- Why should a student select German?
- Will students be able to practice their German skills outside the classroom?
- How many levels of German are there at La Habra High School?
- Is there a German Club at LHHS, and if so what do its members do?
- What is the German National Honor Society?
- What materials are needed for your classes?
- How often do you assign homework?
- Can students earn extra credit points?
- When are your conference hours?
- What grade does a student need to move on to the next level?
- What are CPR points?
- What can I do as a parent to support my student?
- Does my student need a dictionary?
- How can my student get help on assignments?
- Why are there no German Honors classes offered?
- Are there any reference books that you recommend?
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Why should a student select German?
There are a number of reasons why German would be a good choice.
1) German and English are both Germanic languages which means that they have
many similarities (e.g. vocabulary and sentence structure).
2) Over 120 million people speak German as their native language, and German
is the most widely spoken language in Europe.
3) At many colleges and universities, German is the language required or
recommended most often (e.g. for 56 majors at the University of California).
4) The German language and many German traditions (e.g. the Christmas tree or
the Easter bunny) have greatly influenced our culture.
5) German can be very important for a career in business, science,
technology, music and the tourist industry.
6) Learning German can be fun and interesting! Among other things, students
will get a chance to do a variety of projects, listen to German music, watch
German movies, taste German food and work with authentic materials from
Germany (e.g. catalogues, maps, advertisements and crossword puzzles).
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Will students be able to practice their German skills outside the classroom?
Each year, I offer several opportunities for the students to use German
outside of the classroom. This could be as simple as a scavenger hunt or as
complex as a weekend language camp. Please check the announcements and
calendar pages regularly for information.
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How many levels of German are there at La Habra High School?
La Habra High School is one of only three high schools in the district with a
German Program. Currently, there a four classes, two level 1, one level 2,
and a combination 3/4/5. On all levels, emphasis is placed on communnicative
instruction. The overall goal is to develop linguistic confidence and an
understanding of the cultures of German speaking countries. Students earn AP
credit when they take German 4 or 5 and they have the option of taking the AP
test. For more detailed course descriptions please go to the "Teacher and
Classes" page.
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Is there a German Club at LHHS, and if so what do its members do?
Along with its German Program, La Habra High School also has a German Club.
The advisor is Mrs. Picciotta. Enrollment in a German class is not mandatory
for joining the club. Club members meet every other week during lunch in
room 91. Activities include: Oktoberfest, Adventsfest, Weihnachtsfeier,
making Gingerbread houses, selling Advent calendars(fundraiser), Easter egg
hunt, singing German songs, playing games and watching German movies. For
more information on the German Club please go to the "German Club" page.
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What is the German National Honor Society?
Since February 2002, La Habra High School has had a chapter of the National
Honor Society for High School Students of German (Delta Epsilon Phi).
Students are eligible if they have completed at least three semesters of
German, and have attained an average of 3.6 in German and a 3.0 general
average in these three semesters, on a 4.0 scale. Members of the society are
inducted and honored at a special ceremony in the spring and they participate
in different activites throughout the year. Seniors have the opportunity to
wear their German Honor Society cord and tassel at graduation. All members
have the chance to be nominated for a scholarship for a four-week summer
study trip to Germany. For more information on Delta Epsilon Phi please go
the "German Honors Society" page.
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What materials are needed for your classes?
Students need to bring the following items to class every day:
* 3 ring hard sided binder
* lined paper
* pen (no red please)
* # 2 pencil
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How often do you assign homework?
I usually assign homework three to four times a week and almost never on a
Friday. Most assignments should not take more than fifteen minutes on
average, depending on the level and the abilities of the individual student.
Please check the "Homework" page daily to see if your son or daughter has
homework to do. Due dates for larger projects will also be announced on the
"Announcements" page. For more information on homework please go to
the "Classroom Policies" page.
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Can students earn extra credit points?
Students can earn up to 50 extra credit points each semester through a
variety of assignments. A list of choices is posted in my classroom.
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When are your conference hours?
My conference hours are from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m., and from 3:00 - 3:30p.m.
Please make an appointment for an in-person conference by calling (562)266-
5252. You can also reach me via e-mai (dpicciotta@fjuhsd.net).
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What grade does a student need to move on to the next level?
A student needs to have a C or better at any level in order to advance to the
next level.
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What are CPR points?
CPR stands for "Cultural Participation and Research" and it is a required
element in German 3 and 4. The assignments for which students earn CPR points
satisfy Standards 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2 and 5.1.
CPR activities are an important aspect of the class because they require the
student to do some research about an aspect of the German culture and then
present it to the class. The students will select a topic first and then ask
me for approval before they start their research. Possible topics are famous
people, history, sports, art, movies/music etc.
For a more detailed description please refer to the CPR instructions handout.
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What can I do as a parent to support my student?
The most important thing you can do is to stay involved. Talk to your
student frequently about what he or she is learning in class. Make an effort
to read all mail sent home by me and try to check this website regularly for
announcements (e.g. homework, projects). If you have any questions or
concerns, please feel free to contact me. I am dedicated to work together
with you to make this a successful experience for your student.
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Does my student need a dictionary?
It is always helpful to have a dictionary at home in order to look up unknow
words. Dictionaries are not mandatory but recommended in level 1 and 2 and
essential in level 3 and 4. There are many good dictionaries on the market
but I personally prefer Langenscheidt. Ask your local book store salesperson
for help.
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How can my student get help on assignments?
Students can always ask me for help in class, and if they need more time,
during break and at lunch (please let me know in advance). Some of my level
4 students might be willing to tutor level 1 and 2 students, and I know a
parent who is a native speaker of German.
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Why are there no German Honors classes offered?
There are no German Honors classes offered at any school in the district
because the district has not yet developped a curriculum for those courses.
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Are there any reference books that you recommend?
Dictionnaries:
1) Langenscheidt's Standard German Dictionary
2) PONS Basiswörterbuch. Deutsch als Fremdsprache: Das einsprachige Lerner-
wörterbuch. Stuttgart: Ernst Klett, 1999. (This dictionary is for advanced
students and will probably have to be ordered by your bookstore.)
Grammar:
Webster, Paul. The German Handbook: Your Guide to Speaking and Writing German.
Revised edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Vocabulary:
Langenscheidt: Basic German Vocabulary
German Culture:
Flippo, Hyde. When in Germany, Do as the Germans Do: The Clued-In Guide to
German Life, Language and Culture. Chicago: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
