Theme 1: Rights and Responsibilities

Home, School and Community

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions and debate issues related to driving, voting, school attendance policies, and/or living away from home.
• Ask for and give information on how to obtain a driver's license.
• Ask and answer questions related to issues becoming an adult (home and community responsibilities).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend written and oral materials on home and community responsibilities.
• Comprehend written and oral materials on elections and political issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce spoken and written presentations on driving, voting, attending school, and living independently.
• Produce and present situations, both spontaneous and rehearsed, which highlight personal rights and responsibility.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes towards driving habits and licensing requirements in German-speaking countries.
• Examine legal rights, responsibilities once one turns eighteen in German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Relate knowledge of home, school, and community issues gained in civics, government, and driver's education classes to information studied in German class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast driving and licensing requirements in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
• Compare policies and practices regarding voting and civic or personal responsibilities in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
• Compare the German use of subjunctive and modals with English when discussing an individual's rights and responsibilities.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information about voting practices, driving requirements, and civic responsibilities in German-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to driving
• Vocabulary related to becoming an adult and past events
• Subjunctive use of the modal verb konnen
• Use of the verbs ware and hatte

Civil and Military Service

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions related to civil and military service.
• Ask for and give information on compulsory military service.
• Ask for and give information on community service (Zivildienst).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend written and oral materials on military or community service.
• Comprehend written and oral materials on differences in military service in German-speaking countries.
• Comprehend information about the various branches of the military in German-speaking countries (Bundeswehr, Luftwaffe, Marine).

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce spoken and written presentations on issues relating to military vs. community service.
• Produce and present situations, both spontaneous and prepared, that highlight compulsory service in German-speaking countries.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes towards compulsory military and community service.
• Examine legal responsibilities once one turns eighteen in German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of civil and military service issues gained in history, civics, government, and social sciences classes to information studied in German class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast U.S. policies and practices regarding compulsory service to policies and practices in German-speaking countries.
• Compare the role of women in the military in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
• Compare the German use of the subjunctive and modals in English when discussing compulsory service.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate military and community service requirements in German-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Expressions of preferences and resignations
• Vocabulary to report past events
• Use of the modal verbs in the imperfect tense
• Use of gerunds

Theme 2: Future Plans and Choices

Education Plans

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss educational plans, giving details such as course of study and long-range goals.
• Participate in sustained exchanges on educational plans in relation to future career goals.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information published by universities or study-abroad programs in German-speaking countries, such as brochures, letters, catalogues, and web sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Write or speak about educational opportunities after high school, giving details about courses of study and long-range goals.
• Produce and present situations which highlight future educational plans and long-range goals.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss the university systems in German-speaking countries.
• Discuss job training and apprenticeship programs in German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify connections between the study of German and career opportunities in other disciplines (math, science, technology, business, marketing, etc.).
• Explain how the continued study of German improves verbal skills, abilities, and academic performance.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast post-secondary education systems in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries, including the importance and value of a college degree, testing programs leading to college, admission to schools and career paths to follow based on programs studied.
• Compare the use of the future tense and the subjunctive when discussing future plans.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information about opportunities for post-secondary study abroad programs, using such resources as the school's career center, public library, and the Internet.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Use of wurde plus infinitives
• Ware and hatte
• Subjunctive use of modals

Careers and Jobs

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions on preferences and plans concerning job or career choices.
• Ask for and give information regarding job or career choices.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend information related to finding a job, such as classified ads, applications, and interview questions.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Give details and/or inquire about job opportunities and career paths.
• Present material related to careers and jobs, such as culturally-authentic stories, poems and skits.
• Present job descriptions and qualifications.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss attitudes towards work and workplace policies and practices in German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize connections between the study of German and job or career choices in the fields of math, science, medicine, technology, business, marketing, etc.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare attitudes towards work and workplace policies and practices in German-speaking countries with those in the U.S.
• Compare the use of the future tense and the subjunctive when discussing job and career choices.
• Compare formulaic expressions used in English and in German in formal business letters.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information on the use of German in various professions, workplaces or businesses.
• Locate and discuss information found on the Internet or in print media about job opportunities in German-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for requesting information
• Vocabulary for expressing indecision and doubt
• Vocabulary for giving advice
• Future and conditional mood

Theme 3: Teen Culture

Student Life

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions related to school organizations (Schulervertretung, Schulerzeitung, Schuleraustausch, and Azubis).
• Ask and answer questions related to relationships and various subculture groups (Randgruppe, Punks, and Grunger).
• Ask and give information about school organizations, relationships, and various student groups, such as clubs and cliques.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written materials on student life presented in advertisements, articles, or Internet sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce spoken and written presentations on fringe groups within teen culture in German-speaking countries.
• Produce spoken and written presentations on student organizations, groups, and activities.
• Talk or write about new trends in student life.
• Produce and present situations which highlight the level of student involvement in organizations and activities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss student organizations and activities in German-speaking countries.
• Discuss attitudes towards the various fringe groups in schools in German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of student organizations and activities gained in government, history, journalism, and science classes to information learned in German class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes towards fringe groups in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
• Compare and contrast student organizations and activities in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
• Compare German and English expressions used to identify teen groups and cliques.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and utilize information relating to teen organization and activities accessed from authentic sources, including the Internet, television, radio, and newspapers from German-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to student organizations and the school newspaper
• Narrative past (imperfect tense)
• Superlative forms of adjectives
• Vocabulary expressing opinions and taking a position
• Vocabulary related to prejudging people
• Vocabulary expressing opinions, sympathy, and resignation when discussing fashion
• Vocabulary relating to German sub-culture
• Da and wo commands
• Infinitive clauses
• Use of the past tense

Fashion and Clothes

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Exchange ideas about clothing preferences and personal style, giving details such as patterns, fabrics, and fit.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written information on clothing and personal style presented in advertisements, articles, or Internet sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe clothing, and fashion styles, both present day and from another time period.
• Produce and written presentations on the influence of fashion on teen culture.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss modern and traditional dress in German-speaking countries.
• Discuss attitudes towards fashion and traditional dress from various cultures in German-speaking countries.
• Discuss the various traditional costumes worn by regional groups within the German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Make connections between types of clothing worn in varied geographic locations in German-speaking countries.
• Recognize differences between sizes of clothing in the U.S. and German-speaking countries.
• Relate knowledge of fashion and clothing issues to information learned in classes such as history, economics and marketing.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast typical clothing in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.
• Identify German clothing and fashion terms used in English and vice-versa.
• Compare and contrast attitudes toward fashion in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate an authentic source of information on fashion and/or traditional dress, such as an individual, Internet site or article.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to wearing and purchasing clothing
• Vocabulary for expressing interest, disinterest and indifference
• Vocabulary for detailed descriptions of clothing, including specific color, pattern and style
• Comparatives and superlatives

Theme 4: The Environment

Ecology

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained conversation about environmental and ecological issues such as pollution, recycling, acid rain, and the destruction of rain forests.
• Ask and give information about environmental and ecological concerns.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written information on environmental and ecological issues as presented in the media.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate problems about and solutions to environmental and ecological issues.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explain practices related to environmental and ecological issues in German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of environmental and ecological issues gained in science, social studies and health classes to information learned in German class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare environmental practices among various world cultures.
• Identify cognates related to ecological issues.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet and environmental and ecological issues in German-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to cities and development (traffic, etc.)
• Vocabulary related to environmental concerns
• Subjunctive forms of all modal verbs and sein
• Use of the passive voice
• Use of the modal verbs in the passive
• Use of conditional sentences

Theme 5: Humanities

Current Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions concerning current events.
• Express and exchange reactions to current events.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify main ideas and pertinent details when reading or listening to newscasts or reading selections from written news sources.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate main ideas and supporting details orally and in writing when presenting a current event.
• Produce and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss how the viewpoints of people from German-speaking countries are reflected in their news broadcasts and publications.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of current events gained in social sciences, history, government, and science classes to information learned in German class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in German-speaking countries towards world events.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources (TV news programs, Internet, newspapers, and magazines) to broaden understanding of current events.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to mass media (e.g. articles, editorials, and broadcasts)
• Verb tenses required for narrating and commenting on current events
• Use of the passive voice
• Vocabulary describing and expressing preferences and opinions

The Arts

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions concerning theatre, concert halls, opera and art galleries in German-speaking countries.
• Discuss major authors of German-speaking countries and their works.
• Ask for and give information concerning the arts.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand main ideas and pertinent details presented in oral and written descriptions or critiques of music, art, or literature.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce oral and written reports on artists (e.g., composers, painters, writers, musicians, etc.).
• Produce and explain opinions and reactions to music, art, and literature.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore how music, art, and literature are influenced by historical and political events throughout time within cultures of German-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge gained in art, music, and humanities classes to information learned in German class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes towards the arts of Americans and citizens of German-speaking countries.
• Compare the use of the German passive voice and the imperfect tense with English for discussing the arts.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use art resources in the community and/or the Internet to broaden understanding of the arts.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the theatre, museums, art exhibits, and geography
• Vocabulary expressing preference, envy and admiration
• Use of genitive prepositions
• Use of the subjunctive forms of the modal verbs in present and past tenses