German Level 1
Year at a Glance
Theme 1: Personal and Family Life
Greetings and Introductions
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Use appropriate forms of address to peers and adults when making introductions.
- Use appropriate gestures and expressions of greeting and leave-taking.
- Ask and respond to simple questions about someone else's identity and well-being.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Differentiate between informal and formal exchanges.
- Comprehend phrases related to a person's state of well-being.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Demonstrate attention to accuracy of register in introducing self and expressing greetings.
- Present rehearsed and spontaneous greetings and introductions.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Recognize and distinguish between various culturally-authentic gestures and levels of formality of greeting and leave-taking.
- Demonstrate understanding of hand-shaking, body language and greetings, including those used in telephone, computer, and letter-writing situations.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Discuss the use of morning and evening greetings.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Contrast customs of greeting and leave-taking between the United States and German-speaking countries.
- Contrast the use of formal address in German and English.
Communication Across Communities
- Recognize the importance of greetings in German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- du/ihr/Sie
- Formal and informal address
- Forming questions
- Subject pronouns and sein
Physical Descriptions and Personality Characteristics, Feelings, and Emotions
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Use a variety of adjectives to ask and answer questions about the physical appearance of people and objects.
- Ask and answer questions about a description, mood or emotional state.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Comprehend spoken and written descriptions of physical appearance, personality traits and emotions.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Describe physical and personality attributes using a variety of appropriate adjectives.
- Present descriptions, both rehearsed and spontaneous, of people and/or objects.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss cultural generalizations and stereotyping based on physical appearance.
- Discuss differences and similarities in appearance between people from the U.S. and German-speaking countries.
- Discuss characteristics of famous people from German-speaking countries.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Identify well-known German-speaking people studied in other disciplines.
- Identify well-known German-speaking Americans.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Identify adjectives that are cognates and those that are false cognates.
- Compare German word order with that of English.
Communication Across Communities
- Describe well-known people in German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Descriptive adjectives
- Present tense of sein
- Definite articles der, die, das
Family Members
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions pertaining to family members and relationships, including pets.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify family members and relationships based on spoken and written descriptions.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Describe family relationships.
- Describe family members and pets.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Identify characteristics of the family unit in various Germanic cultures.
- Explain the importance of the family in German-speaking societies.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Compare the role of the extended family in Germany and in the U.S.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Compare and contrast families in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
- Contrast ways to express possession.
Communication Across Communities
- Use print and Internet resources to access information about families in German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Descriptive adjectives
- Indefinite articles ein, eine, einen
- Possessive adjectives mein, dein, sein, ihr
- Subject pronouns
- Accusative case
- Present tense of the verb haben
- Pet vocabulary
Clothing and Colors
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions pertaining to clothing and colors.
- Ask and answer questions to elicit a description of clothing and colors.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify clothing and colors based on spoken and written description, such as in advertisements or announcements.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Use descriptive adjectives and articles to describe clothing.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss standards and styles of dress in various German-speaking countries.
- Discuss the influence of climate and geography on dress in German-speaking countries.
- Discuss occasions when certain dress is preferred, to include Sundays, going out, and special occasions.
- Discuss differences and similarities of fashion, past and present, between the U.S. and German-speaking countries.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Discuss the use of color (e.g., in clothing, art, architecture).
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Compare standards and styles of dress in Germanic and American cultures.
- Identify cognates and false cognates related to clothing and colors.
- Discuss accusative case with tragen, kaufen, haben.
- Compare ways of expressing possession.
Communication Across Communities
- Identify differences in sizes and appropriateness of clothing.
- Describe clothing available on the Internet and through catalogues and/or advertisements from German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Use of the verb gefallen
- Accusative pronouns
- Separable prefix verbs: aussehen, anziehen, anprobieren
- Stem-changing verbs: nehmen, tragen, sehen
- Colors and other descriptive adjectives
Theme 2: School Life
Numbers and Time
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about age.
- Ask and answer questions about street addresses and telephone numbers.
- Ask and answer questions about time and scheduled activities.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Interpret a time schedule (bus, train, class, movie listing, or TV guide).
Oral and Written Presentation
- Explain a schedule of activities.
- Present information about ages, phone numbers, addresses, and class schedules.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss the way numerals are written in German.
- Demonstrate how numbers are counted on one's hand.
- Discuss a typical day's schedule in German-speaking countries (meal times, etc.).
- Discuss the metric system and the Euro.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Explain the use of the metric system.
- Do simple mathematical computations in German.
- Discuss temperatures.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Discuss the concept of time in German-speaking countries.
- Compare the 24-hour clock used in German-speaking countries to the American system of a.m. and p.m.
- Discuss the use in German of the period to indicate thousands and of the comma for decimals when writing and reading numbers.
- Discuss the use of the metric system.
- Compare German time expressions to English expressions such as quarter-past, half-past, noon, and midnight.
- Compare the German use of general time expressions such as morning, before noon, noon, afternoon, evening, and night.
Communication Across Communities
- Interpret a time schedule in German.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Question formation
- Interrogative expressions
Days, Months, and Calendar
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about days of week, dates, and months.
- Ask and answer questions about birthdays and celebrations.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify dates of events and celebrations.
- Comprehend simple announcements that include dates.
- Understand written numerical information as used in newspapers, announcements, letters, brochures, etc.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Prepare and present a weekly activities calendar.
- Present important dates and celebrations.
- Present material, both rehearsed and spontaneous, about dates on the calendar.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Identify holidays and/or celebrations in German-speaking countries.
- Relate different products to celebrations such as Krapfen for Fasching, Schultüte, St. Nikolaus (Schuh und Obst), Weihnachtsmarkt, and Lebkuchen
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Make connections with historical events that involve or relate to the United States and German-speaking countries (e.g., Fasching).
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Recognize that the calendar in German-speaking countries starts on Monday.
- Understand the importance of the first day of school in German-speaking countries and the significance of the Schultüte.
- Observe that the order in saying and writing dates is different in German (day, month, and then year).
Communication Across Communities
- Use community resources to identify cultural celebrations within the student’s own community.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary related to holidays
- Vocabulary related to free-time activities
- Use of the present tense to refer to the future
Classes, Schedules and Supplies
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions related to class schedules and school subjects.
- Ask and answer questions about school supplies, furnishings, and rooms.
- Ask and answer questions related to a typical school day and routine.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Understand simple instructions related to classroom commands or procedures, and basic computer technology.
- Comprehend a class schedule, opinions of classes, and locations in the school.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Prepare and present a class schedule.
- Describe a class schedule and necessary materials for each class.
- Identify in which rooms classes are held.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss the importance of testing in German-speaking countries to include the Abitur, Mittlere Reife, and Fachschulreife.
- Discuss the three different educational tracks and the importance of occupational training.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Compare names of courses in English with the names in German
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Compare American and Germanic education systems.
- Compare a typical school day in the U.S. with those in German-speaking countries.
- Compare grading scales in American and Germanic schools.
- Compare the types of school supplies typically used by students in German-speaking countries and by American students.
- Identify cognates and false cognates related to classes and school supplies.
- Understand the use of gern, nicht gern, lieblings.
Communication Across Communities
- Interpret a school schedule of a student from a German-speaking country and identify the educational paths.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary related to sequencing events
- Expressing likes, dislikes, and favorites
- Present tense of haben
- Use of the accusative case
- Use of Lieblings
Theme 3: Social Life
Interests and Leisure Activities
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about interests and leisure activities, including likes and dislikes.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Comprehend simple, culturally-authentic announcements and advertisements related to leisure activities.
- Identify activities being described.
- Determine whether a person likes or dislikes a particular activity.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Tell the degree to which a person likes or dislikes various activities.
- Tell when and how frequently a person participates in various activities.
- Tell what leisure activities a person does or does not do.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss the role of leisure activities in a young person’s daily life.
- Discuss where young people meet during leisure time.
- Discuss the impact of geographic location on popular leisure activities.
- Identify popular sports and leisure activities in German-speaking countries.
- Identify and discuss prominent individuals involved in sports and the arts in German-speaking countries.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Compare the sports studied and played in physical education (P. E.) class in the U.S. with sports played in German-speaking countries.
- Discuss geography when discussing hobbies, including stamp collecting.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Compare the United States and German-speaking countries in terms of venues and types of leisure activities.
- Compare typical customs of socializing for young people.
- Identify cognates that are used for interests or activities.
- Recognize when a verb is left in its infinitive form with modals in English and in German.
- Understand word order in English and in German.
Communication Across Communities
- Describe sports and leisure activities in German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary for describing likes and dislikes
- Adverbs of frequency
- Vocabulary for describing preferences and favorites
- Use of the verbs spielen, treiben, and machen
- Use of the modal verb mögen
- Use of the stem-changing verbs sehen, lesen, and fahren
Weather and Seasons
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about weather and seasons.
- Ask and respond to questions about activities and weather during different seasons.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify weather and seasons based on spoken and written descriptions.
- Identify weather and seasons as represented by symbols (e.g., picture of sun is labeled Es ist heiss).
Oral and Written Presentation
- Describe a variety of weather conditions and seasons.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss the influence of weather on lifestyles and activities in German-speaking countries.
- Identify varying climates in different geographic locations in German-speaking countries.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Describe the use of metric system in giving temperatures.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Identify the differences in seasons in various German-speaking countries.
- Identify cognates and false cognates in German related to weather and seasons.
Communication Across Communities
- Interpret a German language weather report.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary related to a weather map
- Prepositions in and an with seasons, months, and days
- Use of the modal verb sollen
- Seasonal activity vocabulary
Theme 4: Community Life
Cities, Places, Activities, and Transportation
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about a city.
- Ask about and give directions to a site within a town or city.
- Ask and answer questions regarding modes of transportation modes in a city.
- Ask and answer questions about when and where activities and/or celebrations take place.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify locations on a map.
- Identify locations where activities take place.
- Find a location based on verbal directions.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Give directions to a city location or activity.
- Describe a day’s activities, including locations.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss unique features of German-speaking cities.
- Discuss cities in various German-speaking countries.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Identify geographic locations and/or features of German-speaking countries and cities.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Compare the use of mass transit in German-speaking countries and the United States.
- Identify cognates and false cognates related to locations in a city, transportation, and directions.
- Explain the use of prepositions of direction.
Communication Across Communities
- Discuss how cities were designed.
- Identify special events and celebrations in German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary related to where something is located in a city
- Prepositions with places
- Imperatives when asking for directions
- Imperatives when giving directions
- Use of the verbs wissen, kennen, and fahren
- Use of the idiomatic phrase Es gibt…
- Use of the negative kein
- Use of the conjunction dass
Shopping
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about stores and types of merchandise.
- Discuss shopping experiences.
- Ask for or give the description of an item being purchased.
- Ask and answer questions regarding where items can be purchased and how much they cost.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify items for sale in an advertisement.
- Identify locations where specific items can be purchased.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Describe an item for sale in a store.
- Tell about the purchase or sale of an item.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss products unique to German-speaking countries.
- Discuss the differences in shopping customs between the U.S. and German-speaking countries.
- Discuss the importance of the marché in German-speaking countries.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Convert foreign currency to U.S. dollars.
- Compare merchandise prices in the U.S. to those in German-speaking countries.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Compare the custom of bargaining in German-speaking countries and in the U.S.
- Demonstrate the use of vous vs. tu and the importance of using vous while shopping in German-speaking countries.
- Identify cognates and false cognates related to shopping.
Communication Across Communities
- Investigate the design of a typical Germanic Einkaufszentrum.
- Identify merchandise available on the Internet, through catalogs, and/or in advertisements from German-speaking countries.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary related to how clothing fits
- Vocabulary related to stating sizes
- Use of the modal verb mögen in the subjunctive (möchte) to show politeness
- Use of kein
- Use of the stem-changing verbs nehmen and aussehen
- Use of the dative verbs passen, gefallen, and stehen
- Use of the dative pronouns
Restaurants and Food
Communication
Person-to-Person Communication
- Ask and answer questions about food.
- Ask and answer questions about a meal or restaurant experience.
- Order or take an order for a meal at a restaurant or café.
- Ask and answer questions regarding items on a menu.
Listening and Reading for Understanding
- Identify grocery and food items in an advertisement, menu, recipe, etc.
- Identify locations where specific foods can be purchased.
- Comprehend written and oral information about items in a market.
Oral and Written Presentation
- Describe a meal in a café or restaurant.
- Present descriptions and opinions about food.
Cultures
Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
- Discuss the cuisines and eating customs of German-speaking countries.
- Discuss shopping for food in German-speaking countries.
- Identify food served at celebrations in German-speaking countries.
- Discuss typical mealtime schedules.
Connections, Comparisons and Communities
Making Connections Through Language
- Discuss the influence of German cuisine in the United States.
- Discuss seasonal cuisine in German-speaking countries.
Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
- Discuss the differences between German and American cuisine.
- Compare the role of food in celebrations in the U.S. and German-speaking countries.
- Identify German foods commonly found in the U.S.
Communication Across Communities
- Identify recipes and/or menus from German-speaking countries, either via the Internet or at local restaurants.
Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements
- Vocabulary related to ordering food and beverages
- Use of the stem-changing verb essen
- Use of the dative expression Es schmeckt mir
- Use of möchte and nehmen to order food
- Imperatives when recommending certain foods to someone