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Frau Picciotta



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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions 
of students and parents.
  1. Why should a student select German?
  2. Will students be able to practice their German skills outside the classroom?
  3. How many levels of German are there at La Habra High School?
  4. Is there a German Club at LHHS, and if so what do its members do?
  5. What is the German National Honor Society?
  6. What materials are needed for your classes?
  7. How often do you assign homework?
  8. Can students earn extra credit points?
  9. When are your conference hours?
  10. What grade does a student need to move on to the next level?
  11. What are CPR points?
  12. What can I do as a parent to support my student?
  13. Does my student need a dictionary?
  14. How can my student get help on assignments?
  15. Are there any German Honors classes offered at LHHS?
  16. Are there any reference books that you recommend?
  17. What is the German National Exam?



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 -
it is a global language.

3) At many colleges and universities, German is the language 
required or recommended most often (more than French or Spanish).

4) The German language and many German traditions (e.g. the 
Christmas tree or the Easter bunny) have greatly influenced our 
culture.

5) Knowing German is a great advantage if you want a career in 
business, science, technology, music and the tourist industry. 
More than a thousand German companies do business in the U.S. and 
specifically look for German-speaking employees.

6) Learning German at LHHS is fun and interesting! Among other 
things, students will get a chance to do a variety of projects, 
listen to German music, watch German movies, and work with 
authentic materials from Germany. We also use technology like the 
internet (to gather information from German websites) and the 
Smart Board (for things like vocabulary review games).
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Will students be able to practice their German skills outside the classroom?

Each year, I offer several opportunities for 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. The three main activities are:

* Language immersion camps: These are events outside of school 
(e.g. Big Bear) where students have the opportunity to practice 
their German skills in various fun-filled activities in an 
authentic setting.

* Pen pal program: Students can improve their language skills by 
writing or sending e-mails to a German teenager with similar 
interests and find out more about the German culture.

* Student exchange program: Students from LHHS can host a German 
exchange student for a few weeks in the spring and then possible 
visit them in Germany the following summer. This is a great way 
to experience the German language and culture first-hand.

* There are also links to German websites on this website that 
students can explore in order to learn more about the German 
language and culture. 
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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. It is a comprehensive program 
that allows students to select between beginning, intermediate 
and advanced courses (German 1 - 4AP). Level 2 and 3 honors 
courses are also offered for qualified students.  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. 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 benominated 
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 about three 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. 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 hour for the 2009/2010 school year is from 2:00 - 
3:00 p.m.  Please make an appointment for an in-person conference 
by calling (562)266-5252.  You can also reach me via e-mail 
(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 AP. 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, important events). 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 AP.  
There are many good dictionaries on the market but I personally 
prefer Langenscheidt.  Ask your local book store sales-person 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 3 and 4 AP students are also willing 
to tutor level 1 and 2 students.
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Are there any German Honors classes offered at LHHS?

For the 2009/2010 school year, qualified students will be able to 
enroll in German 2 Honors.  They need to have received a grade of 
A or B in German 1. 

A level 3 Honors course will be offered for the 2010/1011 school 
year. Students interested in taking this class, need to have 
received an A or B in German 2/German 2 Honors.
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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.
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What is the German National Exam?

Students in level 2-4 AP can take the German National Exam in 
January each year and compete against students throughout the 
U.S. for the chance to win a trip to Germany. The exam covers the 
areas of listening, reading and grammar, and it is an excellent 
preparation for some of the areas on the AP German Language exam. 
In 2007, a student from LHHS was one of the only 34 students 
nationwide to win a free trip. He later earned a score of five on 
the AP exam.
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Last Modified: Thursday, July 02, 2009
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