It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of our first term of German learning this year! With new students in every class, we have been focussing on revision to make sure that everyone is feeling confident to take the next step in their language learning journey. Here is an update of what each class has been doing: 

Class 7 (Siebte Klasse) 

The 7s have been exploring the concept of gender nouns and chose the topic of ‘animals’ to begin practising with. Last week we reached the point of memorising a page of German vocabulary and played a game of charades to put their memory to the test. With the nouns and articles fresh in their minds they will now start creating the text for a German picture book which they will craft in Term 2. 

Class 8 (Achte Klasse) 

The 8s have begun the process of using a German text and workbook to deepen their knowledge and awareness of German grammar, culture and vocabulary. The first chapter delves into the world of greetings, and we have been gradually putting together a solid foundation of phrases used to engage in simple conversation. This week the students reached the point of being able describe each other - with a circle and ball game to make it extra fun! 

Class 9 (Neunte Klasse) 

The 9s have made a fantastic breakthrough with conjugating their German verbs this term. While we begin learning about verb conjugation in Class 8, it is an unfamiliar concept which usually takes a few rounds to grasp. This term the whole class have showed wonderful ownership of verb conjugation and are now pushing the learning on to discover the difference between object and subject nouns. The new topic this week is food, and we started it off with a relaxed discussion about the differences between German and Australian breakfasts.  

Class 10 (Zehnte Klasse) 

This term we have been lucky enough to host three German exchange students in Class 10. It was perfect timing to revitalise the class’s interest in all things German as they entered their final year of subject lessons. Every lesson has been a fruitful discovery of new ideas/concepts inherent in both the English/German languages and Australian/German culture. This week the students have each begun to plan a 3-week trip around Europe. Next term this will take the form of a German-language travel itinerary, which they will present to the class. The German exchange students are working hard to prepare a ‘radio show’, each presenting a couple of German songs to the class and giving us an insight into German youth and music culture.