Herr Curtis möchte Sie alle Willkommen heißen. Welcome to German – the language of genius, creativity and fun. This year you’ll be embarking on a journey that will open your eyes not only to new words and new worlds, but also to new ways of thinking. Yes, we will be focusing mainly on the German language and its structures, but also on the German speaking world and what affects it, as well as how events in the German speaking world affect the rest of us. You will be using 2 different textbooks as your guide, and along the way you will meet Der Große Muzzy, a lovable monster. Learning materials include videos, tapes, songs, slides and guest speakers. And, of course, we will make a trip to the Rheinländer restaurant and Edelweiß Deli in Portland.

Budget and Printing

Due to budget cuts I will only be able to make a very few  copies this year. If your family would like to help make it possible to print enough copies for everyone, or at least print quizzes and tests that you can write on, simply make out a check to CHS/Ed Curtis Copying Fund and take it (or mail it) to Donna in the main office.

If you have access to the Internet you can really make things easier. .  Assignments can be downloaded from this website by clicking on your class and then on Assignments. If you don't have internet access I will print a copy for you, but only one copy - don't lose it. In any case, be prepared to copy things from the board and from the overhead projector this year. If I give you a copy of an assignment or handout in class, it will be your only copy. I will not give you another. You will have to Xerox a friend's copy

Classroom Procedures

• Be ready to learn. Come to class and be on time. We will adhere strictly to the school’s attendance and tardy policies.
• Have your class materials with you each day. These include:

>A 3 ring binder, paper and a zip lock back to hold your tapes, vocabulary flashcards, etc.

>Your textbook, which you treat with real care.

>A pen and sharpened pencil.

>2 new 60 minute cassettes (Maxell or TDK – not SONY, or an off brand) with your name clearly printed on them. (Bookroom has them for 75 cents each).  Our lab days are Monday and Wednesday during the first half of class.  Remember to have your tapes with you.  They should be in your zip lock bag at all times.

>One IBM formatted computer disk (3.5) with your name printed on it.

• Always do your best.

>Pay attention and work at the assigned task.

>Excessive use of the English language in the German class interferes with your progress, as well as with your classmate's.

>NO GUM, FOOD OR DRINK IN THE LAB!!

>NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE CLASSROOM (UNLESS PART OF  A CLASS ACTIVITY)!!  tHIS IS A SCHOOL-WIDE POLICY THIS YEAR!!

• Be respektvoll (respectful) of yourself, your classmates, your teacher and of the school rules.
• Be stützend (supportive) of yourself, your classmates and your teacher
• Be hilfsbereit (helpful) with your parents, your teacher, with your participation

You may choose your own seat, but I encourage you to change often to get to know your classmates better. I will assign your co-workers when you are involved in a group activity. I may change seating arrangements at any time, if I feel it benefits individual students or the entire class.  Seating in the language lab will be assigned by me.

Homework is due on the date assigned. If you are absent (excused) you may have 48 hours to make the work up. In cases of extended illness this deadline is flexible. If the absence is unexcused you will receive no credit and may not make up the assignment, quiz, test or activity. We will correct homework in class. It will then be collected and returned to you the next day.

If you do have access to the internet you may download and print your assignments at home.  You may also copy the assignment and past it into your word processing program (WORD 97 or lower preferably).  You could then use the keyboard to fill in all of the answers and simply E Mail your homework to me as an attachment.  That all sounds a bit complicated, but one students did it last year, and it worked pretty well.

If you do not have access to the internet, but do have a computer with WORD 97 (IBM compatible), you could bring two 3.5" diskettes to class. Leave 1 with me to put assignments on for the next day, take the other home with you each day with the assignment for the next day already copied on to it.

If you do not have access to the internet and do not have a computer, I will copy the assignments for you.

Attendance and Participation

Our class is activity based and requires your participation and daily attendance. These activities lead to a more rapid acquisition of the language. You will receive a participation grade for daily activities. Therefore, if you are absent (excused) you need to complete the missed activity in order to earn participation points for that day. This may require you to seek our other students who also missed the activity, or a class member who is willing to repeat the activity. Under some limited circumstances you might arrange for a substitute activity. I am very flexible on this. In fact, I may serve as your partner, if one is needed. However, you must make up the activities you miss.

It is difficult to make up work on your own when you have missed a second language class. Each day you are in class you are practicing pronunciation, oral proficiency, listening comprehension – these are skills that require your presence in the classroom. You should be here whenever possible. If you are absent you may make up work for full credit if your absence is excused. If your absence is not excused, you may not make it up. Late work up to 2 days will be accepted for half credit. Credit in this class will be denied upon accumulation of 10 unexcused absences (1/9th of the class meeting dates). .

Your grade in German reflects:

> homework

> class participation

> lab activities

> tests, quizzes

> oral and written projects

The following grading scale will be used for all tests and quizzes and determining final grades.  There is never a curve.

90 - 100 A Outstanding achievement

80 – 89 B Very good achievement

70 – 79 C Satisfactory achievement

60 – 69 D Unsatisfactory achievement

Below 60 F Totally unsatisfactory achievement

Arrangements must be made within the first 2 weeks of school for a Pass/No Pass grade.

German Club meets every 2 weeks and is an extension of what we do in class. Films, trips to German restaurants, bowling against the Math and Computer Clubs (serious business), parties, guest speakers and slide presentations are all part of what we do. Consider getting involved. The first trip to the Rheinländer restaurant will be in September..

Class Participation:  Each week you will receive 40 points based on your participation in class. I will evaluate your participation and give you a score. However, you must be honest and sincere in assessing your own participation. BE AWARE!!! - If your assessment is more than 10 points different than mine, you will receive only my score. Your class participation grade will be based on the following factors.  CLICK ON THE WORDS CLASS PARTICIPATION TO SEE THE SCORING GUIDE.

Parents:  Please sign the form below to indicate that you are familiar with the class policies and procedures, and that your son/daughter has read this form and is aware of these policies and procedures.  Returning this form is an assignment and is worth 20 points.

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I have read and am aware of the class policies and procedures for German.