Based on my own experience, I highly recommend real-world, interesting, and fun reading and listening materials such as the Kinder-Uni rather than dry and boring ones which students avoid and try to forget as soon as class is over. Such an approach would draw out the students' innate sense of curiousity, wonder, and awe.
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Die Kinder-Uni books are published by Deutsch Verlag-Anstalt (DVA); die Kinder-Uni CDs are published by der Hoerverlag. I would want to own the Kinder Uni hardback books in my library even if they were written in an unintelligible alien language because they are beautifully bound and printed. Perhaps the illustrations by Klaus Ensikat (even on the cover) are the most outstanding feature of the books. The Hoerverlag has subsequently transformed the written word to an enchanting auditory experience. Rufus Beck, the voice impresario of all the Harry Potter characters auf Deutsch (also by Hoerverlag), reads the chapters of the Semester 1 book. Actually, I would recommend students of all levels 'bathe' their ears in the dramatic, expressive language of the native speakers.
Kinder Univeristy: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinderuniversit%C3%A4t
Kinder-Uni Home Page (sponsored by Artur Fischer, Erfinder) : http://www.die-kinder-uni.de/index.html
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In a BILDUNG article "Effekt gleich null" from Der Spiegel Nr. 4/19.1.09, the inefficacy of current teaching of English in the Grundschule is discussed. The concluding paragraph states: "Neben einer stärkeren Vernetznung fordern Experten vor allem mehr Zeit für das Fremdsprachenlernen. 'Kinder lernen eine Sprache am besten, wenn diese in ihre Lebenswelt eingebettet ist und sie viel kommunizieren', sagt der Psycholinguist Klein. Möglichst viel Anwendung in einem realen Kontext wäre zum Beispiel gegeben, wenn auch Fächer wie Kunst oder Erdkunde auf Englisch unterrichtet würden. Doch dafür brauchte es zunächst eine bessere Fremdsprachenausbildung - für Lehrer."
However, I believe the same thing could be said for the teaching of adults as well as for the teaching of ANY language. (Also students should be encouraged to speak without the fear of making a mistake at least some of the time.) No other resource that I have been able to discover provides the immersion of the Kinder-Uni books and complete CD narration over such a range of subjects seemingly of just the right length and complexity for stretching the student's language skills pleasurably.
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GERMAN as a Second Language for English Speakers:
A Framework to Express Complex Ideas/Concepts
Even with sufficient vocabulary and grammar, adult students of a second/foreign language often do not have the necessary tools for discussion, argumentation, and classification of concrete and abstract objects and ideas---skills possessed by typical 8-10 year old native speakers (my own estimate). What kind of contextual clues do German children receive? How?
This site will attempt to provide a framework for German expression of complex concepts and themes.
Ideas, comments? Also, I would be interested in exchanging English conversation and tutoring for German conversation. Please message John via form below:
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The Goethe Institut does admirable work. Over the years I have taken at least a half dozen courses at the Boston Goethe Institut. I am particulary happy with my latest course because of a Saturday venue and the instructor who has a wonderful sense of humor, perfect Berliner accent, and infinite patience. However, I have always been somewhat disappointed by the textbooks and teaching methodologies offered; so I have been continually looking for new approaches.
As a systems analyst, I always look for ways to improve processes and make them more effective, whatever the discipline. Perhaps there are reasons why things are done as they are, but in any event here follow some observations and suggestions.
It seems to me, the primary goal of any upper level modern language course is the management of contemporary conversation---both oral and written communication. I would either supplement or even replace the teaching materials and teaching strategies of the 'B' and 'C' Stufen, because the current materials and strategies do not adequately target that goal. Actually, maybe all the requisite elements are there, but there is no overarching structure leaving anyone with a sense of Aristotelian classification and organization confused. Where a particular exercise falls within the 'big picture' is not easy to determine.
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Letter to Language Director at Boston Goethe Institut dated September, 2008:
After many years of taking German in high school, college, Goethe Institute, and private tutoring, I feel that repeatedly listening to lengthy texts at home is the most fundamental aspect of learning a language and should consume the largest portion of time. Only in this way can students learn to effectively parse complicated, continous speech.
Most classroom assignments are too short and not very interesting. Writers such as Schiller, Mann, and Goethe are certainly important, but I feel that most people, myself included, want to learn contemporary written and oral expression first.
I have continued learning German on my own because I wish to return to Germany and work there. I have discovered that I have made the greatest advances by listening to and reading the Kinder-Uni and Nachgefragt series of CDs and books. (Manfred Mai's Deutsche Geschichte and Weltgeschichte are also good as well as possibly many others that I have not seen). I particularly enjoy the Kinder-Uni because of my interest in science; the content is always interesting, current, and adult. Of course, such a solo approach lacks speaking and the feedback of a native ear.
Because of the lack of feedback, I propose the following approach:
Each week the assignment for the next class would be listening several times (maybe many times) to a hoer-text of about 30 minutes in length. Here again each chapter in Kinder-Uni fall into this length category. For example, my favorite piece is "Warum sind die Dinosaurier Ausgestorben?" Students would be encouraged to divide into study groups and meet or speak with each other on the phone at least once during the week to discuss the reading selection in German for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
In class the teacher might cover other topics such as grammatical principles (perhaps using the text as a resource) and answer questions, but would spend the preponderance of time on the reading assignment. The teacher might have the class answer questions orally or in writing. Maybe part of the home assignment might also be a short writing assignment. The most important aspect is that students would now have a 'Basis zum mitreden' with a shared knowledge, vocabulary, and proper pronunciation and rhythm. I especially enjoy how the speakers express humor and other emotions through their voices.
I subscribe to both der Spiegel's paper and epaper editions. The Spiegel and deutsche Welle sites are invaluable resources. Finally, Jugend lexicon are also helpful for learning basic facts that are normally bypassed in a typical class.
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The CDs with corresponding chapter titles in the Kinder-Uni book series are listed below. To play a sample from each of the CDs, go to www.HoerVerlag.de and Suche nach Hörbüchern "nach Titel":
Warum träumen wir?
Warum können wir hören?
Warum darf man Menschen nicht klonen?
Warum wachsen Pflanzen?
Warum bin ich Ich?
Warum fallen die Sterne nicht vom Himmel?
Warum dürfen Erwachsene mehr als Kinder?
Warum sind die griechischen Statuen immer nackt?
Warum müssen Menschen sterben?
Warum stammt der Mensch vom Affen ab?
Warum gibt es Arme und Reiche?
Warum beten Muslime auf Teppichen?
Warum sind die Dinosaurier ausgestorben?
Warum speien Vulkane Feuer?
Warum lachen wir über Witze?
Warum ist die Schule doof?
Warum bauten die Ritter Burgen?
Warum erzählen wir Geschichten?
Warum raufen Jungs und sind Mädchen zickig?
Warum werden Sportler immer besser?
Warum können Mathematiker nicht rechnen?
Warum können Ärzte heilen?
Warum gibt es Blitz und Donner?
Warum sehen Fledermäuse mit den Ohren?
All CDs in the series can be obtained in "Die grosse Kinder-Uni Wissens-Box" for about 40 EUR from either www.Amazon.de or www.HoerVerlag.de ! Obviously, that is a considerable savings over the individual CD price of 14.95 EUR.
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