Goals & Strategies

Goals

Strategies for Meeting Goals

Semester’s End Self-Evaluation

Course Goal for Interpretive Listening

I can understand extended speech and follow complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand sources such as TV news, current affairs programs, and films in standard language.

I plan to listen to German (on Podcasts, TV, etc.) for a total of 60 minutes throughout the week. There is a boy from Stuttgart in one of my classes, whom I’m going to try to talk to frequently.

I honestly did not listen to German very much outside of the requirements from the course. I watched a few videos on YouTube and managed to talk to Alex a few times throughout the semester.

Course Goal for Interpretive Reading

I can read texts such as articles and reports that are concerned with contemporary problems written from a particular viewpoint or perspective. I can understand contemporary literary prose.

As reading is an area in which I particularly struggle, I plan to not give up when reading assignments for class (which will be hard for me). Practice will be the main strategy; I will try to read a newspaper article once a week online.

I made sure to read all the assignments for German 140 thoroughly and to understand the material before going to class. If I did not understand something, I made a note and brought it up in class. Every once in a while I read some things in German such as a few things online and extra handouts Brigitte gave us in class, but not as often as I had planed. I do however feel as if I met this goal.

Course Goal for Interpersonal Speaking

I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. I can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts and support my views.

I will speak solely in German in class. I will talk to myself in German frequently and describe things I’m doing to myself in German. It should be pretty easy for the three of us in my class to meet in the lobby once or twice a week and speak in German. We could possibly have dinner together and speak only German.

I speak very frequently in class. I talk with my classmates and my language partner. I often randomly start talking or thinking in German. I have a friend who used to take German in high school and we sometimes randomly speak in German. Also, my classmates and I frequently speak in German in our walk back together from class. I am increasing my fluency, however I still feel like I have a long way to go.

Course Goal for Presentational Speaking

I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

I have been, and will continue to write down new, interesting and useful vocabulary. I’ll try to use them the next time I go to German class or when I’m talking to myself in German so I can get used to saying them and incorporate it into my speech.

I have been keeping a vocabulary journal. I look back at it sometimes. Also, when I find words in the Wortschatz lists in the textbook that seem interesting or that I think will be useful I write them down. Because material often crosses over from class, vocabulary does too. When this occurs, I would try to use the new vocabulary from the day before in the discussion that day.

Course Goal for Presentational Writing

I can write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects related to my interests. I can write texts such as an essay or report that conveys information or gives reasons in support of or against a particular point of view. I can write texts such as letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences.

Similarly to other things I have said, I will just practice extending my vocabulary, getting more and more familiar with the language and interact with others.

Again, I did some practice, but not enough as I wish. However, I feel as if I have met this goal for presentational writing.

Personal Goal One

I plan to be able to speak with more of a German accent.

Right now my German sounds extremely American. I will listen carefully to how Brigitte talks and try to copy how she speaks. Alyssa already has a decent German accent so I will try to learn from her as well.

I met this goal. Through class and projects, I have learned to speak with more of a German accent. However, I still have a ways to go.

Personal Goal Two

I plan to learn more German phrases to help me get closer to being fluent.

I am used to speaking in complete sentences from high school and know very little phrases that real Germans use. I plan to listen/watch the German news online. Listening to native speakers talk to another should give me some insight into how they talk. I plan to use the new jargon in class.

In addition to learning new phrases from Brigitte and a few from the Videoblogs, I have learned new useful verbs and vocabulary. This way, I can make my own phrases.