Ideas for Teaching German
German is the official language of Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. It is also one of the most widely used languages in the world and used internationally for business, research publications and tourism. Learning German is advantageous to any person who is willing to learn it. German can be taught in many ways through creative resources.
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Movies
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German movies can be a useful tool for teaching. When choosing a movie, take into consideration the age of your students. "Run Lola Run," or "Lola Rennt" in German, is a contemporary German movie about how a woman needs to find 100,000 Deutschmarks and bring it to her boyfriend quickly before he robs a supermarket. This movie can appeal to younger audiences and is full of numerical situations that help students in learning numbers and time in German. If you want something with historical inclinations, a movie such as the 1972 film "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" or "Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes" by German director Werner Herzog is a good choice. It is about a man's expedition in search of the fabled El Dorado.
Language Lessons and Music
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Letting your students listen to German language lessons and songs is also an effective way to teach them the German language anywhere they are. The Internet offers many sites that allow you to download lessons for free. Leicht Deutsch Lernen, or Learn German Easily, is one such site that has basic language exercises, grammar lessons and more. Another site that offers free lessons is BYKI which allows you to download their BYKI Express software. Another way to teach students is to let them hear popular and well-loved musicals such as "The Sound of Music" in German. Since most people would already know the lyrics by heart, it would be easier for them to grasp the German translation. The website About German has many songs from the musical translated into German for learners to view.
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Social Networking
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Social Network sites such as Facebook can be useful in learning the German language. Students can search for same-aged native German speakers and interact with them. Encourage your students to discuss relevant issues like culture, history and current affairs. Allow them to chat with their German friends and exchange ideas. Their German counterpart can have the benefit of learning the English language as well.
Visit German Places
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Although a trip to Germany or Austria would be the ideal thing to do, most schools do not have the funds for this. Instead, why not look for local places wherein German may be spoken such as German restaurants. Taking a look at their menu can already teaches students some words and numbers in German. Going to these places provides a feel of German culture. Other ideal places to visitare museums and German organizations such as the Goethe Institut, which has a branch in Manhattan, New York. This organization supports the German culture with its many educational and cultural events.
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