Thema 4: Schulzeit und Jugend

We will continue our conversations about the more distant past by talking about our school days and youth. At the same time, we will look at the various school systems in German-speaking Europe and compare them to ours. We will also learn about and compare a variety of cultural practices and traditions associated with primary and secondary education, from the Einschulung (the school start) to Musik- und Sportvereine (music and sports clubs) to end-of-school celebrations.

As always, our class is not a courtroom. If there are parts of your school days and youth you do not want to talk about, then you do not need to talk about them. You can adopt a different persona or make things up. And anything you make up does not need to be consistent (i.e. you can have two sisters one day and only one brother on the next).

Here is an overview of the learning objectives for each Lektion of the Thema Meine Schulzeit und Jugend. At the end of each lesson, you will be able to talk about and/or recognize

4.1 Schulsysteme und die Einschulung

1. primary and secondary schooling in German-speaking Europe
2. words for the classroom
3. school start traditions

4.2 Der Schultag

1. what you have and had in your school bag
2. what subjects you had
3. alternative kinds of schools

4.3 Wahlveranstaltungen

1. the sports, music, and other club activities you participated in
2. your engagement with student government at your school

4.4 Schulbräuche und Schulprobleme

1. class trips
2. end-of-school celebrations
3. understand the term mobbing