Introduction

Lesson 1

Learning Intentions

After this session you will be able to:• name and locate the countries where German is

spoken• say the German alphabet• learn the German/English cognates• talk about Germany in general

Where is Germany?

1. Using an Atlas, locate Germany and the German-speaking countries, major cities, rivers and lakes. Map Activity

2. Explore Germany using Google Earth

Quick facts about Germany

Population82,490,000CapitalBerlin; 3,327,000 Germany’s larges cityArea357,022 square kilometersLanguageGermanReligionProtestant, Roman CatholicLife Expectancy78Literacy Percent99

National Anthem

The national anthem is the third verse of the Deutschlandlied (Song of Germany). The music was composed in 1797 and the words were written in 1841. The song became the German national anthem in 1922.

Currency

The unit of currency in Germany is the euro. It replaced the Deutsche Mark in February 2002. One euro is dividedd into 100 cents. Bank notes are available in: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, and coins in 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Car Registration

In Germany you drive on the right-hand side of the road, so the steering wheel is on the left. By looking at the registration number of a car, you can tell which part of Germany a car comes from. The first letter will tell you where the car is registered, for example F stands for Frankfurt.

Climate

Germany has a mild climate. Winter fogs and cloudy days are common in the north. Further south, the summers are warmer and the winters colder. South of the central highlands, mountain peaks are usually snowcapped all winter. There is moderate rainfall throughout the country in all seasons

The German Alphabeta b c d e

f g h i j

k l m n o

p q r s t

u v w x y

z

Alphabet Soundsa-ah b-bé c-tsé d-dé e-é

f-eff g-ghé h-hah i-ee j-yot

K-kah l-ell m-emm n-enn o-o

p-pé q-kuh r-air s-ess t-té

u-uh(oo) v-fau w-vé x-iks

y-üpsilon z-tset

Alphabet Activities

• Join the Dots

• Alphabet Coordinates

Pip Teaches German

Cognates

Cognates are words that are English look-alikes

In groups of three build the tangram with cognates on it.

Examples:

Telefon = telephone

Maus = mouse

Karotte = carrot

Culture Alert

1. While watching the following video clip, complete the Venn diagram.

Germany New Zealand

Homework

Design a title page for your German Book.Include some information and aspects of the German culture.You must have a title, maps, border, pictures and lost of colour.