Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- Why should a student select German?
- Will students be able to practice their German skills outside the classroom?
- How many levels of German are there at La Habra High School?
- Is there a German Club at LHHS, and if so what do its members do?
- What is the German National Honor Society?
- What materials are recommended for your classes?
- How often do you assign homework?
- Can students earn extra credit points?
- When are your conference hours?
- What grade does a student need to move on to the next level?
- What are CPR points?
- What can I do as a parent to support my student?
- Does my student need a dictionary?
- How can my student get help on assignments?
- Are there any German Honors classes offered at LHHS?
- Are there any reference books that you recommend?
- What is the German National Exam?
Why should a student select German?
There are a number of reasons why German would be a good choice.
1) German and English are both Germanic languages which means
that they have many similarities (e.g. vocabulary and sentence
structure).
2) Over 120 million people speak German as their native language
- it is a global language!
3) At many colleges and universities, German is the language
required or recommended most often (more than French or Spanish).
4) The German language (e.g. Kindergarten) and many German traditions
(e.g. the Christmas tree or the Easter bunny) have greatly influenced
our culture.
5) Knowing German is a great advantage if you want a career in
business, science, technology, music and the tourist industry.
More than a thousand German companies do business in the U.S. and
specifically look for German-speaking employees.
6) Learning German at LHHS is fun and interesting! Among other
things, students will get a chance to do a variety of projects,
listen to German music, watch German movies, and work with
authentic materials from Germany. We also use technology like the
internet (to gather information from German websites) and the
Smart Board (for things like vocabulary review games).
Will students be able to practice their German skills outside the classroom?
Each year, I offer several opportunities for students to use
German outside of the classroom. This could be as simple as a
scavenger hunt or as complex as a weekend language camp. Please
check the "Announcements" and "Calendar pages" regularly for
information. The three main activities are:
* Language immersion camps: These are events outside of school
(e.g. Big Bear) where students have the opportunity to practice
their German skills in various fun-filled activities in an
authentic setting.
* Pen pal program: Students can improve their language skills by
writing or sending e-mails to a German teenager with similar
interests and find out more about the German culture.
* Student exchange program: Students from LHHS can host a German
exchange student for a few weeks in the spring and then possibly
visit them in Germany the following summer. This is a great way
to experience the German language and culture first-hand.
* There are also links to German websites on this website that
students can explore in order to learn more about the German
language and culture.
How many levels of German are there at La Habra High School?
La Habra High School is one of three high schools in the district
with a German Program. It is a comprehensive program that allows
students to select between beginning, intermediate and advanced
courses (German 1 - 4AP). Level 2 and 3 Honors courses are also
offered for qualified students. On all levels, emphasis is placed
on communnicative instruction. The overall goal is to develop
linguistic confidence and an understanding of the cultures of
German speaking countries. For more detailed course descriptions
please go to the "Teacher and Classes page".
Is there a German Club at LHHS, and if so what do its members do?
Along with its German Program, La Habra High School also has a
German Club. The advisor is Mrs. Picciotta. Enrollment in a
German class is not mandatory for joining the club. Club members
meet every other week during lunch in room 91. Activities
include: Oktoberfest, Adventsfest, Weihnachtsfeier, making
Gingerbread houses, selling Advent calendars(fundraiser), Easter
egg hunt, singing German songs, playing games and watching German
movies. For more information on the German Club please go to
the "German Club page".
What is the German National Honor Society?
Since February 2002, La Habra High School has had a chapter of
the National Honor Society for High School Students of German
(Delta Epsilon Phi). Students are eligible if they have completed
at least three semesters of German, and have attained an average
of 3.6 in German and a 3.0 general average in these three
semesters, on a 4.0 scale. Members of the society are inducted
and honored at a special ceremony in the spring and they
participate in different activites throughout the year. Seniors
have the opportunity to wear their German Honor Society cord and
tassel at graduation. All members have the chance to be nominated
for a scholarship for a four-week summer study trip to Germany.
For more information on Delta Epsilon Phi please go the "German
Honors Society page".
What materials are recommended for your classes?
The following materials are recommended:
* 3 ring hard sided binder for keeping handouts and notes
* lined paper
* pen (no red please)
* # 2 pencil
* index cards for vocabulary review
* German-English dictionary (level 3 and 4)
How often do you assign homework?
I usually assign homework about three times a week and almost
never on a Friday. Most assignments should not take more than
fifteen minutes on average, depending on the level and the
abilities of the individual student. Please check the "Homework
page" daily to see if your son or daughter has homework to do.
For more information on homework, please go to the "Classroom
Policies page".
Can students earn extra credit points?
Students who do not have any missing assignments can earn up to
50 extra credit points each semester. A list of choices is posted
in my classroom.
When are your conference hours?
My conference hour for the 2011/2012 school year is from 11:15 a.m.
to 12:10 p.m. Please make an appointment for an in-person conference
by calling (562)266-5252. You can also reach me via e-mail
(dpicciotta@fjuhsd.net).
What grade does a student need to move on to the next level?
A student needs to have a C or better at any level in order to
advance to the next level. A grade of A or B and/or teacher
recommendation is required to take German 2 or 3 Honors.
What are CPR points?
CPR stands for "Cultural Participation and Research" and it is a
required element in German 2 and 3 Honors. The assignments for
which students earn CPR points satisfy standards 1.3, 2.1, 2.2,
3.2 and 5.1.
CPR activities are an important aspect of the class because they
require the student to do some research about an aspect of the
German culture and then present it to the class. The students
will select a topic first and then ask me for approval before
they start their research. Possible topics are famous people,
history, sports, art, movies/music etc.
For a more detailed description please refer to your student's
CPR instructions handout.
What can I do as a parent to support my student?
The most important thing you can do is to stay involved. Talk to
your student frequently about what he or she is learning in class.
Make an effort to read all mail sent home by me and try to check
this website regularly for announcements (e.g. homework, projects,
important events). If you have any questions or concerns, please
feel free to contact me. I am dedicated to work together with you
to make this a successful experience for your son/daughter.
Does my student need a dictionary?
It is always helpful to have a dictionary at home in order to
look up unknown words. Dictionaries are not mandatory but
recommended in level 3 and 4 AP. There are many good dictionaries
on the market but I personally prefer Langenscheidt. Ask your local
book store sales-person for help or go on-line.
How can my student get help on assignments?
Students can always ask me for help in class, and if they need
more time, during break and at lunch. I recommend that they let
me know in advance if they would like to come in so that I am
available. Some of my level 3 Honors and 4 AP students are also
willing to tutor level 1 and 2 students.
Are there any German Honors classes offered at LHHS?
LHHS offers German 2 and 3 Honors classes. To be eligible,
students need to have earned a grade of A or B in the previous
course and/or a teacher recommendation.
Are there any reference books that you recommend?
Dictionnaries:
1) Langenscheidt's Standard German Dictionary
2) PONS Basiswörterbuch. Deutsch als Fremdsprache: Das
einsprachige Lerner-Wörterbuch. Stuttgart: Ernst Klett.
(This German-German dictionary is for advanced students
and will probably have to be ordered by your bookstore.)
Grammar:
Webster, Paul. The German Handbook: Your Guide to Speaking and
Writing German. Revised edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Vocabulary:
Langenscheidt: Basic German Vocabulary
German Culture:
Flippo, Hyde. When in Germany, Do as the Germans Do: The Clued-In
Guide to German Life, Language and Culture. Chicago: McGraw-
Hill.
What is the German National Exam?
Students in level 2-4 AP can take the German National Exam in
January each year and compete against other German students
throughout the U.S. for the chance to win a trip to Germany. The
exam covers the areas of listening, reading and grammar, and it
is an excellent preparation for some of the areas on the AP
German Language exam. In 2007, a student from LHHS was one of the
only 34 students nationwide to win a free trip. He later earned a
score of five on the AP exam.
