/28, watch this short video explaining that very vital and essential part of German grammar: the sentence structure.

German 1A: Topics for the final: 7/29/15 at 6:00 p.m.

The final will be held on Wednesday, July 29 from 6:00 p.m. > however much time you need but hopefully not later than 8:30.  

Here are the general topics, in order for you to focus your review and study: 

1.  Family tree terms

2.  Describing in complete sentences: things in your room/home, personal characteristics, favorite activities, questions re: renting an apartment, and things you need to have in an apartment or as part of an apartment. 

3.  Completing a dialog by writing grammatically correct questions.  Review question formation on p. 41 and p. 43.  It would be helpful to also review word order, p. 40 (and see video in post on sentence structure.)     

4.    Personal pronouns: nominative and accusative. 

5.  Verb conjugation (fill in blanks).  Very important!  Sehr wichtig!  Review, pp. 36 and 71.  

6.  Possessive adjectives 

7.  Accusative pronouns

8.  wissen or kennen? 

9.  kein or nicht?  

10.  A reading passage 

There will be a listening section, as well.  

Strange but True: Birthday Customs in Germany or Austria

Read here for a description of some interesting birthday celebration customs in Germany or Austria.  Here's one that stands out: 

• The first German birthday tradition I’d like to share, serves as a warning as well: Never wish a German a happy birthday before their birthday. It is considered bad luck to do so. There are no well-wishes, cards or presents given before a German’s birthday. Period.

And about that Happy Birthday song: 

 The good news about learning a birthday song sung in Germany is that it is not hard at all. The reason is the bad news: The English version of 'Happy Birthday' is what is mostly sung at German partys now. Nevertheless, on occasion you will hear it sung in German and so here is the German version:

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück,Zum Geburtstag viel Glück,Zum Geburtstag alles Gute,Zum Geburtstag viel Glück. 


One traditional birthday song where sometimes the chair is being lifted up as everybody sings along isHoch soll er/sie leben. However it is being taken over by 'Happy Birthday' and is not so popular anymore.:


Hoch soll sie/er leben! (Long may she/he live!)
Hoch soll sie/er leben! 
Dreimal hoch! (Three cheers!)

Another birthday song that you will hear at times, expecially at children's birthday partys is the one penned by Germany's favorite children's singer, Rolf Zuckowski: Wie schön, dass du geboren bist.

German 1A/10A: Assignment for 7/20/15: Kapitel 3: Familie und Freunde

Note: If you looked at this blog post earlier (i.e. Wednesday), please note it was incorrect.  Below is the correct assignment for Monday, 7/20.  

Continue to work on WB/LM for Kapitel 3.  It will be handed in on the evening of the final on 7/29.  

Continue to work on WB/LM for Kapitel 3

P. 88: Thema 2: Der Kalender

Akt. 4: identify

Read Sprach-Info

Akt 6: Listen (3x) and take notes, jot down key words

Akt 7: will be done in class

P. 89: Thema 3:  Feste und Feiertage 

Read the paragraph about Geburtstagswünsche, study Neue Wörter.

Analyse: read and be prepared to review in class.  To see more on offering good wishes, condolences, job promotion congratulations, graduation, etc. in German, see this webpage.

P. 90: Study Neue Wörter and read Feiertage in der Familie Thalhofer

P. 91: Read Sprach-Info.  

Read Landeskunde-Info and prepare answers to the questions 

P. 92: Akt 8: match the holidays.  Then, go to this website:    German holidays.  Choose a holiday that interests you and write a brief description to tell the class.  

Akt 9: Create a birthday greeting for a family member or friend 

Neue Wörter, study and read Sprach-Info
  

Grammatik im Kontext: 

p. 97: Read about personal pronouns in the accusative case and notes.  

P. 98, read Sprach-Info. 

Übung 6, fill in blanks.

Übung , will be done in class. 

Übung 8, fill in blanks with the appropriate personal pronouns.  Both nominative and accusative pronouns will be used. 

Übung 9, will be done in class. 

Pp. 100-101:  Prepositions with the Accusative Case: Read and study, including notes.  

Übung 10:  Write sentences according to the example/Beispiel

Übung 11: write the correct preposition to review in class

Just for fun, here's a tongue twister to try:  In Ulm und um Ulm und um Ulm herum.  See how many times you can say it in 30 seconds!  

Test, Kapitel 3.  This will be distributed on 7/20 for review on 7/22.  We will "crowd source" the test for Kapitel 3, listen and review the listening section, etc.  This will be a good chance for you to review Kapitel 3 material in advance of the final.  10A students will also participate, for extra practice.  (It couldn't hurt).  

German 1A/10A: Assignment for 7/15/15: Kapitel 3: Familie und Freunde

After reading the Grammatik im Kontext assignments, please begin the workbook and lab for Kapitel 3, to be handed in on the class session of the final, 7/29/14.  

P. 83: Alles klar?  Read and examine the photo, following the prompts.

P. 84: Listen to B and check boxes

P. 84: Thema 1: Wörter im Kontext: Ein Familienstammbaum.  Study the tree and complete the activity,

Wer ist wer?

Read: Sprach-Info and study Neue-Wörter, p. 85

P. 86: Akt 1.  Unscramble

Akt 2: prepare answers to questions.  You will use mein/meine in your answers.  

Read Sprach-info

Read Landeskunde-Info.

P. 87: Akt. 3.  Fill in the blanks and read Sprach-Info. (Tip: you never know when you will need this vocabulary in your every day interactions in a German-speaking country!) 

Pp. 93-94: Grammatik im Kontext: Possessive Adjectives: read and study charts and read notes.

Analyse: Scan and identify possessive adjectives. 

P. 95: Übung 1: Listen (3x) and jot down Empfänger/Absender (just the relationships + possessive adjective)

Übung 2:  Schritt 1 and 2 

Übung 3: Write 8 sentences according to the directions 

P. 96: Übung 4: Complete the dialogs.  Note whether the person being addressed requires "formal" or "informal".   

Übung 5: Schritt 1: Write a personal profile to exchange in class (Schritt 2).  You need not write your actual cell phone number.  You will be using a correct form of "mein", which will vary depending on the gender of the noun it is modifying.