Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, good times, good food, family, friends and love.

Elisa's Experience Post

Read up on Elisa's experience in Alabama. Her trip is almost over and she's written a summary of what's been keeping her busy.

Sleep is Good

Although there are a million things to do, be sure to get your sleep. According to an article on Time magazine online, sleep could help you remember things better. Getting sleep after studying can boost your memory and lead to a number of positive consequences. Read through the article for more details. And remember to catch those zzz's.

What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for all of the wonderful resources out there to help me celebrate Thanksgiving at home and in the classroom! Yes, it's the time of year to reflect on the good things we have and take a moment to appreciate them. Here are some fabulous ideas you can bring into the classroom to celebrate this fun (and filling!) American holiday:
Finger Puppet Pilgrim
Crossword Puzzles
Writing Thanks
These are just a few of the many recources out there to help you add Thanksgiving into your lessons.
Happy Thanksgiving!

You say Fall, I say Autumn

Two words for one lovely season. There are a lot of activities that you can do with your students, like a magic leaf drawing or writing an acrostic poem. And let's not forget the hundreds of ideas they've got at Kaboose. Not only could you do some of these crafts and activities at school, but also at home. You could bake a delicious Apple Cranberry Crumble or decorate your apartment with lovely fall candle holders. There's so much this season has to offer. Try out these ideas or think of your own to make this fall an even more special season.

More Classes

In case you haven't heard, these classes will be offered starting this week. The instructor will be Shauna Payne, a native speaker from England. We are so happy she'll be joining us and hope you can take part in her courses.

Mod 5.1 Advanced Language Competence Thursdays 11:15-12:45 in S 108

Mod 2.1 Developing Advanced Oral Skills Thursdays 14:15-15:45 in S lab

Mod 2.1 Developing Advanced Writing Skills Thursdays 16:15-17:45 in S 329

Columbus Day!

The founding of the Americas by Christopher Columbus is celebrated in the United States in October. Many children learn about this national holiday in schools across the country. Kaboose has some really fun activities you do in your classroom. There's also The History Channel site to give you all sorts of information, plus videos and a quiz. You can also read an interesting article about it on TIME. Have fun checking those out and Happy Christopher Columbus Day!

The Semester Begins

It's official, the new semester has begun. You've got your schedule and are finding your way around. It can be a busy and sometimes crazy time, especially with course changes. And here's the lates buzz in the English department. Ms. Allmayer's courses will be not be taking place at their scheduled time. Unfortunately, she won't be able to make it in this semester. But don't worry! The department is busy organizing an instructor for those classes. The way I hear it, the courses will be rescheduled for later in the week. No promises, but let's keep our fingers crossed. In the meantime, take it easy and enjoy meeting each other in your class and your instructors.

Elisa in Alabama

One of your peers is doing an exchange abroad at Samford University in Alabama in the U.S. She'll be keeping us updated and you can read all about her experiences on her blog. We're so glad you're having a great time Elisa!

Back to School Ideas

School is just around the corner and there are many websites such as this Teaching Heart's adorable site filled with ideas to help you get started off on the right foot. Education World offers a long list of icebreaker activities and lots of ideas. If you've got a great idea to share, feel free to leave a comment.

Internet Sites for Children

While reading an issue of English Teaching Professional magazine, I came across an article that lists some of the best internet sites for children and thought I'd pass them along.
As most of you know, I adore BBC and the literacy page of the site www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize will show you one reason why.
www.spellingcity.com is great to help with words that are often misspelled. I would even recommend this site to some of our students at the PH.
Lastly, can you ever go wrong with the British Council? Probably not! Visit www.britishcouncil.org/kids-games-fun.htm to explore some of the fun games they have like 'Trolley Dash' or 'Clean and Green'. Be sure to explore the site to find the most suitable ones for your pupils.
Using sites like these can help keep learning English fun and interesting for your pupils and a nice change for you. Have a great time checking them out.

Summer Reads

I've finally got a bit of time on my hands and what can I do on a rainy day like today? Grab a good book, of course! After looking around, I found a list of good summer reads on MSNBC. Not only is a book great for staying it, but also for lying next to the pool when the sun comes out again. Ahhh, summer days.

Summer Fun Ideas from Kaboose

Honestly, I just can't get enough of Kaboose.com. It's so full of ideas and now they've got loads of ideas for summer. Check it out to keep those summer days full of fun! Now, I'm talking about fun for everyone, everywhere...not just your pupils in school. Oh, and don't miss the summer grill recipes...oh yum!

Good Luck on Exams

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dealing with Exam Stress

We are all in it and we will get through it. I'm talking about exam stress. I've been so busy, I forgot to update the polls last week and add a little post. So, here we are. Up to our eyeballs in papers, notes, books, empty mugs, and dirty dishes...but relax, we'll make it. If you want some specific tips to help you survive this time of the semester, check out page 3 of the latest issue of The Gazette.

Book Fair Bake Sale

What more could you ask for? The StuFa is hosting a book fair and bake sale this Thursday July 16th starting at 13:00 in NZ. There will be a number of goodies to read and eat this Thursday! See you there.

Summer BBQ Tonight!

Tonight! Join us at the Big Summer BBQ at 19:00 in the North Garden (behind the Schlossbau). Drinks and salads are available. Bring your own goodies to toss on the grill.

Let's go to the movies!

The new Linse program is out. Let's check out these films (OV): Sunshine Cleaning July 16-22, Milk August 3-5 and Slumdog Millionaire August 7. Write to mackintosh@ph-weingarten.de if you'd like to see these movies.

Schulgartenfest July 2

Attend and earn a star! Here's the info direct from the PH website:
Weingarten – Am Donnerstag, 2. Juli, findet im Schulgarten der Pädagogischen Hochschule Weingarten (links vom Fruchtkasten) das inzwischen schon traditionelle Schulgartenfest statt. In der Zeit von 12.45 bis 15.45 Uhr erwarten große und kleine Besucher spielerische und lehrreiche Aktionen rund um die Natur.
Die Angebote richten sich schwerpunktmäßig an Kinder im Grundschulalter.

Lunchbox Next Week!

Hey ya'll. Annika and Lena are having another one of their nifty lunchboxes next Tuesday at 13:00 in S 329. Hope you can make it. It'll be a grand ol' time.

Articles Wanted

The editors at The Gazette are looking for articles. Why not put your thoughts onto paper and send it to The Gazette? Deadline July 1. For more info, contact: mackintosh@ph-weingarten.de

Dictionary Workshop a Success

Wow, what a turn out. Over 30 people attended the Macmillan Dictionary Workshop last Tuesday. We learned a few cool things about English words and how the Macmillan Dictionary is organized. Not only that, we learned what a resource the dictionary can be for our lessons! You can even check it out online to look up words or even add your own. Now, how neat is that?

Thanks! from Ms. Allmayer

Just wanted to pass on that Ms. Allmayer really appreciated your card! Thanks for showing you care.

Dictionary Workshop This Tuesday

Hey You! Stop by and learn something about the dictionary. This Tuesday, June 9th, at 13:00 in S 329. The English StuFa will be there. Some snacks and drinks will be available. See you there!

Montags Kino

Montags Kino is playing 1 Mord für 2 in English this evening! Check out the trailer here: IMDB
The film starts at 20:30 in NZ 042. Write a short film review for a star on your Learning English is Fun! card.

Mark your calendar!

The Macmillan dictionary workshop is coming! It will take place on Tuesday, June 9th at 13:00 in S 329. You get two stars!! for participating in this workshop. There will be some refreshments, too.

Drum roll please, the Language Lab is open!

The brand spanking new language lab is open! The opening hours are:
Tuesday 4pm-6pm
Wednesday 10am-13pm
Friday 9am-12pm

Visit the language lab to practice your language and pronunciation skills. Plus, there's a friendly tutor there to help!

Regular Lunchbox Meetings

Annika and Lena will be hosting the Lunchbox every other week! Woohoo! The next one will be next Tuesday, May 19th from 13:00-14:00 in S 329. See you there!

Hungry for a Chat?

Annika and Lena would like to invite you to the first Lunchbox of the semester. It will be next Tuesday, May 5th from 13:00-14:00 in S 329.
Bring your lunch and join us for a good time.

Lack of Interest - No courses

The courses planned to be held by Daniel Allmayer have been cancelled due to a lack of interest. In other words, the courses below are not taking place.
Mod 2 Developing Advanced Writing Skills Tuesdays 11:15-12:45 in S 222
Mod 5 Advanced Language Competence Tuesdays 14:15-15:45 in S 114

IF you need the Mod 5 ALC course, there is an alternative. For this semester only, you can join Mod 6.1 Practising Oral Skills and get credit for the Mod 5, too. There are still spaces open in the Thursday 9:30 course in room 230.

Allmayer Course Update

The following courses will be taught by Daniel Allmayer starting the week of May 19, 2009.
Mod 2 Developing Advanced Writing Skills Tuesdays 11:15-12:45 in S 222
Mod 5 Advanced Language Competence Tuesdays 14:15-15:45 in S 114

Please list your name and e-mail address on the sheet hanging outside of the classroom. This sheet will be posted by tomorrow morning.

COURSE CHANGES

The following courses with Ruth Allmayer have been cancelled until further notice:
Module 1: Acquisition of English Language and Culture
Module 2: Developing Advanced Writing Skills (DAWS)
Developing Advanced Oral Skills (DAOS)
Cultural Studies
You may join the courses offered by Barbara Mackintosh
DAWS Mon. 14:15-15:45, S 329 or Wed. 16:15-17:45, S 213
DAOS Tues. 9:30-11:00 S 329 or Wed. 14:15-15:45, S 012
You may join the courses offered by Almud Stärk
Acquisition of English Language and Culture Tues. 14:15-15:45, S 329 or Thurs. 9:30-11:00, S 329
Cultural Studies Tues. 16:15-17:45, S 329 or Thurs. 14:15-15:45 S 329

New Gazette is out!

With April 1st the summer semester officially started. We have been busy and present you now the brandnew mini-issue of the Gazette! Download it here and enjoy reading it.

EGG Destruction & Womp!

Got some time on your hands? Looking for some fun?
Check out EGG Destruction-an online Easter game. Have fun launching eggs to the enemy! Be sure to keep the angles and wind in mind!
There's also WOMP! Can you protect your Easter goodies???
Have fun and Happy Easter!

Movin' Down the Street

or rather, just a day or two. POS-Practising Oral Skills with B. Mackintosh will be moved from Monday 11:15-12:45 to Wednesday 11:15-12:45.
Why??? Ms. Allmayer's will not be able to teach that course and it's a better time slot for most students. So, the Monday course will be cancelled and the Wednesday course will still be there.
Recap:
NO Monday Practising Oral Skills Mackintosh 11:15-12:45
YES Wednesday Practising Oral Skills Mackintosh 11:15-12:45 S 329

Allmayer Still Fighting

As some of you know, Ms. Allmayer was diagnosed with cancer last year. Unfortunately, cancer cells were discovered earlier this year and Ms. Allmayer has had surgery. She is at home recovering and will be having chemotherapy soon. Unofficially, she won't be here to teach for most of the summer 09 semester. So, a few courses will still be held with a different instructor and some courses will be cancelled. Keep your eyes open for an official announcement and updates on course changes. Feel free to send your e-mails or cards to Ms. Allmayer. :)

Basket of Easter Ideas

It's Easter Time! What a great way to get inspired for your classroom.
There are heaps of hopping good activities, games, crafts for you to use. It only takes a few minutes of looking to discover them. I have personally come to love the crafts and ideas they've got at Kaboose. A to Z Teacher has a list of resource links. If you're looking for a way to incorporate more religious information, you may want to check out Telling the Easter Story on Suite 101.

St. Patty's Day!

It's almost Saint Patrick's Day! St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th. It's one of the most famous holidays celebrated in the United States. To learn more about St. Patrick and how St. Patrick's day is celebrated in the U.S., visit The History Channel. You can find fantastic crafts and activities at Kaboose. There are hundreds of classroom ideas, too. Check out 123child or teach-nology for a list of great ideas in different subjects like art and math. Oh, and remember to wear a bit of green so you don't get pinched and have a great St. Patrick's Day!

National Grammar Day!

Happy National Grammar Day!
I know some of you will smirk at this, but here's the truth: grammar can be interesting and fun! Okay, sure, learning grammar can be a little frustrating in the beginning. You're always asking yourself "why is it this and not this?" or simply shouting "why, oh, why?!" But, let's get down to it. When you understand something better, isn't it just cool! I mean, sentence structure, word order, verb tense, adverbs, gerunds, all of that can be so fascinating and, as I said a second ago, FUN. Stop rolling your eyes and give it a try. Visit the National Grammar Day website for a list of grammar and language blogs. Check out some really cool grammar game sites like the ones on BBC Skillswise. And there's Grammar Girl to help answer all your grammar questions. So, get out and celebrate! It's National Grammar Day!

Word of the Day

Improve your vocab with the Word of the Day.
Sign-up at a dictionary website like Merriam-Webster to get the Word of the Day delivered to your e-mail box every day! It's an easy way to start improving your vocabulary. What are you waiting for? Sign-up today!

Fantastic February

It's February and there's a lot to celebrate in February. For one thing, it's Black History Month. There are so many amazing people and events that have shaped the US and the world! Check out The History Channel to learn about the Underground Railroad, The Harlem Rennaisance, and famous people like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jackie Robinson.
Let's not forget, Valentine's Day is right around the corner. For fun activities to use in your classroom and at home, check out Kaboose.
There are also lots of good President's Day activities on Kaboose and Enchanted Learning.
Happy February!

Grammar Questions?

Have you got questions about English grammar? If so, then visit Grammar Girl! Check out the cool podcasts! One you might want to listen to is "Do you overuse 'of'?" on the main page. If you want to read the transcript, use the search function. Type the title in the search box, click search, and it should be the first result. Spend a few minutes exploring the site-there's some good stuff on it!

Stressed? Frustrated? Need a break?

The StuFa invites YOU to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and talk about the upcoming (oral) exams. Feel free to bring along some material and profit from the experiences of students who already passed the exam.


WHEN? MONDAY, January 26th, 2008 1130 - 1330 pm
WHERE? S.329
WHO? Everyone! Feel free to come over :)

See you there :)

Tanja & Mario from the StuFa

Februarblock

There are some good courses offered for the Februarblock.
Check it out by clicking here and be sure to sign-up!

Sign-Up Fever

Lists, Lists, Lists!
The exam lists are on the board.
If you plan on taking the Modul 1 oral exam or the Modul 2 written exam, be sure to sign up on the lists that are hanging on the boards in the stairwell going up to S 329.