Southwest Region
The Arizona chapter had its usual Spring and Fall meetings in 2009, the first in Tucson at the UA, the latter in Tempe, at the ASU. Both times we had rich programs, consisting of workshops and presentations by out-of-town guests and speakers. In Spring, Frank Mueller from the ZfDA, L.A., gave us a very informative talk on the work of Deutsche Schulen im Ausland, followed by Jo Sanders wonderful motivational talk. In October, the Swiss Consul Roland Rietmann, L.A., gave a great workshop on Switzerland, followed by a most fascinating presentation by the young German writer Judith Schalansky (Berlin). The chapter elected a new slate of officers who will start working in 2010. Our membership continues to be solid, though attendance at our meetings have been somewhat reduced. The president of the chapter, Prof. Classen, has worked as Multiplikator with the Goethe-Institut, S.F., and has started to give small Echoseminare.
Submitted by: Albrecht Classen, Chapter President, Email: aclassen@u.arizona.edu
Arkansas AATG held 2 meetings in 2009 and a new textbook in-service for junior high and high school teachers of German.
During the April meeting, adoption of German textbooks was discussed, with plans for a summer in-service for all teachers in the state. Also discussed were plans for a fall 2010 retreat.
In June, the junior high and high school teachers from around the state met to discuss new textbooks, make lesson plans and share teaching ideas and strategies. This was a great opportunity to share and learn from one another. A wiki was created so that all teachers could share their ideas and so that those ideas would be accessible for all in the state. A representative from the textbook company also provided in-service for the new technological features of the book.
The fall meeting was held in Northwest Arkansas in October. During that meeting, a new president was elected and a new position was created to handle the Arkansas Department of Education requirements for in-service credit.
Submitted by: Shelley Lumpkin, Chapter President. Email: slumpkin@sdale.org
During our spring semester 2009, we had some exciting activities at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. These included a German movie night, a Stammtisch, a bakesale fundraiser to raise money for our end-of-the-semester BBQ, and the BBQ itself in May.
Our fall semester was no less exciting and full of great events. In October, our chapter hosted its own Oktoberfest on campus. There was a healthy turnout and a wonderful time was had by all. Es war WUNDERBAR!
In November, we held another fundraiser, this time to raise funds for our Weihnachtsfest and German Honors Society initiation. Students donated baked goods, which were sold at a stand in the courtyard of our language building, Moore Hall. The sale went beautifully and generated plenty of income, guaranteeing yet another well-funded Christmas party.
Also during the fall semester, our chapter hosted a Stammtisch-style meeting at Manoa Gardens, as well as a "German Movie & Snacks" afternoon on campus.
In December, our Weihnachtsfest/Honors Society initiation was a great success. Approximately 35 German students and faculty joined in the celebration. Food and drink was excellent, as was the company! After the Honors Society intiation, we sang Christmas songs in German, discussed club business, and many stayed on much later to party, eat, and socialize. What a terrific time!
We had a very rewarding 2009 and are looking forward to a fantastic 2010!
Submitted by: Christina McDade, Chapter Secretary. Email: cmmcdade@yahoo.com
In February, Center Austria celebrated its tenth anniversary on the campus of the University of New Orleans. The Center brings Austrian students to the university every year, sponsors Our spring meeting was held on March 1, 2008 on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. The chapter meeting followed a presentation by Dr. Johannes Schmidt of Clemson University on “Podcasting 101 - Podcasts in the foreign language classroom.” Other members of the foreign language faculty at LSU joined us for the presentation. Students from all high school German programs throughout the state are invited to take part inthe proficiency test and compete in activities including skits and musical activities. Students from Ben Franklin High in New Orleans, Baton Rouge Magnet High in Baton Rouge and West Feliciana High in St. Francisville took part, among others. A highlight was a presentation of "Papageno and Papagena” from Mozart’s The Magic Flute put on Sydney Wolf’s students from Chalmette High School, in an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina but now recovering. During spring break in April, a group from Southeastern Louisiana University traveled to Berlin for a study abroad humanities course put together by faculty member Andrea Morshäuser. The course was the first spring break study abroad for the university, and a course in Munich is in the works for spring break 2009. During the summer, successful study abroad programs were offered by LSU, Southeastern Louisiana University, and by Center Austria at the University of New Orleans, among others. Chapter member Rachel Becker led a group from Ben Franklin High School to visit Berlin, Munich and Neuschwanstein. Our fall meeting was held on October 11, 2008 at Center Austria on the campus of the University of New Orleans. The meeting was capped off by a presentation by the program director at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York City. A concern of the chapter is the future of the Deutsches Haus, a German cultural icon located on Galvez Street on the edge of downtown New Orleans. The Haus, built in the 1920s in an area that was then overwhelmingly German, was severely damaged in Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to the efforts of many in the German heritage community, the Haus was renovated and is now better than ever. Oktoberfest, Maifest, a Damenchor, a Schlarafia chapter, movie nights and numerous other activities keep German culture alive in the city. The problem is that a new hospital complex, to replace facilities destroyed in the hurricane, is proposed for the neighborhood surrounding and including the Haus. Those of us in the German cultural community hope that a way will be found to build the hospital complex without demolishing the Haus. But we are worried. Submitted by: Ed Larson, Chapter Secretary. Email: larsonec@bellsouth.net
programs for American students at the University of Innsbruck, and sponsors numerous seminars and research activities. Senior Austrian government officials, including the ambassador to the US, came to New Orleans for the celebration. Center Austria has hosted the Louisiana Chapter’s fall meetings for the last three years.
The German Department at LSU sponsored the annual “High School Rally Day” in April.
034 New Mexico/El Paso
(inactive for 2008)
Our spring chapter meeting was held in April in Enid in conjunction with the spring Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers’ Association conference. Speakers at the OFLTA meeting included Joe Sullivan who discussed how to target students’ personal interests to get them to speak more and Melissa Caddell who spoke about the relationship of learning music to learning German. We elected a new vice-president, Angela Novak, and a new president, Joe Sullivan.
Deutschfest, a statewide competition for students of German in grades 6-12 was again hosted with great success by German Online at the Oklahoma State University campus on March 27, 2008. Over 400 students from the panhandle to Eastern Oklahoma competed in areas ranging from vocabulary and grammar tests to poetry recitation and prose reading, to gingerbread houses, baked goods, folk-dancing, skits and more. First, second and third place trophies were awarded for at least two levels of each category. Thanks to Sabine Lewis, director of OSU’s German Online program, and David Nagle for organizing the event. Deutschfest 2009 will be 26 March, again on the OSU campus.
On 13-14 September, chapter members met at Saint Crispin’s conference center in Seminole for our fall immersion workshop. Our presenter was Professor Mohamed Esa from McDaniel College, who gave us strategies for using popular music in the classroom. Those in attendance reported that this was one of their favorite immersion-weekends our chapter has ever held and have commented that since the weekend they have successfully used what they learned with their own students. As with our previous year’s workshop, participants this year included not only AATG members from Oklahoma but members from Texas as well.
On 20 September, Chapter members met on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee for a workshop conducted by a faculty member from Michigan State University about the free language-teaching technology resources available to us through the CLEAR program. (CLEAR is a federally funded program that trains instructors in using technology to teach foreign languages.) Thanks go to David Nagle for organizing the event.
Our Fall business meeting was conducted in conjunction with the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers’ Association meeting in Midwest City. Among other items discussed was the limited choice Oklahoma public school educators have in the textbooks approved by our state.
Submitted by: Joe Sullivan, Chapter President. Email: jsullivan@ou.edu
007 Southern California - 2008
2008 war wieder ein ereignisreiches Jahr für unser Chapter. Es begann mit einem sehr gut besuchten Frühjahrstreffen an der California State Universität in Long Beach. Michael Höfig vom Goethe Institut New York begeisterte die Teilnehmer mit seinem Workshop "Das Theater als didaktisches Mittel im DaF Unterricht." Viele DeutschlehrerInnen nahmen interessante Ideen mit nach Hause die in den Wochen danach ihren Weg in die Deutschklassen fanden.
Das erste Wochenende im März fand - wie alljährlich - wieder das Deutschlager statt. Das Thema war im Hinblick auf die kommenden olympischen Spiele - "Sportliche Wettbewerbe - Olympiade am Big Bear." 120 Schüler und 15 LehrerInnen sprachen ein Wochenende lang wieder nur Deutsch und vertieften sich in die deutsche Sport-Kultur.
Die "CLTA Conference" fand dieses Jahr in Irvine statt und viele AATG - SC Mitglieder waren tatkräftig daran beteiligt. "Intersessions" und Workshops wurden von ihnen geleitet.
Das AATG-SC Herbstreffen wurde mit einer "Orange County" Konferenz verbunden zu der wiederum die AATG - SC DeutschlehrerInnen viele Beträge leisteten.
Und dann war noch das Dyko Konzert. Etwa 500 Deutschschüler und ihre LehrerInnen kamen bei der Universität in Long Beach zusammen und hatten einen Riesenspaß bei Musik und Tanz. Die Schüler waren alle begeistert von der Vorführung und das Deutschprogramm bei Cal State Long Beach bekam viel kostenlose PR.
Und weiter geht es so...... die Vorbereitungen für ein interessantes neues Jahr sind in vollem Gange!
Eingereicht von: Elisabeth Strauss, Chapter Secretary/Treasurer. Email: lizstra@adelphia.net
Unsere AATG Aktivitäten im Jahr 2009 begannen wieder mit der Teilnahme am nationalen AATG Test für eine Gruppe von Schülern der High Schools und der Deutschen Samstagsschule, die stolz darauf waren, in Vergleich zur gesamten Nation wieder gut abgeschnitten zu haben.
Zu unserem Frühjahrstreffen am 2. Mai versammelten wir uns diesmal zu dem zur Zeit in Deutschland populärsten Imbiß: dem Döner Kebab. Prof. Regina Braker von der Eastern Oregon University präsentierte “Allerlei mit Kunst (Gemälde, Kunstkarten, Fotos) und demonstrierte, wie die Aktivitäten für die verschiedenen Altersstufen und Sprachniveaus angepaßt werden können, und wie und wo man die verschiedensten Kunst-Materialien günstig finden kann.
Am 16. Mai fand bereits unser 3. ‘Deutsches Theaterfest San Diego’ statt, mit ständig wachsender Teilnehmer- und Zuschauerzahl und Begeisterung auf Seiten aller Beteiligten.
Wiederum in den angehmen Räumlichkeiten des Mesa College, mit viel Hilfe von Studenten unserer Präsidentin Doris Herwig, hausgemachtem deutschen Essen und Austausch über die Deutschprogramme, versammelten wir uns zu: “So ein Theater! Szenisches Spiel im Sprachunterricht”. Ursula Dinter, vom Goethe Institut San Francisco, führte uns in die Thematik ein und leitete einen praktischen Workshop für die Kollegen der jüngeren Altersstufen. Dr Astrid Ronke leitete die praktischen Übungen für Lehrer der High Schools und Colleges. Beide Workshops boten viele Anregungen für den Unterrricht.
Unsere Teilnahme - als lokale Volunteers sowie als Präsenter - an der 2009 ACTFL Convention, die im November in San Diego stattfand und ein beeindruckendes Angebot für Deutschlehrende zu bieten hatte, beendete ein sehr aktives Jahr 2009.
Submitted by: Angela A. Shaw, Treasurer/Membership Chair. Email: aatgsandiego@gmail.com
As always, the year started with the Winterfest competition held at Plano Sr. High School in Plano, TX, hosted by Beth Smith. Students from all over North Texas competed to win individual as well as school honors. They danced, cooked, baked, sang, recited, spelled, acted, and had fun knowing facts about Germany and the German language. The top qualifiers went on to compete at the state competition held in Austin.
The Osterfest was again held at Tirnity High School, and we had twice as many participants as the year before. The awesome instructor was patient in explaining the wax techniques to all students, and helped with the best color selections for the eggs.
Deutscher Samstag was again held at The University of North Texas in Denton. A few organizational changes made this the best event yet. Students had fun being immersed in the German language all day long, learning new vocabulary terms and a few things they had never done before. They learned egg coloring, music, art, crocheting, had fun at jeopardy, decorated gingerbread hearts, and even ate some good German food. It was a fun day for teachers and students alike. At the end of the day all students were awarded prizes.
The third annual Maifest was again held at Trinity High School in Euless. It was a rainy day, yet many more people came to see the folkdancers. The food was wonderful. Everyone could try real Bratwurst on a pretzel bun – what a treat. This year’s event was combined with Trinity’s GAP club (Girls Awareness Program), which included vaccinations for dogs and cats. Another successful and great day for the German students and the community.
The annual meeting in September was held at Jasper High School in Plano. We offered seminars on blogging (by Dr. Scott Williams), literature (by Beth Smith), GAPP (by Laura Boyle), and cultural crafts we do in class. Gayle Cope showed us how to make easy Apple Strudel, and it tasted almost like in Germany or Austria. Several teachers introduced different cultural items: the chocolate game, making advent wreaths, making Nikolausstiefel/schuhe, pop-up cards, Apfelmännchen, and many more things done in class or in our German clubs. Host Dana Molnar provided us with a very nice lunch, sponsored by her German club and parents of her German students.
October saw the Sportfest again, where students compete in biking, hiking, playing soccer, guzzling root beer and eating pretzels. Students get up early on a Saturday morning just to win the honor of being the best. This is a fun filled day for all students.
Weihnachtsfest was held at Tarrant County College in Hurst. There were almost 150 participants. It was wonderful to see everyone making Apfelmännchen, Strohsterne, coloring Weihnachtsbilder, making the pop-up cards, doing Christmas games, and singing songs. And then there was the typical German food, including Glühwein (non-alcoholic, of course). Students, parents, and teachers alike got to try some authentic German food and desserts.
Our annual Mavericks night will not happen until January. Nevertheless, we are excited about meeting Dirk Nowitzki again.
Submitted by: Hildegard Lombardo, Chapter President. Email: hildegardlombardo@hebisd.edu
February 2008- Houstonfest took place. This year we had a new director, Rustin Buck. It went very well and we are looking forward to 2009.
April 2008- Our annual awards ceremony. We were honored to have the German Consulate and an intern come speak to us for this event. We decided to start the event later, hoping more people would be able to make it and make it on time.
August 2008- Our annual planning meeting of Deutscher Samstag.
September 13, 2008- Hurricane Ike hit. Many schools were closed for at least 7 days, depending on the area. Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers. There is still clean- up going on.
September 27- Staff development opportunity. Susan Sisler presented “Tor für Deutschland” and Renate Saggau presented “Das Glück hat Flügel”. Renate was nice enough to host it at the German Language Center.
November 2008- Our annual Deutscher Samstag. Hosted by Bellaire High School. Went very well with only a few minor kinks to work out.
December 2008- Our St. Nikolasfeier. Very nice evening. Discussions were made about having another Staff Development opportunity in April.
Submitted by Yvonne Thomas, Chapter President. Email: yvonne.thomas@cfisd.net
2008 was a very eventful year for the South Texas AATG chapter. On February 2, Sprachfest (South Texas) Regional German Contest was held in San Antonio for South Texas middle- and high school students. Those who ranked in the top 5 places in most events advanced to the Texas State German Contest, held February 23 at the University of Texas in Austin. Once again, this event allowed nearly 900 German students the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills, and provided the motivation and recognition that helps build German programs.
March 27 – 29 marked the Texas Foreign Language Association spring conference in Corpus Christi, Texas. Several South Texas members presented sessions on such topics as drama techniques for the language class, Fußball im Deutschunterricht, and the regional and state contest systems. The three Texas AATG chapters also held a joint meeting during the conference.
We had planned our fall meeting for Saturday, September 13; but as that weekend approached, so too did Hurricane Ike, and we ultimately were forced to re-schedule. On November 1, our fall chapter meeting was held at St. Edward’s University in Austin. Our program was Technology for the Foreign Language Classroom. Jason Reichert, Meagan Tripp, and Ewa Siwak presented on a variety of technology topics, including Didaktisierung of podcasts such as “Slow German” and “Top-Thema”, downloading materials from YouTube and iTunes, useful websites such as Deutsche Welle and Europa Aktuell, and accessing music and listening sources. Zsuzsi Abrams presented on UT’s “Deutsch im Blick” and “Grimm Grammar” websites, currently being used with UT German classes but available to all German students. Mary El-Beheri also provided information about the regional and state German contests. During the business meeting, new officers were selected for 2008/09: Kerstin Somerholter, president; Pam Schultz, vice-president; Ewa Siwak, secretary; and Sandi Mays, treasurer. Evelyn Saucier will continue as program director and Mary El-Beheri as webmaster; Meagan Tripp continues as membership chair.
The fall TFLA conference was held in Houston on Oct. 16-18.
Several South Texas AATG members received awards this year. Lee Ann Hartmann of LaGrange was named one of 10 outstanding teachers in the state, receiving a 2008 Texas Exes Award for Outstanding Teachers from The University of Texas at Austin's alumni association, the Texas Exes. Nella Spurlin of Temple High School was named Foreign Language Teacher of the Year for Texas at the spring TFLA conference. Evelyn Saucier of Round Rock Westwood High School received the prestigious AATG Outstanding Secondary German Educator award at the November ACTFL meeting in Miami. At the same conference, Meagan Tripp of Temple High School became the first recipient of the German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award. Terry Smith of Plano received the AATG Friend of German award; our chapter had nominated him for this recognition. We are very proud of these outstanding teachers.
Our chapter website can be found at http://www.germancontest.org/staatg/
To network with other German teachers in the area, a listserv is maintained for local AATG members. We can be contacted at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TeachSoTxAATG/
A Listserv has also been set up with information about German teaching positions in Texas.
To post message: texasgermanjobs@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: texasgermanjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: texasgermanjobs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com For additional information on the South Texas Chapter of the AATG, check our Web site http://germansa.home.texas.net/aatg/
Submitted by Nella Spurlin, Past Chapter President. Email: nspurlin@hot.rr.com
