| Status: | Active, not currently accepting new members |
| Coordinator: | |
| When: | Fortnightly on Thursday afternoons 14:15-15:45 Usually fortnightly with breaks for holidays etc. |
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Aims
The aim of this group is to provide members with the opportunity to improve their skills in German so that they can engage in everyday conversation and write in German on everyday topics. The medium-term goal is for members to reach level B1 (Independent User) or above in the CEFR framework. For more information on CEFR please see The Council of Europe web site.
Membership
This group is intended for members who speak German to around “O” level standard or who have equivalent experience. It is not suitable for beginners.
Our Activities
The group is not following a formal training course and is not led by a tutor.
Our activities comprise language study at an individual level and within the group to
- revise grammar and vocabulary
- improve speaking skills through readings and conversation practice
- improve writing skills in German through translation, precis-writing and dictation exercises.
The material we use for individual study includes
- videos and podcasts
- grammar and vocabulary books
- books of short stories and scripted conversations. Some books used are parallel English / German texts, some with vocabulary lists
Considerable private study is required of each member to prepare for the meetings, which are currently held fortnightly. Private study includes
- reading the selected short story, conversational dialogue and/or other texts
- researching or revising a particular language topic
- preparing exercises and questions to ask at the meeting
- translating chosen texts from German to English and vice versa
- grammar and vocabulary revision
We work as a team. Tasks such as chairing the meetings and preparing questions etc. are shared around the group.
A Typical Meeting
Review the exercise on the selected grammar topic
Read the selected short story, conversational dialogue and/or other German text. This is followed by Q&A sessions in German about the material
Written dictation exercise in German
Conversation practice on pre-prepared topics
Reading List
| Author | Title | Publisher |
| Ed Swick | Practice makes Perfect: German Vocabulary | McGraw Hill 978-0-07-148285-1 |
| Ed Swick | German Grammar Drills | McGraw Hill 978-0-07-147514-3 |
| Brian Smith | Magic German | Amazon 979-8-40-324232-5 |
| Brian Smith | German Pre-Intermediate Reader – Super 1000 | Amazon 978-1-51-923538-1 |
| Brian Smith | German Intermediate Reader | Amazon 979-8-85-331939-4 |
| Brian Smith | German Intermediate Reader 2 – Winter Wonderland | Amazon 979-8-85-333617-9 |
| Brian Smith | German Intermediate Reader 3 – Bliss in Bavaria | Amazon 979-8-85-331840-3 |
| Lingo Mastery | Conversational German Dialogues | Lingo Mastery 978-1-09-618229-0 |
| Olly Richards | 101 Conversations in Simple German | Story Learning Press 978-1-91-419003-2 |
| Olly Richards | 101 Conversations in Intermediate German | Story Learning Press 978-1-91-419011-7 |
| Collins Easy Learning | Complete German- Grammar+Verbs+Vocabulary | Collins 978-0-00-814178-3 |
| Collins Easy Learning | German Grammar and Practice | Collins 978-0-00-814165-3 |
| Olly Richards and Alex Rawlings | Short Stories in German for Beginners | Teach Yourself 978-1-473-68337-2 |
| Olly Richards | Short Stories in German – Intermediate | Teach Yourself 978-1-529-36163-6 |
| Coffee Break Languages | 50 German Coffee Breaks | Teach Yourself 978-1-399-80242-0 |
Web Sites
Podcasts about life in German speaking countries. Spoken SLOWLY to make it easier to follow. Transcripts available in PDF form.. Other companion material on associated Youtube channel. Additional premium material is available on payment of a subscription.
https://www.youtube.com/yourgermanteacher
CEFR graded videos on grammar and vocabulary topics. Additional material is available on companion sites on payment of a subscription.
Forthcoming Meetings
Past Meetings
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