German textbooks have grown too large and too diverse in emphasis, inhibiting the promotion and maintenance of German beyond the first college semester of language study and destroying author and publisher initiative to produce books for any level higher than the elementary level. (Author/CB)

It is argued that teaching is much like performance art: teachers are inevitably identified with what they represent. For German teachers, this involves self-reflective engagement with the material at hand. (Author/LB)

Focuses on Paul Maar's "Eine Woche voller Samstage," a children's novel revolving around the humorous and disruptive antics of the creature "Sams," and discusses its employment in the classroom as an opportunity to learn German and examine the role of language in the constitution of social, political, and cultural forms. (Author/VWL)

Highlights the use of novice-level books produced from or for the Internet in the beginning level German as a foreign language classroom. Such books can be used for pleasure reading, for learning content, and for the development of vocabulary. Techniques for such use are provided. (Author/VWL)

While students are struggling with the basic concepts of learning a second language, they are not likely to be intrigued by the language as the key to literature. In the first two years of language study, the amount of material being studied and the focus on language acquisition are such that film can be accommodated as an outside activity…

Discusses problems connected with grammar presentation in elementary German textbooks, focusing especially on the still widespread use of paradigms and on terminological inadequacies. Suggests some simplifying formulas to collapse and summarize the morphological system of German for descriptive and pedagogical purposes. (MES)

The introduction to German adjective endings provided in most current college textbooks is seen as inadequate and contributing to the myth that endings are unapproachable. Students should be able to cope with an early introduction if the subject is approached honestly, in English, and without excessively high expectations. (MSE)

Most basic German textbooks seem to be geared toward white males. This article examines three recently published textbooks in terms of the portrayal of females and people of color. Suggestions are offered for better representing the pluralistic U.S. society. (Author/LB)

Discusses classroom activities that motivate students to participate and to learn a second language. Describes the characteristics that such activities should have and provides detailed examples of the six basic formats in which they can be used. Stresses communicative competence, personalization, and creativity. (MES)

There is a dire need to incorporate German-Americana into the classroom. Practical ways in which german-American texts can be used productively even in the first two years of instruction are given. A sample text with exercises is provided as are ideas and sources for further German-American lesson plans. (LET)

A discussion of teaching the passive voice in second language programs considers underlying attitudes toward grammar and grammar teaching. It is noted that Business German textbooks do not incorporate notions of the thought-to-grammar-pattern relationship, even though the passive voice appears twice as often in technical as in nontechnical…

Introduces classroom materials with which African American students who are studying German can identify. The article shows that contemporary German poetry and the work of African American poets in German translation offer many possibilities for exercises that speak directly to African American students at all levels. (25 references) (Author/CK)

Argues that despite the decline in enrollments in German at elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities, there is reason to hope that interest can be invigorated. Suggests that there are easy instructional methods and materials for developing a new motivation in learning the language. (Author/VWL)

Presents strategies used in the International Engineering Program at the University of Rhode Island for incorporating technical German in first year classes. Outlines the language functions that can be developed in this way, gives concrete examples of the materials used, and provides specific suggestions for coordinating these materials with a…

The diversity of cognitive style and learning strategies will become a guiding principle for the organization of language discovery environments that have a dynamic and adaptive learner profile as their core. This article describes a model for these environments and details the contents of a technologically based language learner profile.…