Course Descriptions/Objectives
German 1:
This course is designed as a beginning class in German. Students will develop initial listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills with emphasis placed on enabling them to function in practical situations. Among other topics, they will learn how to talk about themselves, friends, families, interests and daily activities. They will also be introduced to the culture and people of German-speaking countries with a focus on holidays and the German Soccer League (Bundesliga). High-performing students will participate in the German National Exam in April.
Students who earn a grade of A or B+ in German 1 (and/or have teacher approval) are eligible to take German 2 Honors the following year. A grade of C is necessary to move to the next level.
Students who plan to meet a-g requirements need to take two years of the same language, and those wishing to attend more competitive universities are encouraged to take three or four years.
German 2/2H:
This course builds on skills acquired in level 1. Students will first review important vocabulary and grammar concepts before starting with the level 2 curriculum. In addition to covering themes such as travel, health and technology, students will be introduced to several short stories. They will also have increased opportunities to practice speaking and to improve their writing skills. The cultural focus will be on music and soccer. Honors students will participate in the German National Exam in January.
German 2 Honors students will be exposed to a more rigorous curriculum with differentiated/additional assignments and assessments.
Students who earn a grade of A or B in German 2 Honors or an A in German 2 (and/or have teacher approval) are eligible to take German 3 Honors the following year. A grade of C is necessary to move to the next level.
German 3/3H:
This intermediate course builds upon skills learned in German 1 and 2. Students will interact with increasingly complex material, and they should be willing to study vocabulary on a regular basis. Course work includes selected reading materials, longer writing samples, oral presentations and more difficult listening comprehension activities. Important grammar structures will be reviewed and new ones will be introduced. The cultural focus will still be on music and soccer. Honors students will participate in the German National Exam in January.
German 3 Honors students will be exposed to a more rigorous curriculum with differentiated/additional assignments and assessments and are highly encouraged to enroll in AP German the following year.
A grade of C or better is necessary to move on to German 4, and a grade of A or B in German 3 Honors or an A in German 3 (and/or teacher recommendation) is required to enroll in AP German.
German 4:
This course is designed for the students who would like to continue with their German studies but are looking for something less rigorous than AP German. Topics will mirror those in AP German but the focus will be more on individual student needs and preferences. Students who complete German 4 and have at least a B average in all four years of German (plus fulfill certain Language Arts requirements) are eligible to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy.
AP German:
This advanced course prepares interested students for the AP German Exam in May. The course follows Collegeboard guidelines and is conducted almost exclusively in German. Students who enroll in this class should have a sincere interest in the German language and culture and should be willing to spend some time outside of class to review material. They should also be prepared to explore German cultural websites and to do oral presentations in class. They will be exposed to authentic materials that reflect the four modalities (listening, reading, writing and speaking) tested in May. Important grammar concepts will be reviewed and refined. In addition to taking the German National Exam, students will also be taking several practice AP exams, including one full-length exam on a Saturday in April (for those who signed up for the exam in May).
Students who pass the AP German Exam may earn college credit - each college has different rules but most schools, especially state schools, will give credit for earning a passing score. Students who take AP German and who meet certain requirements in German and Language Arts are eligible to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy.
Please click on the following link for further information on the AP German Course:
https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-german-language-and-culture
An AP German Language course is intended to be roughly equivalent both in content and in difficulty to an advanced-level college German language course. The exam presupposes extensive language development (three to four years) leading to an additional year of advanced coursework. Other alternatives exist, however:
* AP students may receive special training within or outside the regular third- or fourth-year secondary school German course;
* Qualified students may be permitted to bypass part of the four-year sequence, thus reaching the fourth-year level without four years of German.
The goal of the AP German Language and Culture course is the development of the following competencies:
* having a strong command of vocabulary and structure
* understanding spoken German in various conversational situations
* reading newspaper/magazine articles, contemporary fiction, and non-technical writings
* fluently and accurately expressing ideas orally and in writing
* compare and contrast the home culture with the German culture
The course seeks to build language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to a variety of activities and disciplines rather than being limited to any specific body of subject matter. This will prepare students for the AP exam which is not based on any particular topic but instead attempts to evaluate the level of performance in the use of the language, both in understanding written and spoken German and in responding with ease in correct and idiomatic German.