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U3A German Language Groups Newsletter, April, 2015
Der Berater auf Achse!
Der Sprachstudientag
Meine Frau und ich haben ein Wohnmobil, und reisen ofters
durch das Vereinigte Königreich, sowie nach verschiedenen
Plätzen in Deutschland. Dieses Jahr haben wir gedacht, während
wir unterwegs auf Tour sind, könnten wir ja gleichzeitig die
Deutschgruppen der U3A besuchen!
Der Studienkreis am 26. Februar wurde von Heather Westrup
und Dorothy Newman gestaltet und ich habe an diesem
Studientag teilgenommen!
Der Tag war für Gruppenleiter bestimmt, und es gab einige Leiter
von deutschsprächigen Gruppen da – u.a. Dick Chapman (Walk
‘n’ Talk German), Jenny Lee (Chess Valley, Pauline
(Andover)Sandra (St. Albans) und Helmut (S. Hertfordshire).
Es war eine supere Gelegenheit, sie zu treffen.
Vom Anfang an waren die Teilnehmer in zwei Gruppen geteilt,
um die Kernpunkte in der Prachdidaktik für ältere Studenten zu
besprechen. Eine Gruppe der Teilnehmern besprach
Anfängergruppen; die Andere übernahm lerngeübte Gruppen.
Wir haben die Strukturen der Lerngruppen besprochen : wie oft?;
wie lange?, Hausaufgaben?, Grammatik? Auch besprochen
wurde das Thema wie man sich mit ganz verschiedenen
Sprachfähigkeiten und Lernbegabungen abfindet.
Zuerst haben wir Wortschatzverbesserung behandelt.
Eingeschlossene Vorschläge waren :
•
Wortkarten, um Sätze zu bauen
•
Satzbau von einem Anfang, z.B. “Ich gehe im Urlaub, und
ich packe…..”
•
Speicherspielen, z.B. Kim’s Game
•
Bücher und Computertabletten
•
Abweichungen/Synonymen/Antonymen
•
Scharaden und Call my Bluff
•
Wortbingo
•
Kreuzworträtseln (in Paaren)
•
Matrizen von Wörter mit Zugehörigkeit, wie Only Connect
•
usw.
Andere besprochene Themen waren :
•
Texte
o Zweck?
o Bücher?
o Gegenwartskunden?
o Zu übersetzen oder zusammenzufassen?
o Diktat?
•
Aussprachetraining
•
Sprechen!
o Nerven und Selbstvertrauen
o Fragen im voraus vorbereitete
o wochentliche Themen
o wahllose Themen darauf 1 minute ohne
Vorbereitung
o auswendig gelernte Gedichte
o Anschaungsmaterial wie fast identische Bilder
•
ungewohnte Aktivitäten : walk ‘n’ talk!
•
Schreibfähigkeit
•
Grammatik
Nachdem wir alles in Plenum zusammengefassen hatten, fuhren
wir etwas ermüdet aber bereichert nach Hause!
Daraus folgte, dass wir uns im April in Somerset wieder fanden.
Am 13ten April besuchte ich Castle Cary, wo die sogenannte
Camelot U3A sich befindet. Hier gibt es eine Anfängergruppe :
David,
Maureen, Jane
(Gruppenleiterin),
Valerie,
Madron
Jane hatte ein
Thema
vorebereitet,
ein Artikel aus
dem Sunday
Telegraph, das
davon handelte, warum man Deutschland besuchen sollte,. Die
Gruppe hielt eine Unterhaltung über Wein, Brot, Bier (und
Feste!), Messen und Museen. Im Laufe der Unterhaltung
besprach Jane Grammatik – das Perfekt, verschiedene Verben,
und die Redewendung “um….zu”. Ihre geschickte Einstellung
zur Sprache beeindruckte mich sehr!
Nach Castle Cary, fuhren wir nach Priddy, und parkten auf dem
Mendip Heights Campingplatz. Von wo aus ich am 17. April die
Chew Valley U3A besuchte.
Jim, Alan, Dietrich (Gruppenleiter) und Vita, einige Mitglieder
der Gruppe fehlten leider, sind Teilnehmer einer Gruppe mit
hohem Niveau! Bei diesem Treffen gab es eine lange
Unterhaltung zwischen mir und den Anderen, insbesonderem
Vita, einer Österreicherin. Normalerweise, nach ihrer
Unterhaltung, lesen sie aus dem Buch – “Deutschland, Eine
Reise”, von Wolfgang Büscher. Dieses interessante Buch wurde
2005 veröffentlicht und ist 4.5 Sterne bei Amazon dotiert! Ich
kann das Buch für B1 und höher empfehlen.
Im Lauf der nächsten Monaten werde ich oft unterwegs sein. Ich
bin gern bereit euren Gruppen einen Besuch abzustatten, ihr müßt
mir nur ausreichent Bescheid geben!
There follows short pieces from groups who have contacted me since the last newsletter– I’d like to hear from
you all, so e-mail me at [email protected] or call me on 01903 856397.
30/04/2015
Page 1 of 5
U3A German Language Groups Newsletter, April, 2015
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Leader : Rhona Hunt
Brent (& Dollis Hill)
Leader : Cathy Mercer
Bury
Leader : Michael Green
15 members, divided into two groups one for beginners and one for more
advanced speakers., each meeting once
every two weeks. The beginners group
focuses mainly on situational/survival
topics with a certain amount of grammar
work thrown in whilst the more
advanced group covers a whole different
range of language activities
Eine kleine aber sehr freundliche
Deutschgruppe: im gesamt 7 Personen.
Treffen uns in der Stube einer
Mitgliederin und können alle gut
deutsch, entweder von deutschredenen
Eltern oder vom Studium her.
Am Anfang, haben sogar Artikel aus
Zeitungen gelesen und auf englisch aber
eigentlich am liebsten bleiben wir schön
gemütlich und unterhalten uns auf
deutsch beim trinken Tee.
Manchmal auch ins Theater, z.B. Emil
und die Detektive, und ein paar Mal im
Jahr essen wir irgendwo in einem guten
Restaurant.
Group of 9 registered members meeting
every week for two hours. One a native
German speaker.
First hour: general conversation around
the table & sometimes a presentation by
a member on a topic of interest. Then
current book, recently modern German
novels. Recently finished 'Die verlorene
Ehre der Katharina Blum' by Böll, and
now 'Als ich ein kleiner Junge war' by
Erich Kästner. Then Homo Faber by
Max Frisch. Occasional German
language videos, most recently the
1970's film of the Katharina Blum book.
Focus on conversation and reading;
presuming members know German
structure
Ashton in Makerfield
Leader: Bill Osborn
Group of 8 running for just under 2
years.. Most members learnt German
before but 2 are beginners. Emphasis
on oral communication and students are
encouraged to talk about their everyday
activities.
Also talk about holidays, rest of group
encouraged to ask any questions arising.
Grammar is only for
word order and tenses. just in passing.
Also use Deutsch
interaktiv to help listening skills.
Websites of German towns to build up
vocabulary.
Bridgwater
Leader : Beryl Smith
We are a struggling German
Conversation Group meeting once a
month; from near-beginner to native
speaker. Come prepared to say/read
something on a
given subject (e.g. Und wenn die
Schotten 'Ja' sagen...?) and discuss. Also
a grammar focus and we usually have a
game and exercises connected with this.
Sometimes read a story, listen to a tape,
etc.
Meet once a month, now in 4th year 10 of
us very interesting group, all at different
levels of competence.
What the group enjoys most is talking
to each other in German: role-play,
discussing photographs, interviewing
each other using “studied” material.
Materials used:
Willkommen ! useful as a basic
coursebook especially for 'dipping into'.
German Once A Week by Eichinger,
Grinvalds and Barton, very oldfaashioned (amazingly popular with the
group....we are now ready for Book 2).
Used as a reader and sometimes for
grammar.
Also Tolles Theater by Mc Gurn. Small
humorous playlets of role-playing
situations are extremely popular with the
group.
Starting to use Cafe in Berlin by Andre
Klein to encourage conversation.
Beverley
Member : Hilary Kirk
Buckingham and District
Leader : Roy Walker
Basildon and Billericay
Leader : Val Williams
Group of 12 meeting twice a month
Tutor lived in Germany for many years.
Very mixed ability group from beginners
to competent speakers.
We do a variety of speaking, listening
and general exercises during one hour
session. Do homework so looking at
German between lessons, usually
listening to and translating simple
detective stories and writing a few
sentences. Discuss translation at next
meeting.
30/04/2015
3 German groups, one of which
(Deutsche Diskussionsgruppe) I
coordinate. Fluency of this group of 8
enables all meetings (once a fortnight for
two hours) exclusively in German.
Topics vary: My Favourite Pastime, The
Youth of Yesteryear as compared to the
Youth of Today, Town Twinnings and
School Exchanges, A Valued Possession.
Each meeting starts with short quiz from
a Harrenberg desk calendar. Sometimes
we go to cinema screenings or watch a
German DVD. We have had trips to
Germany, the last in May 2014 to
Hanover.
Camelot U3A
Leader : Jane Wilde
Rural South Somerset around small
market town of Castle Cary.
Don’t mention grammar! Solution :
concentrate on verbs (ich and Sie only)
to start talking about what they do and
when/ how often. Then we used 'war' to
talk about holidays (eg letztes Jahr war
ich in Deutschland. Das Wetter war.....
Ich war in Koln und ...etc.) Then into
the perfect tense (with haben) and talked
about Christmas; from there talked about
past holidays, last week, etc. with the
absolute minimum of verbs. Managed
without cases and genders using plural
nouns or 'im Garten', 'am Rhein'.
Avoided perfect with 'sein' by things like
'ich habe eine Busreise nach Weymouth
gemacht.'
Read poems by Arno Holz and by Heine,
lots of small pieces out of Bild, and an
Easy Reader version of Der Gasmann by
Spoerl – challenging!.
Also used zdf 100Sekunden Nachrichten,
mostly for the headlines and weather.
Chester
Co-ordinator : Bob Yates
10 members, ranging, from B1 to C2
with a native German speaker, an exteacher ofGerman & people brought up
in Germany or worked there at some
time. Meet weekly, use Presse und
Sprache – see www.sprachzeitungen.de for reading, discussion and translation
topics also audio downloads
for 'Hörtraining'.
Page 2 of 5
U3A German Language Groups Newsletter, April, 2015
Coventry Spires
Leader : Carol de Rose
About 3 years old; now 6 members..
Two who have lived in Germany:
another lived in Switzerland for 18 years.
2 are pretty competent. Other group
members learnt some German at evening
classes.
Monthly sessions : conversation,
occasional grammar and vocab building,
using Willkommen, and a text. Using
'Cafe in Berlin' a fairly simple reader,
Dilemma is how to keep less competent
people engaged .
Dacorum
Leader : Yan Christensen
"German Improvers". 8 in the group
The standard is mixed no beginners. Use
"Easy Reader" series of simplified books
- read aloud and translate. Also
some grammar exercises when a
particular subject causes problems.
Also sometimes read texts from the
internet not prepared in advance, to give
the group a challenge and the idea that
guessing is legitimate!
Droitwich
Leader : Val Hawley
German Improvers' group; started as
Beginners' Group in Sept 2012. Meet
weekly and using the Living German
book which we have found to be a very
good resource.
East Cowton
Leader : Traudel Walker
Bi-monthlygroup 10 years old; break
August/Sept. Mixed ability, beginners to
graduate level. Beginners attend first
hour and often stay on and enjoy
following 1.5 hour's intermediate class.
Conversation, grammar from "Living
German",watch films and have parties,
esp.Christmas. Recently all wrote short
essays about famous people in Germany
and famous places, researched on the
internet.
Fleet
Leader : Elaine Steers
Well established intermediate group
(7people), reasonably good
understanding of German, if not
necessarily good command of grammar.
Over the last 5 or 6 years, discussing
current affairs, local happenings, German
history, geography and holidays etc.
Also download stuff of interest from
German internet sites and German
30/04/2015
speaking newspapers, but often difficult
and obscure vocabulary, difficult to
recall in conversation.
Goring Gap
Leader : Ann Bridgens
German Conversation Group, meets
every third Monday, 12 members,
generally between 4 & 9 attend..
Standard varies tremendously from
limited German to some lived and
worked in Germany. Also have help of
two German ladies occasionally.
Usually chat for half the time, then read
and translate a passage from a German
newspaper or magazine.
Halstead
Leader : Jane Giffould
Wanting better command of the German
language, investigated my local and
ended up as group leader! Small group
of people from O Level many years ago
to absolute beginners. Following advice
of one member (evening classes
German), using Wilkommen German,
Beginner's. Enjoying using course book,
activity book and CD. But looking for
more variety!. All want to converse in
German, so looking beyond course
books. Internet? Interactive?.
My German is merely what I have
picked up when travelling. Last year I
went on a flight safety course in
Germany, all in German. The most
difficult part was the evening meals
when I could not join in the
conversations or understand the jokes!
Haslemere
Leader : Dorothea
group of 12 at various stages, all enjoy
the varied approach which Dorothea
(German by birth, teaches German
professionally) brings to help us
learn....spoken German, German through
magazine articles, grammar exercises
etc.
Hastings & Rother
Leader : June Stacey
group won't entertain
'grammar' or homework. We do have a
German national and I try to get
German phrases rather than translated
German! We do try to speak German the
whole session - at least we can usually
understand each other but often
not the G. National! We do have access
to a few copies of Deutsch Perfect
for reading.
Lewes
Leader : Richard Hudson
seven members, none with German first
language nor experience of teaching
German. Mixture of strengths: some
grammar, some vocabulary, some
pronunciation, but all find spontaneous
conversation difficult. Main activity
reading then translating articles from ,
e.g. spiegel.de or zeit.de, or short
passages from books, unprepared, do not
like homework!. Other activities include
puzzles or exercises from various books
or websites, and sometimes Scrabble,
with a correct German set of tiles - helps
to exercise our vocabularies and
knowledge of inflections.
Lowestoft
Leader : Melville Canham
Group of 6, start with general
conversation on topics of current interest,
helped by our native German speaker.
Break, then more structured session
using variety of materials. Recently had
great fun with an ancient (1967, repeated
1977) BBC course "Der arme
Millionaer”.. Currently using magazine
"Deutsch Perfekt" - excellent for keeping
abreast language changes and also of
developments in German society.
Haphazard methodology, but a very
"social" group and enjoy our sessions a
great deal!
Lyme
Leader : Audrey Standhaft
7 in group, average 4-5 people. All
done at least O level, 2 have worked
in Germany so fluency good but not
grammar. Topic every bi-monthly
meeting and play games/make
crosswords on theme, get piece from te
internet, or pieces from German
newspapers or use CD from German
BBC course or BBC free TV course.
Here’s a
photo of
Christmas
meetingGluhwein,
Stollen und
Lebkuchen.
Page 3 of 5
U3A German Language Groups Newsletter, April, 2015
Melton Mowbray
Leader: Diane Cherryman
Formed July 2014, meet twice a month,
since then. Founder members had limited
German and included beginners. Joined
by 5 members of another group from
outside the U3A,, mostly former "O"
level students – very helpful especially in
correcting pronunciation. Currently 11
members. Working from 2 textbooks and
feel we are making good progress. We
prepare a chapter before the meeting and
then go through it together. Also prepare
a few sentences in German to share with
the group. Waiting list, so expect 2nd
group needed soon.
Milford
Leader : Gertrud Sollars
German conversation, 11 people, running
for the second year. Emphasis on
speaking and fluency, less on grammar
Levels quite mixed - I am native German
speaker, have a few lived or travelled
extensively in Germany or Switzerland near fluent - others who taught
themselves and bumble along.
Have set topic for preparation at the
previous meeting. This year, members
wanted to use a text, but difficulty is
finding authentic material that is not too
difficult.
Newry (N.I.)
Leader : Jeanette Mc Connell
group of 15, average weekly 10 . Some
with sons or daughters married in
Germany, others interested in all things
German. Try to concentrate on
communication but do some grammatical
explanation. Topic-based lessons
including games and songs. Watched and
discussed several subtitled German
films, dabbled in Goethe poems and
Böll's "Irisches Tagebuch". Invite any
native Germans willing to come and talk!
Would be great to have a class trip to
Germany but currently only a pipedream. Alles Gute!
Oadby & Wigston
Leader : Eileen Holly
Treffen uns alle zwei Wochen. Die
Gruppe besteht aus etwa zehn
Mitgliedern. Einige können ganz gut
sprechen, weil sie im deutschsprachigen
Raum gelebt oder gearbeitet haben.
Andere sind nicht sehr fließend aber
machen gern mit. Hauptsache ist
kommunizieren, und nicht immer
korrigieren!
30/04/2015
Da wir uns seit zwei Wochen nicht
gesehen haben, ist uns allen in der
Zwischenzeit manches passiert –
darunter Urlaub, Familien fest,
Theater/Kino, Probleme! Wir erzählen
uns, was wir erfahren haben und stellen
uns gegenseitig Fragen. Manchmal geht
das weiter mit anderen Themen (darunter
anderen Erfahrungen, anderen
Meinungen) oder mit neuen Vokabeln
und Tatsachen.
Wenn wir Zeit haben, hören wir gern
Tonbänder oder CDs, oder lesen
deutsche Texte aus Zeitungungen,
Zeitschriften oder Büchern.
Oxton, Prenton & District
Contact : Gill McCloy
Ganz am Anfang waren wir nur zu viert
aber jetzt gibt es acht in unserer Gruppe.
Wir haben viel Spaß; nehmen uns selbst
nicht zu ernst. Wir sind auf
verschiedenen Lernniveau und versuchen
uns gegenseitig zu helfen. Immer
erzählen wir was wir vor kurzem getan
haben. Manchmal lesen wir kürze Texte
aus Büchern vor und übersetzen sie.
Andere Male machen wir Übungen oder
Wortspiele oder hören deutsche Audios.
Wir haben über verschiedene Themen
diskutiert und auch viel mehr gelernt. Ab
und zu unterhalten wir uns in
Zweiergruppen. Somit hat jeder größere
Möglichkeiten zu reden Unsere Leiterin
spricht sehr gut Deutsch und sorgt dafür,
dass wir hauptsächlich Deutsch sprechen
und immer Hausaufgaben bekommen,
und das ist ganz richtig, denn Übung
macht den Meister.
Paddock Wood
Leader : Ron Trevillion
Group about 10, 2 years old. I lead group
although not formally qualified in
language teaching - GCE O level long
time ago, but reasonably proficient as
worked and lived in Germany a year.
Try to converse in German as much as
possible although ability range quite
large. Read stories and poems; act out
short role plays. Internet a good source
of material. Also used menus, recipes,
puzzles and newspaper cuttings.
Regularly use textbook and CDs called
Willkommen and some use Willkommen
app for tablet & smartphone (free). Also
Duolingo app (also free). A few went to
the Cologne Christmas market last year.
Rotherham
Co-ordinator : Marjorie Walkham
Group of ten, abilities varied but no
beginners. Chat in German telling of
places of interest visited, family events
and national news. Leader brings
grammatical exercises or something to
translate.
Original starters of group would
describe selves as "slow learners" but
learned enough German to take holidays
in Germany staying Schwaebisch Hall.
When there, also stayed in other small
towns. Our last visit was to "Bad
Wimfden" not on tourist trail. Few locals
spoke English , really had to speak
German and managed simple
conversations with some of locals. A
very rewarding experience.
Other members of group have relatives
in Germany and also find German
improved after a visit. My sister -in-law
helps with letters and newspaper cuttings
and often suggests games we might try,
sending appropriate whatever.
Stokesley & Saltburn
Leader : Alan Sidgwick
Intermediate groups, meet twice a month
generally. Sessions for both groups are
similar: start by some group members
answering the question: Was hast du
neulich gemacht? Then discuss
photographs projected on screen - places
in Germany etc. or hobbies, families,
pets or holidays anywhere are submitted
& introduced by members of the group.
Worksheets based on articles in German,
Austrian or Swiss newspapers or
brochures & always a vocabulary test but only on useful words. Currently
using Living German (7th Edition ) &
reading aloud practice from this or
newspaper articles. We also discuss
German history & gGeography as well as
current situations in German speaking
countries.
Sutton Coldfield
Leader : Beryl Jefferson
18 on the register, perhaps too big,
considering options. Mainly self-help
group, no teacher, but fortunate more
recently to have assistance of a German
lady; this is excellent. Wide-ranging
ability, but not beginners. Usually come
prepared with sentence or two on a
chosen topic, & answer questions. Like
to include a bit of grammar revision and
finally, if time, we have a book of short
Page 4 of 5
U3A German Language Groups Newsletter, April, 2015
stories from the Easy Readers range
offered by European Schoolbooks Ltd.
Tavistock
Leader : Renate Edmonds
8-9 members meet twice a month. Man
focus is on ‘speaking’; leader wants all
‘to have a go’.
To strengthen vocabulary, also translate
pieces from and into German –
‘Homework !’ mostly, then discussed in
depth at next meeting. Sometimes dip
into ‘Practice in German Grammar’ by
Jones & Lawlor and ably assisted by a
retired German teacher member.
Above all we are trying to ‘Have fun
with German’!
Thurrock
Leader : Ann Sadgrove
7 people, post-beginners. meet
fortnightly for two hours in the local
social club. 2 would like to be able to
converse with their German families: 2
have German friends giving a smattering
of the language (sometimes dialect
only!), other 3 just interested in
German.. 1 of last 3 very keen on
German classical music. Using
'Willkommen' by Paul Coggle & Heiner
Schenke, use for listening, reading and
speaking exercises. Leader introduces
other resources, catering to tastes where
possible, e.g. have sung 'die Forelle', 'die
Lorelei', sea shanties, carnival songs and
carols (group shy to start with, but, with
music from iPad, have really enjoyed
themselves); Read German poetry e.g.
'Erlkoenig' by Goethe; had quizzes about
Germany. Currently using 'Tolles
Theater' playlets by J E McGurn for fun
and topic revision. We've had several
visits to Germany, this September to
Bernkastel, Trier and Koblenz.
West Wiltshire
Leader : Jean King
10members meet for 2 hours twice a
month; level of competence from A2/B1
toC2. No native speaker, so I as ex
German teacher lead and members make
suggestions ,bring leaflets, newspapers,
DVD's etc. Written work at home,
especially those who enjoy writing the
language & want to keep contact with
German- speaking friends; this
preparation for report topic, word game
or grammar exercise. Oral report of
activities, holidays, outings; with
questions, often starting point.
30/04/2015
Sometimes member presents topic of
special interest with questions.
Materials from courses such as" Auftakt
- Get Ahead in German" & Deutsch Plus
- also provided work on grammar and
structures. Current events material from
German news "Tagesschau " or
newspapers. Poems, short stories, even
excerpts from German version of Harry
Potter; "Auftakt" provided a play.
Watched programmes about Germany or
Austria, films from German friends and
BBC4 e.g. " Unsere Mütter, unsere
Väter", "Effi Briest"m "das weiße Band",
" die Blechtrommel", "das Leben der
Anderen". Scrabble, with German set,
simple crosswords, word games and
quizzes.
Worcester U3A, 4 groups
Leaders : Lena Ryan/George
Milton/Angela
George’s group is Beginners; going on to
Lena’s group - objective : help people to
improve to be able to talk to their own
children's half German families &
grandchildren, to enjoy holidays in
German speaking countries & to be able
to get help there when needed.
Next group taught by Angela who was a
teacher of German. Finally a
Conversation Group which meets in the
home of people who worked & taught
English in Germany. These meetings are
great fun & conversations cover many
subjects.
original menus, timetables,
advertisements and so on from past visits
to Germany and Austria. I conduct
group meetings in German as far as
possible as emphasis very much on
speaking and understanding rather than
writing although sometimes something
written at home in. Have now decided
would benefit from a course and on my
next visit to Germany in April I will
order copies of Pluspunkt Deutsch for
more systematic learning in future in a
new venue with better facilities where
we can listen to CDs. Also trying to seek
out native German speakers in the area
who might be prepared to come and talk
with us occasionally.
From me :
Including all these pieces and
cutting them down to not make
this newsletter too long is hard
work! This is the last newsletter
which will contain so many pieces
from other groups – in future, I
will only use pieces specifically
written for the purpose. Please
do send me a piece if your group
wishes, but keep it pithy –
remember the poor editor!
Wrexham
Leader : Elizabeth Pettitt
Group started in March 2014, just 3, now
has 8, 2 from Flintshire U3A. Was to
have been led by someone else, but when
he emigrated, I volunteered as I seemed
to have most prior knowledge from A
level German at school and worked in
Vienna briefly. Competence of the other
members between A1 and A2.
Meet twice a month for two hours in a
local hostelry and up to now I have been
preparing worksheets on various
practical topics such as eating out,
shopping, travel, booking
accommodation, etc., supplemented with
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