German language study is on the calendar for this week each day from 9:00 till noon. Remember my asking you to pray for a flexible tongue...keep praying. I have Pimsleur's language (the first set of CDs) which is just listening to native speakers and trying the dialogue (good). I also have Level I, II, and III of RosettaStone, also good. However, neither one is able to describe the way the mouth needs to be shaped and where the tongue needs to be, nor what letters have omitted sounds. That is where this class has really been helpful. The "R" that sounds similar to Spanish's rolled "R" is actually produced in the throat. The "L" we use has the tongue tip at the roof of the mouth near the teeth, but the German "L" is made with it flat on the roof of the mouth. Listen to the difference yourself. One store here is named Lidl. Say it, and use the long "E" sound for the "I". Quite different, right? Then today we were going over numbers. Also, the Germans seem to love compound nouns. If you had to write a check for a bill of $999, you would be writing out "neunhundertneunundneurzig" on the amount line. Maybe that is why they use ATMs and do not write checks! This is a practical class as well. We discuss things we'll come across living here (she took the class to the recycle center and the store for recycling plastic bottles like our host did for us), and on Friday we'll have a scavenger hunt that will cover our week's work.
Even thought I've gone out with Pat and watched her eat, Monday I was ready to try something good, finally. Well, first off, the planned restaurant was closed on Monday...we used to do that. Then when we did eat, we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited for a bill when we were done. Have you been any place like that in the States lately. Here dining is relaxing, no rushing you out for the next set of seat fillers. Someone has said that they do not bring the bill until you ask for it. One of the next two days in language class will cover this and I'll know for sure.
Today I spent about four hours talking with the science department chair and discussing both courses. Right now I'm going over the ninth grade Physical Science book to get a feel for the text and how to prepare. There are course guidelines made a few years ago and with a different text. Changing a class for a new text is major in itself, but going over content for which constant preparation is needed makes the task much more daunting. I have to make a decision whether to teach the Environmental Science class for juniors and seniors. Pray with me about this. I want to do what is good for the school, good for the students, and what is wise. That would be a different preparation for older students. While the Physical Science class will stress much more on skills for reading, note taking, making meaning, and vocabulary for major concepts, the Environmental Science class will have the expectation they are well beyond needing that level of direction. Here it would be a matter of facilitating learning they do with guidance in their research resources and direction in decision making as they cover materials. Should I teach both, there will e a great deal of reading to fill in my own background. A decision needs to be made fairly soon and I want to be sure to do His will. Thanks for your prayers.
I have to say that it has been nice to be "back to school" myself with the German and the idea of preparing and working with students to help them learn. Thank you for being a part of letting me come here to do this.
No comments:
Post a Comment