DEUTSCH 1101 FALL '07
Michael Mullins
Telefon: 726-6155
Büro: 453 Hum
Bürostunden: mittwochs 10-11:50 Uhr, per Email & by appointment
Syllabus Notes
German 1101
Fall 2007
M, T, Th, F: 9:00-9:50 Uhr
Hum 464
Texts: Di Nato, Clyde, Vansant. Deutsch, Na Klar! An Introductory German Course. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2004 (4th editions) (required)
Grammatiktafel Deutsch. Langenscheidt (required)
Workbook pages (handed-out) in connection with Deutsch, Na Klar! (assignments are not listed on the syllabus. They will be assigned in class)
This class fulfills the Category 3 of the Liberal Education Program.
Courses in this category should develop the ability to use and analyze human and computer languages. Emphasis should be on the theory and/or development of skills in the methods of human and computer languages, and rhetoric.
Goals and Objectives: This is the first of a two-semester sequence of Beginning German language instruction. By the end of the first semester (Ger 1101), you will be able to provide basic information about yourself (e.g. your age, your address, your hobbies and interests), greet people, ask simple questions, receive basic infomation (time, family, studies) and cope with everyday needs. You will understand spoken German well enough to follow simple directions and the gist of simple texts and/or stories spoken by German speakers accustomed to non-native speakers of German. You will also be able to read short paragraphs from main current or past events and write well enough to take notes, fill out forms, and write postcards and short letters.
Ger 1101 emphasizes speaking, listening, reading and writing in German and is organized around different themes pertinent to German and German speaking countries. Together we will explore the themes of "first contacts", "apartment hunting", "friends", "family", "daily routine", and "leisure time activities" while studying aspects of German culture. Your readings consist primarily of excerpts from our textbook; spoken German is emphasized in team work activities, group work and classroom "discussions". Your written exercises consist of web page assignments (they will be assigned in class) and/or pages of a grammar workbook I will hand out, activities and exercises from the textbook, which I may collect periodically, and quizzes, true-and false exercises, synthetic exercises, short paragraphs, post cards, tests and a comprehensive final exam. Completing these assignments is your responsibility. You are asked to have them completed on the day assigned, even if I do not check them. It is your responsibility to come prepared for each and every lesson so you can participate and earn your "check" (Vor 0.5 pts.) or "check plus" (+ or 1 pt.) for your oral participation.
The Department is committed to making its courses available to all students who are adequately prepared and are willing to participate. If there is any reason why you may have trouble meeting any of the expectations as they are outlined, please contact me right away and we will attempt to work out an accommodation.
If you miss more than six classes, you cannot earn an A in this course. You should have six “free passes” for illness and other unexpected difficulties. If you miss more than 9 classes, you cannot earn a B. If you miss more than 12 classes, you cannot earn a C.
Oral Competence: Since this class emphasizes oral communication, proficiency in oral expression is one of our goals. Proficiency does not mean accuracy, i.e. you should not worry too much about making grammatical/structural mistakes. What is more important in 1101 is that you get your meaning across when you communicate (sometimes with hand and feet, but never in English), because the class will be conducted 95% of the time in German, and you are expected to try to only speak German in our communicative classroom.
Class discussioin is very important in this course. It gives you the opportunity to try out what you study at home and learn in class through the discussion of topics outlined in your syllabus. You will seldomly be corrected when you speak, as long as you are communicating. Should you make structural mistakes, listen closely and I will repeat what you say in proper modern German. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Communicative competence (proficiency, not accuracy) means being able to communicate your ideas in an intelligible manner! It does not mean grammatical perfection as so many of us believe. Grammatical perfection is a goal to be achieved at a much later stage in learning a foreign language.
Written Competence: It is important that you communicate your ideas clearly when you write freely (sentences, postcards, small paragraphs), since you will be graded on content. During in-class assignments like exam portions that focus on content rather than structure, please focus on intelligible information. Do not worry about minor doubts you may have about the structural accuracy of a sentence. (Do worry about the structure when you write and study at home; there you have the time to think things over, since you are not spontaneously producing language, the most difficult skill in language acquisition. In your writing assignments at home you have the time to clear up doubts you may have (and I expect you to!)
Grammatical Competence: Grammar is important, thus particular exercises on assignments will help you learn German structure. Make it a point to memorize important information and store it in your longterm memory despite the fact that you can use the Grammatiktafel as a reference on your tests. German is a very structured language, and you need to put time and effort into learning the structure in order to communicate. Generally speaking, I will introduce new grammar items in class, yet I will leave it up to you to complete the assigned assignments. My experience has shown that those who follow the syllabus and the syllabus notes with all its suggestions on a daily basis are much better prepared for the next level of German (and will also receive better grades in 1101) as those who do not put the required work of approximately 2 hours/daily four times a week.
Reading for Comprehension: For every assignment, skim over the page to see what the text and exercises are about, then read the text once. Please do not attempt to translate very word that you do not understand. This can be a discouraging and frustrating experience. Read for general comprehension, i.e. try to understand the main points. The best strategy is to read it once to get a feeling for the text, then a second time to identify more specific information. During your second reading ask yourself who is doing what (subjects and direct objects in particular and verbs), then figure out the answers to the following questions (not all may apply): Who? Where? What? When? (How?) (Why?) to understand the gist of the text. Make it a habit to learn new vocabulary and put it into your long term memory!
Vocabulary: It is essential to have words and phrases at your disposal. There is, unfortunately, no other way but to memorize vocabulary and to practice it consistently. Make it a habit to learn new words and to review old once every day. That is the only way to store them in your long term memory. Vocabulary Quizzes are in English and German and last ca. 20 minutes. They test your vocabulary knowledge and are based on the assigned vocabulary in our textbook. No helpful resources (e.g., a dictionary of the Grammatiktafel) are allowed during quiz taking. Pop quizzes may be given. There are no make-up quizzes! Your worst quiz will not be entered in my grade book.
Aural Comps/Video Segments: Particular days are set aside for these "silly stories" (Aural Comps) or video clips consisting of old and newly acquired vocabulary. The Aural Comps will be read twice before you summarize them in English. The same applies to the video segments (2 viewings). During the second listening/viewing you are allowed to take notes. You will then summarize what you have understood in English and/or answer questions. Aural Comps and Video segments may be part of your tests and your final exam.
Tests consist of listening, reading and writing portions and structure exercises. They last 50 minutes. You are allowed to consult your dictionaries and Grammatiktafel during test-taking. Your worst test will not be entered in my grade book. Make-up tests are only given in extenuating circumstances; they need to be discussed with me well in advanced, if possible.
Final Exam
This exam is comprehensive and twice the length of a test. It follows the same pattern as a test but it includes also an interview portion.
Course Grading
| ASPECT OF COURSE | % TOTAL GRADE |
| Participation in class | 35 |
Quizzes |
15 |
| Exams | 20 |
| Final Exam including Oral Exam | 10 |
| Aural Comps | 05 |
| Assignments in and out of class | 15 |
SYLLABUS
Dienstag, der 04. September 2007
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Introduction: Materials, Expectations, Syllabus (electronic only)
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VORBEREITUNG: Please prepare the following):
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Donnerstag, der 06. September 2007
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Introduction: Syllabus;
Begrüssungen (greetings)
Wie schreibt man das?
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Prepare for Thursday: Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and the materials for the course. Read page 5 (Seite 5) in your textbook (Buch) and review Aktivität (AK) 3 on your own. Learn the following vocabulary:
Wortschatz (vocabulary): Zur Begrüssung, Beim Abschied, Bekannt werden (Buch, Seite 20) ________________________________
Freitag, der 07. September 2007
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Das Alphabet, Zahlen (numbers), Begrüssungen
Vokabelkarten (vocabulary cards)
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Vorbereitung für Freitag (Prepare for Friday): Lesen (read): Buch (book): Seite (page) 7,8. Ak 7 (in written form); . Wortschatz:(vocabulary) Zahlen: 0-12, Auskunft erfragen [S. 20, 21]
Web exercises or Worbook pages (to be announced):
Please bring 3 note cards to class!
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Montag, der 10. September 2007
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Nummern & Adressen; Nützliche Ausdrücke im Sprachkurs
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Vorbereitung für Montag (Prepare for Monday): Web exercises or workbook:
:
Wortschatz: Nach dem Befinden fragen, Zahlen: 13-70 [S. 20-21]
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Dienstag, der 11. September 2007
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Quiz I (30pts)
Informationen finden: Aural Comp or Video
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Vorbereitung fuer Dienstag: Web exercises or workbook:
Review for quiz [S. 21-22, see checklist]. Wortschatz: Deutschsprachige Länder und ihre Nachbarn [S. 21-22]
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Donnerstag, der 13. September 2007
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Test I (50 pts.): Einführung Geographie
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Vorbereitung für Donnerstag: Buch: S. 17, 18: Lesen. Web exercises workbook pages:
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Freitag, d. 14. September 2007
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KAPITEL I: Geschlecht (gender),Persönliche Angaben
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Vorbereitung für Freitag: Buch: S.24: Lesen and supply the missing info; bring your Grammatiktafel (if you have one, bring it to class from now on as you might be working with it during activities and tests).Wortschatz: Substantive [S. 48]
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Montag, d. 17. September 2007
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Richtig oder Falsch?
(Correct or incorrect?); Wie, wo , was, Fragewörter, Geschlecht
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Vorbereitung für Montag: Buch: S. 34: Lesen & Übung 2; Webpages or Workbook: Workbook:
Wortschatz: Substantive, Interrogative Pronouns [S. 48/49]
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Dienstag, d. 18. September 2007
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Aural Comp or video, Gespräch an der Uni, Personalpronomen (personal pronouns)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 35: "Personal Pronouns" (lesen), S. 36 Übung 5; Workbook or Webpages:
Wortschatz: Verben, personal pronouns [S. 48/49]
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Donnerstag, d. 20. September 2007
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Richtig oder Falsch? (R o F?), Personalpronomen, Präsens (present tense)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 37-38: "Infinitive and present tense" (Lesen); S. 36 AK 6. Bring your dictionary to class if you haven't already. Wortschatz: Eigenschaften, Sonstiges [S. 48/49]
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Freitag, d. 21. September 2007
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Quiz II
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Vorbereitung: Review for quiz [S.48/49]. Dress up as your favorite movie star, author, athlete, politician, etc. Prepare 8 sentences that describe you on a note card. Be prepared to talk about yourself while glancing at your card.
Webexercises: Kapitel I W1-5
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Montag, d. 24. September 2007
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Synthetic Exercises; Präsens, "sein"
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 40: "Sein" plus "word order" (lesen), AK 7, 8; Workbook
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Dienstag, d. 25. September 2007
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Asking questions (Fragen); Review for Test I
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
Review for test: Bring your questions.
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Donnerstag, d. 27. September 2007 ___________________
TEST II (Kapitel 1)
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Vorbereitung: Review for test
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Freitag, d. 28. September 2007
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Catch up, practice interviews
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
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Montag, d. 01. Oktober 2007
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Kapitel II: Wo ich wohne, Auf Wohnungssuche, Auf Möbelsuche
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 56, 57: Lesen und Verstehen; S. 57 AK 4. Wortschatz: Im Kaufhaus, Das Haus [S. 78]
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Dienstag, d. 02. Oktober 2007
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Was wir gerne machen, practice interviews
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
Wortschatz: Sonstige Substantive, Adjektive, Adverbien [S. 78/79]
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Donnerstag, d. 04. Oktober 2007
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Interviews (practice for tomorrow)
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Vorbereitung: Review: Vocabulary, Grammar, pronunciation for your interview. Wortschatz: Sonstiges [S. 79]
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Freitag, d. 05. Oktober 2007
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Interviews
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Montag, d. 08. Oktober 2007
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Quiz III, gerne machen, plural of nouns
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
Review for quiz III (S.78/79)
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Dienstag, d. 09. Oktober 2007
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Aural Comp or video; synthetic exercises; cases: Nominativ (nominative) & Akkusativ (accusative)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 64, 65 (Lesen), S. 67 Übung 5 (7 sentences). Vokabeln: Conjugations of "sein," "haben," "werden" (Appendix C A-17)
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Donnerstag, d. 11. Oktober 2007
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Wohnen (Living); masculine nouns
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 75 "So wohne ich" (Lesen; skimming). Vokabeln: "fragen," "finden" (Appendix A-17)
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Freitag, d. 12. Oktober 2007
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Indefinite articles;
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Vorbereitung: Buch, S. 68-69 Übung 6,7.
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Montag, d. 15. Oktober 2007
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Catch-up day
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
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Dienstag, d. 16. Oktober 2007
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Negation
Verbs with stem-vowel changes
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 69/70 "Negation" (Lesen); Workbook
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Donnerstag, d. 18. Oktober 2007
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Catch up
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Vorbereitung: Skim over the pages in your book that cover "Demonstrativpronomen."
Workbook
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Freitag, d. 19. Oktober 2007
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Kapitel III: Familie und Freunde
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 80-81 (Lesen), S. 84 AK 1, 2. Wortschatz: Stammbaum, Verben [S. 105-106]
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Montag, d. 22. Oktober 2007
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Familie und Verwandte,
Possessive adjectives
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Vorbereitung: Bring a photo of your family! Buch: S. 91, 92 (Lesen), S. 105 AK1;
Wortschatz: Wochentage, Possessivartikel, Monate [S. 106-107]
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Dienstag, d. 23. Oktober 2007
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Aural Comp or Video, Possessive adjectives, Feste und Feiertage (Holidays and Holy Days)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 89 "Kulturtipp" (Lesen), S. 94: Übungen 2&3; Workbook
Wortschatz: Feste und Feiertage, Verben [S. 106]
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Donnerstag, d. 25. Oktober 2007
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Possessive adjectives, synthetic exercises
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 89 "Sprachtipp" (Lesen); Workbook
Wortschatz: Ordinalzahlen, Adjektive& Adverbien, Sonstiges [S.106, 107]
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Freitag, d. 26. Oktober 2007
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Quiz IV
Präpositionen (prepositions) mit dem Akkusativ
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 97 "Prepositions with. . . " (Lesen). Wortschatz: Akkusativpronomen [S. 107]
Review for quiz [S. 106-107]
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Montag, d. 29. October 2007
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Personalpronomen (personal pronouns): Akkusativ; Geschenke
(Halloween)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 95 (Lesen), S. 96 Übungen 5&6; Workbook
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Dienstag, d. 30. Oktober 2007
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Irreguläre Verben (irregular verbs): wissen & kennen
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 101 (Lesen), S. 100-1001 Übungen 1&2, S. 99 Übung 9
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Donnerstag, d. 01. November 2007
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Präpositionen mit dem Akkusativ, Review for Test
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 97-98 (Lesen), S. 98 Übung 8; Workbook oder Webseiten:
Review for Test (Bringen Sie Ihre Fragen!)
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Freitag, d. 02. November 2007
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TEST III ( Kapitel 3)
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Vorbereitung: Review for Test
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Montag, d. 05. November 2007
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Eine Person vorstellen
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 105 AK 1 (Sprechen und Schreiben; bring a photo to class for this if you like). Workbook
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Dienstag, d. 06. November 2007
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Kapitel IV: Uhrzeit; Wie liest man einen Text?
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 112, S. 139 (Lesen). Wortschatz: Uhrzeiten [S. 141]
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Donnerstag, d. 08. November 2007
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Uhrzeit; Wie liest man einen Test
(9. November: known for more than one reason in German history; any guesses why?)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 138 "Using a Dictionary" (Lesen); Workbook
Wortschatz: Tageszeiten [S. 140]
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Freitag, d. 09. November 2007
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Aural Comp or Video; Wochenplan (weekly planner)
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Vorbereitung: Schreiben: Buch, S. 139 "Zum Text" (A. answer in German, B. answer in English). Wortschatz: Unterhaltung [S. 140]
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Montag, d. 12. November 2007
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Separable Pre-fix Verbs
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 123-125 oben (Lesen), S. 126 Übung 3. Wortschatz: Verben mit trennbaren Präfixen [S. 140-141]
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Dienstag, d. 13. November 2007
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R oder Falsch?
Separable Prefix Verbs
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Vorbereitung: Review
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Donnerstag, d. 15. November 2007
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Synthetic Exercises, Modal Auxiliary Verbs
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 127-129 (Lesen), Workbook
Wortschatz: Sonstiges [S. 141]
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Freitag, d. 16. November 2007
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Quiz V
Hand in Journal Writing
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Vorbereitung: Journal Writing: Workbook, S. 76 "Wie verbringen Sie Ihre Zeit?" (Do the steps, then write a journal entry of 12-15 sentences to be handed in); Review for quiz (S. 140-141)
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Montag, d. 19. November 2007
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Catch up: Review for Test
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
review for test (Fragen mitbringen)
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Dienstag, d. 20. November 2007
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TEST IV (Kapitel 4)
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Vorbereitung: Review for Test
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Donnerstag, d. 22.& Freitag, d. 23. November 2007
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FERIEN:
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ERNTEDANKFEST
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Montag, d. 26. November 2007
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Der Imperativ (the Imperative)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 133-135 (Lesen)
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Dienstag, d. 27. November 2007
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Der Imperativ
Kapitel V: Einkaufen (Shopping)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 168 "Im Hutladen" (Lesen & Verstehen); Workbook
Wortschatz: Kleidungsstücke, Farben [S. 171-172]
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Donnerstag, d. 29. November 2007
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Kleidungsstücke
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 145 AK 2, S. 148 "Kulturtipp" (Lesen);Workbook: Wortschatz: Lebensmittel [S. 170, 171]
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Freitag, d. 30. November 2007
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Kleidungsstücke
Der Dativ (the dative case)
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 155-157 "The Dative Case" (Lesen); Workbook
Wortschatz: Geschäfte, Verben [S. 171-172]
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Montag, d. 03. Dezember 2007
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Der Dativ: Artikel (articles) & Possessivartikel (possessive articles), Indirekte Objekte (indirect objects)
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Vorbereitung: Buch, S. 157-159 Übung 1. Wortschatz: Toilettenartikel, Sonstige Adjektive und Adverbien [S. 171-172]
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Dienstag, d. 04. Dezember 2007
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Aural Comp oder Video
Der Dativ, Lückentext
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Vorbereitung: Workbook
Wortschatz: Sonstige Subjektive, Dativpronomen [S. 171-172]
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Donnerstag, d. 06. Dezember 2007
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Catch up
Der Dativ, Practice Interviews
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 152 "Sprachtipp" (Lesen), S. 153 AK II;
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Freitag, d. 07. Dezember 2007
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Quiz VI
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Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 161 "Verbs with Dative Object only" (Lesen); Review for Quiz [S. 170-172]
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Montag, d. 10. Dezember 2007 Wiederholung (Review) Vorbereitung: Buch: S. 161-162 Übungen 5 & 6
Dienstag, d. 11.Dezember 2007 Wiederholung Vorbereitung: Prepare for Final Interviews and our comprehensive Final
Donnerstag, d. 13. Dezember 2007 Final: Interviews (in meinem Büro) Vorbereitung: Prepare for Final Interviews and our comprehensive Final
Freitag, d. 14.
Dezember 2007
Final Interviews (in meinem Büros) Prepare for Final
Final Exam Schedule:
http://www.d.umn.edu/registrar/regular_fall_exam.htm