German Language Update

Hello to all the parents of the 2008-2009 school year! I have been very fortunate to work with such a great group of  preschooler's and kindergarteners this year! The children have been really excited about learning German this year and I am honestly surprised at how quickly and receptively they are learning this language. German is a very difficult language to learn, especially for adults, but learning a foreign language will greatly benefit them in the future. I was born in Southern Germany, and German was my native language; German was also one of my majors in college.

This year, I have geared my lessons in a "fun" direction for the children (that is what works best for my kids!). I do not believe that they could otherwise learn effectively, unless they were captivated by the language. Therefore, I am putting music into the program. The children have also been introduced to all of the colors in German. While some children might know all of the colors, others will struggle with them, naturally. However, progress is being made and the children are learning the differences between colors. I try to correlate my colors and animals with what the children will be learning in school for the week.

It is important for the children to have reinforcement with their German colors and phrases at home, if possible. That is why I will provide parents with the pronunciation of what we have learned in school. Below are some words and phrases we have worked on in addition to the song and colors.

Thank you!
Ms. Julia

"The children are now practicing their songs to sing in German for Graduation" 

We are in the process of reviewing our words, colors
and phrases we have learned so far this year in German. :-)

"We are practicing our German for Graduation!"

Previous Words of the Week:

Sunflower: Sonnenblume
Pronounced "Zonen-bloom-eh"

Plant: Pflanze
Pronounced "Flan-zeh"

Carrot: Karotte
Pronounced "Car-oh-teh"

Fruit: Gemuse
Pronounced "Geh-moo-zeh"

Two: Zwei
Pronounced "Tsveye"

One: Eins
Pronounced "Eye-nz"

Pants: Hose
Pronounced "Hoh-zeh"

Hat: Hut
Pronounced "Hoot"

Thank you: Danke Shone!
Pronounced: "Dunkeh Shun"

Thanks: Danke
Pronounced: "Dunkeh"

Big and Small: Gross und Klein
Pronounced: "Gross und Kline"

Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas
Pronounced: "froweh-vine-nah-ten"

I am hungry: Ich habe Hunger
Pronounced: "ech habeh hungeh"

Thanksgiving: Erntedank Fest
Pronounced: "Ante-dunk-fest"

Help Me Please: Hilf Mir Bitte
Pronounced: "hill-f  Me-ah Bitt-eh"

Black Shoes: Schwarze Schuhe
Pronounced: "Shvarzeh Shoeh"

 Green Socks: Gruene Socken
Pronounced: "Grewneh soaken"

Eyes: Augen
Pronounced: "Awgain"

Nose: Nase
Pronounced: "Naseh"

Orange Pizza: Orange Pizza
Pronounced: "Orangeh Pizza"

Blue Bike: Blaues Fahrrad
Pronounced: "Blauwes fahrrat"

Red Apple: Roten Apfel
Pronounced: "Rotin upfill"

Brown Owl: Braune Eule
Pronounced: "browneh oileh"

Yellow Cat: Gelbe Katze
Pronounced: "gelbeh catzeh"