19. November - Auf der Jagd nach Truthähne

Grüzi,


This weekend was important for our class for two reasons: first and foremost, this is the last class period we will have for the next two weeks as we are not meeting next weekend (26 November). I believe that has something to do with this "Thanksgiving" I keep hearing people talk about.
Secondly, we had the promised Vocabulary Quiz on Saturday over the first three Hörverständnis exercises (Juli - Ein Gruß, Rammstein - Rosenrot, Nena - 99 Luftballoons). This is the first of several such quizzes we will be having throughout the year.

We also moved forward in our cultural-historical study of the DDR by delving into the German socialist educational system from Kinderkrippe up through University, including along the way the quintessential ossi phenomenon that was the Young Pioneers. We sang "Unsere Heimat" and went through the history and cultural importance of the organization behind this retro-earworm. Seriously--I've had it in my head for the last week and a half now.

The lesson for the week included as well a review of the modal verb (functionally) möchten and the introduction both of the verb dürfen and of the use of helping verbs paired with modal verbs.
After learning about dürfen, we played "Darf Ich?" which was basically like "Mother May I?" minus the confusing part where I would have been referred to as "mother" by a bunch of other people's kids.

To finish up the day, before going off to Singprobe, we played a rousing game of "Ente Ente Truthahn." Much to my chagrin, the students found it far preferable to say "Ent" and "Crouton." I'll admit it actually was pretty funny, though.

The homework for the week (due on 3 December) is as follows:
Workbook
P. 47 Ex. 5, 6
P. 50 Ex. 2, 3


Please note also that they will be writing the first of our Sammelmappe essays the next class period, this one being 15 sentences (present tense) over their free-time hobbies. I would strongly recommend going over with your children how to describe in German what they like to do in their free time. 
These will be written in class, graded on the spot and then expected to be turned back in, corrected, the next class period.

Mit Vergnügen!