German/French Program Introduction

 
Hibriten High School

Welcome to the HHS German and French programs. Knowledge of German and/or French will open many doors for you. Please note that, although levels I and II are basic entry requirements for college, you should consider enrolling in at least one more level. Our program also offers honors levels III and IV, as well as possibly AP. We highly recommend that students participate in our own GAPP exchange with Gymnasium Achern, as well as our French exchange with Lycée Lens, or apply for the Congress-Bundestag-Exchange-Scholarship for a year in Germany. Both programs are grant supported and offer students the unique opportunity to experience German language and culture first-hand through extended home stays. Since 2013, we offer an exclusive scholarship (The Dr. and Mrs. Hans-Ernst & Erika Körner Memorial Scholarship), to offer financial support to a Hibriten/Freedom student participating in the exchange.

We are undertaking every effort to make the latest methods and technologies of Foreign Language Teaching and Learning available to students. Nevertheless, the students’ ultimate success depends on their investment in time and effort. All students should get involved in our extracurricular activities to nurture their interest and further their learning. We also strongly encourage students to correspond with other students in German. Therefore, students will have the opportunity to apply for the Letternet (letternet.de), a program which matches students with international pen pals.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to function in the German/French language and environment; for a detailed list of goals, please see the goals website. To develop this ability, students will receive intensive training in speaking, reading, writing and listening. In addition, students will be involved in special projects, such as:

Level I: Poster; German/French-Americans, Preparing a German/French Family Meal;

Level II: A Virtual Trip to a German/French Speaking area, German/French T-Shirt;

Level III: German/French Immigration; Famous Germans/French; “Deutsch/French for Children”, teaching German/French to elementary school students;

Level  IV: German/French literature;

 AP: Independent Projects

All classes:  Weekly Journals

RESOURCES

Students have access to a large library of books and other media, such as newspapers, magazines, video and audiotapes. Everybody is encouraged to visit our own Homepage, which contains information and a calendar about our program and links to interesting sites. It is accessible through the Hibriten High School Webpage.

EVALUATION

Grades are based on a variety of assessments, such as tests and quizzes, essays, projects, class work, homework, oral ability & participation as well as class participation.

Grading is based on weighted averages. Individual assignments are valued as follows:

Students are encouraged to practice their language skills outside of the classroom through various guided activities as well as on their own. Refer to German Club/Honor Society and GAPP. They will also earn additional points, through small projects or activities of their choice:  

MATERIALS
A ring binder with four dividers is required as notebook, also a small vocabulary notebook. These may be checked periodically. The dividers will separate:

·         Übungen/Exercices: for general notes and exercises

·         Tagebuch/Journal: for drafts of journals

·         Lieder und Gedichte/Chansons et Poemes: to record class room songs and poems for memorization

·         Konversation/Conversation: to record picture stories and dialogues for home practice

Students are also required to keep a Composition Notebook, where the final copy of their weekly journals, “Tagebuch/Journal”, will be recorded.

Every student will also be assigned a Textbook, which will be kept in the classroom; otherwise they will be charged a damage/replacement fee. In addition, they will receive copies of  personal Worksheets  which are to be kept in their binders.

All other materials to be used in the classroom will be provided. Supplementary readings, as well as audiovisuals are age appropriate and - to the best of our knowledge - do not have any content which could be objectionable to anyone. They have been used with great success and are intended to prepare our students gradually for national as well as international assessments. Web activities are always monitored and guided by the instructor; students are cautioned to abide by the CCPS acceptable use regulations.

HAND-IN FORMAT

All documents to be turned in (tests, quizzes, essays, and projects) need to be written in black, green, or blue ink on loose-leaf paper. Full name (last name first), date and course must be indicated at the right top of the paper. The teacher will file all tests and quizzes. The students will file other documents.

PROJECTS, PRESENTATIONS & ASSIGNMENTS

For each class there are various projects assigned during the semester. There will be enough time for research scheduled in the library and/or the media center to complete the project, however, if students are not on task, or absent, they may have to schedule extra time in the media center, or complete the project at home. Home computers or home internet access is not required, since the projects can be completed at school.

Most projects need to be completed in either of the following forms:

- A portfolio, i.e. a collection of various materials, such as paragraphs, charts, graphics, pictures, crafts, etc. Students are required not to simply copy and paste text, but to process information and to present it in their own words; in advanced classes German/French may be required. A portfolio needs to be bound or stapled neatly, and begin with a cover page which contains the name of the student, the class, the title of the portfolio, and the date turned in. The evaluation form needs to be attached to the front of the portfolio. A bibliography (see MLA requirements) must complete the package; all sources need to be listed or the work may be rejected.

- A Media Presentation, i.e. a collection of pictures and/or graphics and key words illustrating facts or ideas. The media shall not contain the entire text of the presentation, i.e. PowerPoint/posters should only be used as a visual aid. Students are to speak freely – in advanced classes in German/French - and use media only as a cue. The presentation must contain a title, the student’s name, and end with a bibliography (see MLA requirements) which must contain all sources used, or the entire work may be rejected. A typed document of notes may have to be turned in, which is to contain all of the spoken text of the presentation.

There must always be a cover page identifying the topic and the author, as well as a list of sources.

CLASSROOM RULES AND CONSEQUENCES
Common sense rules the German/French classroom. Our interaction should be based on mutual respect and tolerance. In order for classes to run efficiently, please respect the following guidelines:

- show respect for others and their property
- absolutely no drinks, food, gum, candy, tech devices
- never leave class without a hall pass; 5 bathroom breaks/sem.
- always bring your notebook & be prepared
- always be in your seat when the bell rings
- communicate in German/French as often as possible

CONSEQUENCES FOR MISCONDUCT (also refer to school wide tardy policy)

-        1^st occurrence = warning

-        2^nd occ. = 15 min. after school; note to parents

-        3^rd occ.= 30 min. call parents

-        4^th occ.= office referral

ORGANIZATIONS
The German/French Department at Hibriten High School features numerous extracurricular activities supported by the German/French Club, and the German and French National Honors Societies.

Students are encouraged to join the Hibriten High School German/French Club/Chapter of the German/French National Honors Societies and to participate in its activities, particularly the Halloween Masquerade Ball, the Christmas Festival, the Karneval Masquerade Ball, the End-of-Year Awards Ceremony, as well as other events to be announced. A membership fee of $ 5 will be charged each academic year. Students will gain credit for active participation in any events. Regular meetings will be held on B-Club days. Meetings with officers will be held on Mondays after school (9/09, 10/07, 01/03, 02/3, 03/3, 5/05, 06/09). All these events are mandatory for Honors Society members, whose membership requires at least a B- average in German/French II II and beyond as well as payment of a $ 10 one-time fee. They will graduate with German/French honors after gaining required points. 

 

The German American Partnership Program with Achern High School in Achern, Germany, has been an ongoing tradition at Freedom High School since 1989. Since 2011, Hibriten and West Caldwell High Schools have been co-sponsoring the exchange in its 24th Anniversary. A group of 15 students from our partner school in Achern, Black Forest, right across from France, will visit us October 28 – November 14. Our visit to Achern is planned for the summer of 2011 (June 18 – July 21). As part of our exchange, we will take a 10 day tour of Germany, which will include a visit to the German Capital Berlin, a home stay in our sister city of Altenburg, and a visit to the German Alps . The cost of the 4-week visit of Germany will be approximately $ 2500 (incl. transportation and accommodations). An optional tour of France, including Paris, Normandy and Lens (our partner school in the North) will be available at an additional cost of $ 350. The registration deadline for GAPP 2013/14 will be November 15.

All meetings take place on Mondays in room C 10 at 5:30 p.m. and are mandatory for participants: 9/09, 10/07, 11/13, GAPP Dinner, 01/03, 02/3, 03/3, 5/05, 06/09.