AZ AATG – Dr. Albrecht Classen

Fall 20025 Meeting, online via zoom, Sept. 20.

Minutes: The AZ chapter of the AATG meeting took place on Sept. 20, 2025, online. After the business meeting, in which the current and new officers introduced themselves and members presented their actual situations at their schools or colleges. There were four workshops on pedagogical methods and materials. In particular, Jasmin Root-Joswig, GI Washington, DC, presented on Impulse für den Unterricht: Aktuelle Materialien und Programme des Goethe-Instituts für Deutschlehrende und -lernende. Melanie Mello, GEM Goethe-Institut USA, reviewed ways how to “FACHify” our basic German language courses. Albrecht Classen, UA, introduced methods of working with keywords in literary texts and how to transform them by use of different praefixes or suffixes, or by nominalization of adjectives or verbs. Finally, Thomas Fuhr, UA, presented methods of a playful engagement with language, the development of a cut-up activity in a second-semester, college-level German language classroom. The attendees exchanged many concerns, ideas, questions, and their current experiences.

Progamm für das Herbsttreffen des Arizona Chapters der AATG, Samstag, 20. September 2025

Auf zoom

Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/82808256635

8:30: Business Meeting (Albrecht Classen, Präsident)

Willkommen und Vorstellung

Bericht der Schatzkämmerin: Petra Schmid-Riggins, Cesar Chavez HS, Laveen)

Vizepräsidentin: Alisa Kayser, IST, Tucson (Abschied und Dankeschön!)

Willkommen an den neuen VP: William Mahan, NAU, Flagstaff

Situation an den Schulen

Situation auf den Colleges/Unis

9:15-10:15: Melanie Mello, GEM Goethe-Institut USA: AATG GRANTS FÜR D-A-CH-L PROJEKTE: Mach dein Deutschprogramm bunter mit einem AATG-Grant!

10:15-10:45: Albrecht Classen, UA: Wortarbeit und intellektuelle Durchdringung eines Texts. Sprachliche Ermächtigung unserer Studenten im Literaturunterricht: Erfahrungsbericht von Middlebury, VT

10:45-11:00: Pause

11:00-12:15: Jasmin Root-Joswig, GI Washington, DC: Impulse für den Unterricht: Aktuelle Materialien und Programme des Goethe-Instituts für Deutschlehrende und -lernende

Auf dem Platz: https://www.goethe.de/prj/stg/en/fus/adp.html
Veranstaltungskalender: https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/de/spr/unt/cal.cfm
Deutschstundeportal: https://www.goethe.de/prj/dlp/de/start
U-Häppchen: https://www.goethe.de/prj/dlp/de/unterrichtsmaterial/reihe/uhaeppchen
PASCH-Net: https://www.pasch-net.de/de/lernmaterial.html
Step Into German: https://www.goethe.de/prj/stg/de/index.html
Aufsatzwettbewerb: https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/spr/unt/ffd/ppd/dss/sa.html
Workshop Solidarität: https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/de/spr/unt/cal.cfm?event_id=26921419
Unterrichtsmaterial (Migration und Solidarität): https://www.goethe.de/prj/dlp/de/unterrichtsmaterial/migration_und_solidaritaet

https://www.goethe.de/prj/dlp/de/unterrichtsmaterial/reihe/fruehes_deutsch_aktivitaeten_und_uebungen/hallo_ich_bin_wuschel
Wuschel: https://www.goethe.de/prj/dlp/de/unterrichtsmaterial/reihe/fruehes_deutsch_aktivitaeten_und_uebungen/hallo_ich_bin_wuschel

12:15-1245: Thomas Fuhr, UA: “Wortsalat” – Development of a Cut-up activity in a second-semester, college-level German language classroom

13 Uhr: Abschluss, mit vielem Dank an alle!

__________________________________________________________________________

Spring 2025 meeting

Online via zoom, April 12.

Minutes: For the first time, our regular Spring meeting took place online, which worked really well, although the attendance was low. In-person meetings are much more time-consuming, but they also offer a much more intensive exchange and a strong sense of cohesion. After a lengthy business meeting, at which many issues affecting us all at every teaching level, we had a workshop offered by Kathy Barnard (West High School in SLC) and Elli Remnd (graduate student at Utah State Universty and current German teacher at Doherty High School in Colorado Spring) on the IMAGE model of teaching language and culture, using pictures, photos, cartoons, and other visual documents that can invite students to practice their German and facilitate student-oriented learning through a flipped-classroom modality. Our current VP Alisa Kaiser announced that she will step down from her position by the end of the Spring semester. Prof. Will Mahan (NAU) was elected as her replacement.

Fall 2024 meeting:

ASU, Tempe, Sept. 21

Workshop offered by Doug Philipps, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Minutes: The AZ chapter of the AATG had its Fall meeting at the ASU campus, Tempe, on Sept. 21, 2024. After our breakfast and business meeting, we explored what the “Stimmungsbild” in our German language classes is like at all teaching levels. The group consisted of teachers from K-16 (with a total of 13 attending from Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson). Subsequently, we turned to our central topic. Doug Philipp from Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs gave a workshop on the Sprachbad, the immersion language program in Colorado, discussing the various activities, requirements, expectations, outcomes, and programs. The meeting also offered a hybrid version, with 2 teachers attending online. After our lunch, we continued with practical exercises. The meeting completed at 1:30 p.m.

Spring 2024 meeting:

IST, Tucson, April 27, 2024

Workshop by Ute Hoefel, German Institute for the Southwest, Houston, TX

KI im Deutschunterricht.

Minutes:

Spring 2024 meeting: International School of Tucson, Tucson, April 27, 2024

At our Spring 2024 meeting, we enjoyed a workshop by Ute Hoefel, German Institute for the Southwest, Houston, TX: KI im Deutschunterricht. This was particularly useful because various High School teachers have already begun working with KI to facilitate their teaching. We had a very good mix of German instructors from K-16.

Gruppenfoto (ohne Albrecht Classen, einer musste ja das Foto machen):

Organizer and Presider, Dr. Albrecht Classen

With thanks to our leader of the workshop, Ute Hoefel (in blue)!

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Fall 2023 meeting:

Herbsttreffen des AZ Chapters der AATG

Scottsdale, Treffpunkt, Nov. 11, 8:30- 14 Uhr (Treffpunkt fuer die deutsche Gemeinde, geleitet von der deutschen Honorarkonsulin Carolin Gey)

14325 N 79th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, (480) 427-0685

Soziales Treffen, 10. Nov. im Hotelzimmer von Classen und Ecke, 19-21 Uhr (room tba)

Extended Stay America Suites Phoenix Scottsdale North

15501 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254

1-623-428-0362

Treffpunkt: 14325 N 79th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, (480) 427-0685

Samstag, 11. Nov.

8:15-9 Uhr: Frühstück im Treffpunkt

9-9:30 Geschäftliches

9:30-10:45 Sara Lee, ASU: Anwendung einer Rechtschreibfehleranalyse als Grundlage für individuelle Förderpläne

10:45-11:00 Kaffeepause

11:00-12:00 Peter Ecke, UA: Wahrnehmungen der ‚eigenen’ und ‚fremden‘ Nationalkultur durch US-amerikanische Studierende im Laufe ihres Auslandsaufenthalts in Deutschland

12:10-13:00 Mittagessen

13:00-14:00 Petra Schmid-Riggins, Cesar Chavez High School, Laveen: Regionaldialekte

14:00-14:30 Albrecht Classen, UA: Was ist eigentlich Sprache: Grundlagen für jeden Sprachunterricht: Dialekt, Sprache, Pigin, Kreol, etc.

14:45: Abreise

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Spring 2023 meeting: Tucson, AZ, International School, April 1

Programm: Fruehlingstreffen 2023 (clickable), or:

AATG-AZ Fruehlings Treffen / Spring meeting
Location: 1701 E Seneca St., Tucson AZ 85719
Date & Time: Saturday, April 1st 9:15am – 1:45pm
8:30 am – 9:15 am
(optional)
Breakfast. Time to meet and chat with
colleagues. One lottery give-away
9:15 am – 9:45 am Welcome from the president, business
meeting, treasurer
9:45 am – 10:45 Sara Lee, Arizona State University,
presentation GEMS
11:00 am – 11:45 am Nekoye Masibili and Alisa Kaiser, University
of Arizona, virtual-global exchange projects,
and culture and diversity in the classroom
11:45 am – 12:15 Dr. Albrecht Classen, University of Arizona,
Im Westen Nichts Neues (2022)
Filmbesprechung
12:15 am – 1:00 pm LUNCH
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Round table discussion, whole group. Global
Diskussion, wie wir persönlich und generell
unsere Sprache und Kultur in den USA
verteidigen und stärken Second Lottery
Give-away
1:30-1:45 Wrap-up and Farewell
Presentations will be held predominantly in German!

Gruppenfoto an der NAU, 2017

Arizona Chapter of American Association of Teachers of German

Important links

PPP from AATG advertising its resources and tools, 2013 (download)
PPP 2017
JustAddGerman – prima Werbeseite fuer Deutsch