MN AATG Fall Meeting -- two engaging professional development seminars

Please join us at the

MN AATG Fall Meeting

for two engaging professional development seminars and

a great networking opportunity.

 

Time and place:

Saturday, September 27, 2014

9 am to 3 pm

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, OEC 317

 

Workshops (will be offered consecutively):

Werbung für Deutsch (K-16)

In this workshop, participants will learn about strategies, best practices and ideas to advertise and strengthen their German programs. The presenter Anja Schmitt will also explain the role of the Deutschberater in USA and the Goethe-Institut’s current advertising campaign “Just add German”. Participants will receive material.

 

Writing at all levels (K-16)

The second seminar focuses on various forms of writings for all levels and their integration into the foreign language curriculum. Creative writing assignments will be introduced and explored that may be used in your classrooms the following week. Participants will receive material.

 

Presenter:

Anja Schmitt, M.A.

Anja Schmitt is an Expertin für Unterricht (ExU) and Beraterin für Deutschunterricht (BDU) at the Goethe-Institut Chicago. She supports German teachers in the states of the Upper Midwest. Anja has a degree from the Universität des Saarlandes (Saarbrücken) in German and French and has extensive experience in German schools and universities in the area of linguistics and German as a foreign language.

 

Cost: 10 $ Breakfast and Lunch included.

Please make check out to MN AATG and send to:

Jana Velo

4041 Oakland Avenue

MPLS, MN 55407

 

If you decide to pay at the door, please RSVP to immueller@stcloudstate.edu.

 

Please share with colleagues & friends in the profession.

Give a conference talk here in Minnesota! Deadline for proposals in one week away.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS -- FALL CONFERENCE 2014

Diversity, Equity, & World Languages: Empowering Teachers for Change

Do you have a passion for teaching diverse learners? Do you have experience helping all of your students succeed? MCTLC would like to invite you to share your knowledge and strategies with other language teachers from around the state. Proposals are now being accepted for one-hour sessions at the 2014 Fall Conference on Friday, October 24th as well as three-hour post conference workshops on Saturday, October 25th. Preference will be given to sessions and workshops that address the conference theme, but proposals addressing any topic of interest and value to world language educators will be considered.

The Call for Proposals will remain open until Tuesday, April 1.  The primary presenter will receive notification of proposal acceptance by May 15 via email from President-Elect Kay Edberg with further instructions to register for the conference with their exclusive presenter discount code. The primary presenter serves as our contact person and is responsible for distributing all instructions to their co-presenters. Presenters and co-presenters agree to register by July 1; sessions of unregistered presenters will not be included in the program.

Our conference depends on Minnesota language professionals' talents and willingness to share them. We commend and thank you for stepping forward.

Complete the form below or click here for the link.

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Our mission is to advance the teaching of languages and cultures in Minnesota.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

www.mctlc.org

Great Opportunities to Present a Talk -- Deadline April 15, 2014 -- Get Involved in State Activities!

Thank you, Anita Ratwik, for the following:

Central States Conference (on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) i.e. CSCTFL, will be in Minneapolis March 12- 14, 2015. 

It is co-sponsored by MCTLC. CSC is one of the five regional organizations of ACTFL. CSC's web address is www.CSCTFL.org 

We especially want to have sessions for German teachers and to have good attendance by world language teachers in Minnesota. This conference includes 17 states, and we expect close to 1000 participants. All right in our own backyard!

Please consider presenting a session. The website for proposals is http://www.web-reg.com/csc-prop/

The deadline for submission is April 15, 2014.  You can even do one presentation at the MCTLC conference in October 2014 and use the same one for CSC 2015 the following March!

This conference will also require many volunteers from Minnesota. I will send out information as that time comes closer. Please consider volunteering. It is one of the best ways to get to know other language teachers and networking. Participants and presenters to CSC come from all 17 CSC members states, plus many additional states.

This year's CSC conference is in St Louis, MO, March 20-22, 2014. In preparation for CSC 2015, we are responsible for an exhibit booth at this year's conference. We need volunteers to help staff that booth. If any of you will be at CSC 2014 in St Louis, please consider helping staff that booth for a couple of hours. No need to bring anything, but a smile and energy to talk with perspective attendees who might also want information about Minneapolis and Minnesota.

If you are willing, please contact Anita Ratwik, at ratwi001@umn.edu 

Lots to think about, many opportunities.

Thank you.

Anita Ratwik

CSCTFL 2015 Local Liaison

Thank you Mark for maintaining this list for us.

National German Exam Can Be Administered until February 5

National German Exam Update
In light of the numerous recent school closures due to inclement weather across the US, the National German Exam Administration Period has been extended! The last day to administer the National German Exam is now Wednesday, February 5, 2014.    Contact AATG if you have any questions.   Greetings,   Keith Cothrun Executive Director

From Anita Ratwik: K-6 Curriculum Materials Available

Dr. Paul Garcia, who was responsible for starting and building all the world language immersion schools in Kansas City, including the German immersion school, has sent me the entire curriculum they developed for the K-6 German immersion school, about 10 inches of papers. It is not new, but there are still things that could be very useful to someone willing to go through it. 
     Paul also taught the pre-service classes for world language teachers at university in Kansas for many years, and in FLorida after that. He was president of ACTFL and very active in AATG. He is still a voice in our profession.
     I am hoping that someone is willing to look these papers over, use what they can and recycle what they can't.
     We could exchange them Friday at MCTLC or they can be picked up from my home. I would drop them off, if you don't live too far from me.
     Anyone interested, please contact me before Friday. Thank you

Anita Ratwik

ratwi001@umn.edu
651-222-8350

 

CARLA Summer Institutes -- Register Now

	Please Post/DistributeNews about Second Language Education and Research Activities at the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition.
	Professional Development Opportunities CARLA Summer Institutes 2013 Don’t Miss the Early Bird Deadline: May 31! Join the more than 4,000 language teachers who have chosen the CARLA summer institute program for their professional development. Select from a wide variety of topics that are designed to link research with practical classroom applications designed especially for immersion teachers and language teachers. Also check out the unique Advanced Practices in Second Language Teaching certificate offered in conjunction with the institutes. Summer Institutes for Language Teachers These institutes are targeted at foreign language and ESL/EFL teachers at all levels: Using the Web for Communicative Language Learning and Professional Development—online course July 8–August 11, 2013 Using Technology in Second Language Teaching   Nearly FULL! July 15–19, 2013 Developing Materials     for LCTLs has a       $100 discount            available! Content-Based Language Instruction and Curriculum Development July 15–19, 2013 Developing Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) July 15–19, 2013 Culture as the Core in the Second Language Classroom  Nearly FULL! July 22–26, 2013  Focusing on Learner Language: Second Language Acquisition Basics for Teachers July 22–26, 2013 Improving Language Learning: Styles- and Strategies-Based Instruction July 29–August 2, 2013 Developing Assessments for the Second Language Classroom   Nearly FULL! July 29–August 2, 2013 Summer Institutes for Immersion Teachers CARLA also offers three popular institutes that are designed specifically for immersion educators: Immersion 101: An Introduction to Immersion Teaching for Chinese and Japanese June 24–28, 2013 Immersion 101: An Introduction to Immersion Teaching  FULL! July 22–26, 2013 Meeting the Challenges of Immersion Education: Biliteracy Development in Dual Language/Immersion Classrooms  FULL! July 29-August 2, 2013 Information Detailed information: http://www.carla.umn.edu/institutes Register: http://www.carla.umn.edu/institutes/registration.html Questions? Email us at: carla@umn.edu Advanced Practices in Second Language Teaching Certificate This certificate offered by the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development provides an exciting opportunity for teachers of foreign languages and English as a second/foreign language to showcase their professional development work through the CARLA summer institute program by taking the institutes for graduate level credit. More information about the courses needed to obtain the certificate, admission criteria, and application materials can be found on the web at: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/ci/Future/Certificates/Advanced-slt.html

Online 5-Minute Survey: Your Use of Technology in Teaching Languages to K-12 Students

From Lee Abraham (Columbia University) and Lawrence Williams (University of North Texas):

___________________________

Dear K-12 Language Teachers,

We are writing to ask for your participation in a survey about technology and foreign language teaching.  

This is a very brief online survey for K-12 foreign language teachers, and it will take less than 5 minutes of your time.    We would really appreciate your help with this research project, and we will gladly share the results with all participants who provide their e-mail address in the online survey, which can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

https://unt.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4P0JOW4aMSs5jNj

Thank you,

Lee B. Abraham

Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures Columbia University

The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival Offers 14 German Films in April

Minneapolis, MN (February 19, 2013) – The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, presented by The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, will return to five screens of the St. Anthony Main Theatre April 11 through 28. The Festival will screen some 200 international independent feature length and short films representing over 60 countries in an array of new and returning programs and will feature visits from prominent international filmmakers and celebrities and a host of galas, events, parties, and panel discussions.

  

Check out this website for show times and tickets for German films in April: http://www.mspfilmfest.org/MMXIII/countryregion/germany    

Germany

    Museum Hours

The New York–based artist Jem Cohen has created a distinctive yet diverse body of work and ranges from music videos for the bands Fugazi and R.E.M. to installations, narrative features, and documentaries. With his latest feature, Museum Hours, Cohen makes a major leap into what he calls the “in-between” film, a genre that straddles the modes of drama and personal essay.

   Lessons of Darkness

A haunting meditation on the aftermath of modern warfare, Lessons of Darkness is set amidst the blazing oil fields of Kuwait at the end of the first Gulf War. Herzog reimagines the scene using a science-fiction scenario crafted from a mix of his inimitable voiceover narrations, passages of classical music, and stunning aerial footage of this otherworldly setting.

  In the Fog

Up for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and filled with twists and turns, In The Fog is at its core a tale of one honest man trapped in an unjust world. Sushenya, a tortured soul in occupied USSR, is accused of a crime he didn’t commit and a secret collaboration that never took place. An entire town becomes suspicious of Sushenya, after he is inexplicably spared from execution for sabotaging a rail line.

  Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods

It’s not easy being the son of a Viking chief. Gifted with brains but not brawn, Wickie’s not sure he’ll ever feel like a ‘real Viking’. But when his father is kidnapped by Sven the Terrible, Wickie gets his chance. Sailing his crew to the Cape of Fear, Wickie is determined to rescue his father and to follow the runes of a mysterious book leading to the Palace of Eternal Ice, and the Treasure of the Gods. The Mighty Vikings venture to the legendary locale where powerful riddles protect the treasure.

   Polluting Paradise (Der Müll Im Garten Eden)

German-Turkish director Fatih Akin returns to his grandparents’ hometown, Çamburnu, to find the Turkish government has turned the neighboring area into a giant provincial landfill. Akin interviews locals and collects hundreds of photos over five years, documenting the impact this ecological mess has had on a Black Sea community that depends so heavily on fishing and tea leaf harvests for its livelihood. Polluting Paradise is a heartbreaking documentary that perfectly illustrates globalization’s dangerous side effects.

  Crocodiles: All for One

They’re back! Catch up with the latest adventure of the coolest gang, the Crocodiles! The final film in the multi-award-winning trilogy (based on Max von der Grun’s popular 1977 book) ups the ante with awesome new headquarters, high speed go kart action, and an ingenious (and crazy) life-saving rescue. Fans of this series won’t be disappointed--adorable Hannes and his scruffy gang meet every challenge in the name of loyalty to each other and The Crocodiles!

  Weekend, The

Jens Kessler, an RAF fighter who recently was released from prison after serving an 18-year sentence, attempts to spend his first free weekend reconnecting with family and friends. But the homecoming celebration is abruptly cut short. Attending the party is Jens’ former lover, Inga and her husband, who together rekindle his earlier aggressive passions, and start him on a hunt for the person who first turned him in to the police. The Weekend is a tense, morally-complex thriller with a not-to be missed finale.

 

   Watchtower

After a tragic accident he’d just as soon forget, Nihat takes a post at a forest watchtower, where he meets a student who’s also on the run from a dark past. Over time the two become close, only to have their histories threaten to tear them apart. Through vivid character study, this slow burner from Pelin Esmer (10 to 11) observes the myriad challenges faced by a country unsure of its place in the world.

 

   Wall, The

This eerie, existential drama based on the German bestseller follows a middle-aged woman and her dog who, during a short mountain getaway, become trapped by an invisible force field and have to fend for themselves. Martina Gedeck (The Lives of Others) puts in a brilliant performance as the isolated protagonist struggling for both answers and survival. As months go by, she settles into her new life, until an unexpected visit turns her world upside down

   Hannah Arendt   Filmmaker Invited

An utterly relatable, yet complex story, Hannah Arendt is a fictionalized take on the life of the famous political theorist. Starting from her coverage of the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, we see the uphill battle Arendt faced from friends and foe alike. Director Margarethe von Trotta does the unimaginable in presenting Arendt’s story in a way that moves us all, without reducing the weight of her words.

 

  Deflowering of Eva Van End, The

Teenage Eva Van End is having a hard time fitting in both at school and with her family—who are all just struggling in general—when she agrees to let a German exchange student stay with her family. When the handsome, charming Veit arrives at the house, he does his best to turn things around for the Van Ends, much to their chagrin. Simultaneously funny and tear-jerking, the Van End’s are, at times, nearly impossible to stomach, but always easy to appreciate.

 

 Kuma

Fatma is a middle-aged housewife with six children.  She lives in Vienna but still practices all her Turkish homeland’s traditions. She has been diagnosed with cancer and fears for her family’s future if the treatment does work.

  Tutti Giù

Jullo, Edo and Chiara: three adolescents like thousands of others. Three teenagers whose lives are sport. Jullo “is” his skateboard; Chiara conquers the world on skis; Edo a sprayer. One day Jullo, Chiara and Edo suddenly discover their own lives, each in their own way. Fears, dreams, surprises, loneliness, uncertainty, expectations, impermanence, imbalance. Then one moment, one second, one “click.” A click, after which they rediscover themselves, which leads to adulthood – or unsparingly carries them away.

From Anne Grossardt at GAI -- Panel Discussion about East German life on April 18th.

The Germanic-American Institute is hosting a panel discussion about East German life on April 18th.  While it is an evening event, it may be of interest to German teachers in the area as an extra-curricular activity, extra credit opportunity, or field trip for their students.  

 

Kulturakademie: History & Life in the DDR

Thursday, April 18, 7-8:30pm
301 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul

Free for students and GAI members,
$10 non-members 

If Good Bye, Lenin! has taught you everything you know about the DDR, join panelists Babett Larimer, Nicol Philips, and Thomas Rauer for a discussion about their experiences of daily life in East Germany, living under the Stasi, and what the transition was like after Germany reunited.

This is our last session of Kulturakademie for the spring, and it's sure to be a hit!  Please contact the GAI office at office@gai-mn.org or 651-222-7027, ext. 1 with any questions.  We are also accepting question suggestions for our moderator in advance if your students have any they would like to submit.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Anne Grossardt

Language Services Coordinator

agrossardt@gai-mn.org

Tel: 651-222-2979
Fax: 651-222-6295

301 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102

African-Americans with German Connections

Thank you Anita Ratwik for this important contribution.
http://www.aatg.org/files/African-Americans-with-German-Connections.pdf