Deutsch 301 • Herbstsemester 2013
Sitzung Nr. 02 • 03.10. Do • Tagesordnung

das W-LAN (weh-lahn) oder "WLAN-Netzwerk" - wifi (network)

drahtlose Verbindung - connection to wifi

WLAN-Verbindung einrichten/ herstellen - set up wireless connection

"Das Hotel bietet WiFi für eine drahtlose Verbindung mit dem Internet in allen Zimmern"

?der? Wifi? - "Sehr komfortable Zimmer mit viel Platz zum Arbeiten und Steckdosen, schließen sie (=Sie) den Computer und das Telefon, ein schöner WiFi>"

vergrößern - enlarge

verkleinern - reduce

abnehmen - reduce (lose weight)

von Kindesbeinen auf - since kneehigh to a grasshopper

plaudern / die Plauderei - chat

nichts für ungut - no offense intended

erraten - guess (figure out)

raten - guess (try to figure out); Raten Sie mal! Just guess!

vermuten - guess (suspect)

Treffer - hit (internet, artillery)

Staat - government (system of)

Regierung - government (current administration)

versteigern / Versteigerung - auction

Unternehmen - business enterprise (not the actual building)

Unternehmer(in) - entrepreneur

Kursbeschreibung; Fischer-Richardson, German Reference Grammar: introduction; topics; main text

Nees, Greg. "Germany: Unraveling and Enigma" (Amazon site and preview of chapter 1)

Vergangenheit - the past

Gegenwart - the present

Zukunft - the future

vergangen- - past (adjective)

gegenwärtig - present (adjective)

zukünftig - future (adjective)

voraussagen - predict

rückblickend - looking back, retrospectively

voraussichtlich - prospectively, probably

eventuell - possible (NOT eventually, later)

erwarten - expect, anticipate

vermuten - expect, suspect (but not suspiciously), guess

√ SmallTalk: lange Schlangen an den Kassen und Schaltern? Was tut man dabei? Wie kann man das vermeiden?

+ Einführung u. Kurze Übersicht: Wir lernen einander ein wenig kennen (Berufsziele? Wohnort). Unser Kurs (Beschreibung)

√Übung: Wir beschreiben die Zukunft - unsere Berufspläne; werden = "become" (und auch "will"); "Ich will Filmstart werden (nicht: sein)" = I want to be (less common: become) a movie star." Problem: "wollen + sein" bedeutet auch "claim to be" - "X will ein Genie sein" = "X claims / pretends to be / acts like (he'she is) a genius."

√Debriefing: the course - what it is and why; basic principles of language learning (negotiating meaning, contextual learning, i+1, inferencing and risk-taking); the role of grammar and vocabulary; the ACTFL Advanced proficiency level (later: EU standards); grammar, yes, but it's not all about grammar, and "grammar" can mean many things, and is much more than conjugating and adjective endings.

√Aber zur Sache! Jetzt lesen wir ein wenig, und wir übersetzen auch: Eine Unternehmerin (Elaine Richard) stellt sich vor ("ich über mich"): Link und pdf

TDebriefing: What might be in a portfolio that documents your German skills? Can you do an improv (aus dem Stegreif) translation of this cartoon?

(click picture or here to see full-size cartoon)

√ Jetzt hören wir ein wenig (00028), und wir fassen zusammen: Was machen Peter und seine Frau? (text of 00028)

Debriefing: The neglected area of listening skills; a regular course assignment; the "hands-on" parts of the course - regular activities, portfolio, and SpeakEasy; if time: Kurzer Vortrag über SpeakEasy (Besuch der Firmenwebsite)

N Vorübung: English conversation: a) your job skills; b) your business experience (or that of someone you know);

N Übung: Ihre praktischen Kenntnisse; Ihre Geschäftserfahrung(en)

N Targeting the right level: generic Advanced vocabulary vs. "business" vocabulary; check of generic Advanced vocabulary (room parts, office processes)

√ Wrap up: assignments for the week and preparation for next meeting - see below

• Bitte SOFORT eine Email an mich richten, wo Sie Ihre bevorzugte Email-adresse angeben.

• Due Tuesday (8 October): Read the course description and write, in English, a reflection about: 1) how the course fits into your larger PAST study of German; 2) how it fits into what you want from your study of German. Keep it to 1 page (250 words). Your reading and reflection will be the basis of class discussion of those topics, in German, on Tuesday, as preparation for when you compose your own career statement and résumé in German.

• Read online the first chapter of Nees, Greg. "Germany: Unraveling and Enigma", and be prepared Tuesday to tell (in German) how you want to obtain the book: get the print version on your own, join others in a group order of the print version, or use the Kindle version.

• Due Tuesday (8 October): Read the "Ich über mich" statements by the students from Irkutsk who are participating in the TU Dresden course where they learn about German culture and ways of thinking. Note vocabulary that you can use in your upcoming personal statement. Translate into English either Oksana Zwira's or Irina Anziferowa's statement. This document may go into your career portfolio, so not only should the translation be good - it should also look good.

• Begin searching, using (quoted) "ich über mich" and smart keywods, for a person in the German-speaking world who shares your educational, career, and even personal interests. This is preparation for assignments where you will translate that person's résumé and use its vocabulary to enrich your own résumé in German.

• Explore my conference presentation about SpeakEasy, so that you will better understand how SpeakEasy will fit into German 301 and, for when you might take the courses, GER 320 & 420.

• First formal writing activity: "Meine Zukunft"; specification to come next Tuesday

• First "Reference Grammar" assignment, as preparation for "Meine Zukunft"; specifications to come Tuesday at the earliest

• First listening assignment, with transcription, translation, and German paraphrase; specifications to come Tuesday at the earliest