(In person) Complete Beginner German Wednesday 6:00pm to 7:00pm PST (January 15th to February 19th) The class size is 3-6 students. Instructor: Carolyn
This class will meet in-person from January 15th to February 19th.
The minimum number of students required per class is three. If only two students enroll, the class will still run but will be shortened to five weeks instead of the usual six.
About the instructor: Carolyn holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in German from UC Berkeley and a B.Mus. (Bachelor of Music) from McGill University. Her research in the German Department at UC Berkeley focused on the development of German noun inflection since 1350, and, more generally, on frequency effects in language change. Before moving to Berkeley in 2006, she spent two years in Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany, studying German and Scandinavian Linguistics and Literature at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität and exploring the Black Forest. She has been teaching German continuously since 2008 at various institutions in the Bay Area, including UC Berkeley, the German School of Fremont, the Bay Area Kinderstube (BAKS+, an after-school full immersion program for children who speak German at home), and, of course, PLA (since 2019), and has worked with both children and adults at all levels of proficiency. She has also taught English — both ESL/EFL and composition classes for native speakers — and has done a fair amount of proofreading and translating. Since 2018, she has held a part-time position at McGraw Hill Higher Education in the World Languages department, where her duties include creating and editing online activities to accompany McGraw Hill’s many college language textbooks. When she’s not teaching or tinkering with language textbooks, she enjoys taking long walks in the Berkeley hills, singing, playing the piano, watching German detective series, and making things out of yarn.
Complete Beginner German is designed for those with no prior knowledge of German or only limited exposure. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the basics of the language, including essential vocabulary, foundational grammar, and practical communication skills. From day one, you'll start building your ability to speak and understand German in an engaging and supportive environment.
The course emphasizes developing oral comprehension and speaking skills through interactive exercises and group activities. You will have plenty of opportunities to practice listening to and using German in real-life scenarios, such as introducing yourself, talking about your hobbies, and navigating everyday situations. These practical exercises are designed to help you build confidence in your pronunciation, intonation, and overall language use.
Grammar is introduced in an approachable way, focusing on concepts that are immediately applicable. Topics such as verb conjugation, basic word order, and simple sentence construction will be covered step by step, ensuring you can understand and use them effectively. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to hold basic conversations in German, ask for directions, order food, and engage in small talk, making this the perfect starting point for your German language journey.
Course Book:Robert Di Donato, Monica D. Clyde and Jacqueline Vansant. Deutsch: Na klar! An Introductory German Course. Fifth Edition. ISBN: 978-0-07-353532-6
This class will meet in-person from January 15th to February 19th.
The minimum number of students required per class is three. If only two students enroll, the class will still run but will be shortened to five weeks instead of the usual six.
About the instructor: Carolyn holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in German from UC Berkeley and a B.Mus. (Bachelor of Music) from McGill University. Her research in the German Department at UC Berkeley focused on the development of German noun inflection since 1350, and, more generally, on frequency effects in language change. Before moving to Berkeley in 2006, she spent two years in Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany, studying German and Scandinavian Linguistics and Literature at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität and exploring the Black Forest. She has been teaching German continuously since 2008 at various institutions in the Bay Area, including UC Berkeley, the German School of Fremont, the Bay Area Kinderstube (BAKS+, an after-school full immersion program for children who speak German at home), and, of course, PLA (since 2019), and has worked with both children and adults at all levels of proficiency. She has also taught English — both ESL/EFL and composition classes for native speakers — and has done a fair amount of proofreading and translating. Since 2018, she has held a part-time position at McGraw Hill Higher Education in the World Languages department, where her duties include creating and editing online activities to accompany McGraw Hill’s many college language textbooks. When she’s not teaching or tinkering with language textbooks, she enjoys taking long walks in the Berkeley hills, singing, playing the piano, watching German detective series, and making things out of yarn.
Complete Beginner German is designed for those with no prior knowledge of German or only limited exposure. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the basics of the language, including essential vocabulary, foundational grammar, and practical communication skills. From day one, you'll start building your ability to speak and understand German in an engaging and supportive environment.
The course emphasizes developing oral comprehension and speaking skills through interactive exercises and group activities. You will have plenty of opportunities to practice listening to and using German in real-life scenarios, such as introducing yourself, talking about your hobbies, and navigating everyday situations. These practical exercises are designed to help you build confidence in your pronunciation, intonation, and overall language use.
Grammar is introduced in an approachable way, focusing on concepts that are immediately applicable. Topics such as verb conjugation, basic word order, and simple sentence construction will be covered step by step, ensuring you can understand and use them effectively. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to hold basic conversations in German, ask for directions, order food, and engage in small talk, making this the perfect starting point for your German language journey.
Course Book:Robert Di Donato, Monica D. Clyde and Jacqueline Vansant. Deutsch: Na klar! An Introductory German Course. Fifth Edition. ISBN: 978-0-07-353532-6
This class will meet in-person from January 15th to February 19th.
The minimum number of students required per class is three. If only two students enroll, the class will still run but will be shortened to five weeks instead of the usual six.
About the instructor: Carolyn holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in German from UC Berkeley and a B.Mus. (Bachelor of Music) from McGill University. Her research in the German Department at UC Berkeley focused on the development of German noun inflection since 1350, and, more generally, on frequency effects in language change. Before moving to Berkeley in 2006, she spent two years in Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany, studying German and Scandinavian Linguistics and Literature at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität and exploring the Black Forest. She has been teaching German continuously since 2008 at various institutions in the Bay Area, including UC Berkeley, the German School of Fremont, the Bay Area Kinderstube (BAKS+, an after-school full immersion program for children who speak German at home), and, of course, PLA (since 2019), and has worked with both children and adults at all levels of proficiency. She has also taught English — both ESL/EFL and composition classes for native speakers — and has done a fair amount of proofreading and translating. Since 2018, she has held a part-time position at McGraw Hill Higher Education in the World Languages department, where her duties include creating and editing online activities to accompany McGraw Hill’s many college language textbooks. When she’s not teaching or tinkering with language textbooks, she enjoys taking long walks in the Berkeley hills, singing, playing the piano, watching German detective series, and making things out of yarn.
Complete Beginner German is designed for those with no prior knowledge of German or only limited exposure. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the basics of the language, including essential vocabulary, foundational grammar, and practical communication skills. From day one, you'll start building your ability to speak and understand German in an engaging and supportive environment.
The course emphasizes developing oral comprehension and speaking skills through interactive exercises and group activities. You will have plenty of opportunities to practice listening to and using German in real-life scenarios, such as introducing yourself, talking about your hobbies, and navigating everyday situations. These practical exercises are designed to help you build confidence in your pronunciation, intonation, and overall language use.
Grammar is introduced in an approachable way, focusing on concepts that are immediately applicable. Topics such as verb conjugation, basic word order, and simple sentence construction will be covered step by step, ensuring you can understand and use them effectively. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to hold basic conversations in German, ask for directions, order food, and engage in small talk, making this the perfect starting point for your German language journey.
Course Book:Robert Di Donato, Monica D. Clyde and Jacqueline Vansant. Deutsch: Na klar! An Introductory German Course. Fifth Edition. ISBN: 978-0-07-353532-6