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