German: Translation Writing Assignment

The following is a writing activity primarily designed for high intermediate or advanced learners. This is a translation (Übersetzung) activity.

Students will work in small groups or with a partner as part of a Reisebüro. The goal is to take advertising slogans from English and to try and translate them into German.

Have students focus purely on the slogans. There are of course thousands of ads to choose from. In addition, you can have students do some out of class research on the ad you have provided them and as an additional component to the activity have students give a presentation in German where they must pitch their particular travel destination/vacation. This should be within reach of advanced students although you will want to provided intermediate students with additional time.

Alternately, you could do this activity but focus on other types of products such as cars, groceries, clothes, and more! This type of activity easily lends itself to a business language class. Feel free to adapt this for another language if you are not a German teacher!

Let us know what you think! Connect with us @C_LaCross

German: Namensjagd Icebreaker Activity

Hello all, Chris here with the next post featuring a downloadable activity! This time I would like to share a fun icebreaker activity I call Namensjagd which I generally use during the first few days of an intermediate level class. Take a look at the activity and give it a try in your classes! You will of course want to change a few of the questions to suit your context. Comments welcome!


Namensjagd

French Documentary: Les soirées françaises à Londres (Intermediaire-Avances)

Hi everyone, Aurore here! I'd like to share this video with you! It shows how international and cosmopolitan London is, with a special stress on the great number of French migrants living there. Indeed, many French have crossed the Channel. Here is the type of entertainment that has been developing steadfastly in London. Enjoy!




Les soirées françaises à Londres.

1.Quel est l’occupation d’Éric ? Quels détails apprenez-vous sur lui ?

2.Quel type de soirées organise-t-il ? A qui ces soirées s’adressent-elles ?

3.Quelles différences Éric note-t-il au sujet de la recherche de travail entre la France et l’Angleterre ?

4.Quel est le quartier de prédilection des Français à Londres ?

5.Que peut-on y trouver ?

6.Que dit Éric sur le pseudo « repli des Français » à Londres ?

7.Selon lui, pourquoi les soirées françaises ont-elles du succès ?

French Documentary + worksheet. La France vue par une Colombienne. Upper intermediate/advanced learners

Hi everybody, Aurore here! Here is a video expressing the views of a Colombian student living in a French family. It's interesting for the learners because they can hear French spoken by a non-native speaker. It is also useful in terms of culture, since she points out things French people do that are very specific. Then you can launch a debate on the topics pointed out during her talk: how would your students have reacted??? Were they expecting some things that came out more than others??



La France aux yeux d’une étudiante colombienne. Documentaire France 24.

1.Comment s’appelle la jeune fille ?

2.Quelles études fait-elle ?

3.Dans quelle ville se trouve-t-elle ?

4.Quand est-elle arrivée ?

5.Quels sont les avantages de faire ses études en France (aux niveaux personnel et professionnel/académique) ?

6.D’où vient la salsa ?

7.Quel est le métier de Diana ?

8.Quels sont les avantages quand on habite dans une famille française ?

9.Quelle est son expression française favorite ?

10.Connaissez-vous la signification de cette expression ?

11.Quel est, selon elle, un geste que les Français affectionnent particulièrement ?