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Frau Picciotta |
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FAQFrequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
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). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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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