Thursday, March 19, 2020

Common German Folk Songs That Are Easy to Learn

Common German Folk Songs That Are Easy to Learn If you are a teacher, you know the educational value  that German folk songs offer its learners through their simpler vocabulary and vivid imagery. Further, they are more easily learned than poetry. However, if you are a German learner who has not been introduced to German folk songs, we invite you to take the opportunity to listen to them, learn them and yes even sing them - even if your attempt is only in the shower. Dont shy away from learning new vocabulary just because of the infantile connotation folk songs sometimes get. Youd be surprised at how rich the imagery can be in certain folk songs and the glimpse into German culture it offers. It has been proven countless of times that music can accelerate language learning, so why not take the plunge? Learning one folk song a week would add a breadth to your vocabulary  in no time. The following are some favorite German folk songs that are fairly easy to learn: This is a popular old German folk song that explains all the tasks that farmers need to do throughout the year starting with March. Lots of action verbs in this song that permit the learner to easily visualize and thereby learn quickly the meanings of these words.  Putting  pictures above the verbs would speed up the learning process of the song. Der Mond ist Aufgegangen This  German folksong  is very popular, sung by children, sung  at church, and heard  almost always when German folk songs are sung. It is a very versatile song for teaching German. The first verse is best suited for beginners, whereas the other verses lend themselves to intermediate students. It is also a great song for discussing symbolism and religion. This is a favorite folk song of teachers for introducing  bird names - fourteen in total! Also, wedding vocabulary is learned as the birds in the song celebrate a marriage. Die Gedanken sind frei The oft-repeated refrain Die Gedanken sind frei stays in your head. This a good song for discussion about freedom and human rights. Muss i denn This German song made popular internationally through Elvis is good practice for those German learners who want to learn  a little bit of southern German dialect. Dat du min Leevsten bà ¼st Now to practice some northern Plattdeutsch. This folk song is much harder to understand than Muss i denn, therefore it is more suitable for intermediate/advanced learners. Sah ein Knab ein RÃ" §slein stehn This folk song is a  good introduction to Goethe  for the advanced beginner. Written by Goethe in 1799, the poem Heiderà ¶slein (rose on the heath) was set to music by multiple composers. The version that is sung today was composed by Schubert. A lesson on rhyme and symbolism can be presented through this song. Kein schà ¶ner Land in dieser Zeit A very well-known folk song  in Germany,  sung often around  campfires as it is an evening song. Im Frà ¼htau zu Berge Many Germans would be surprised to know that this popular folk song  is  originally  from Sweden. It was translated in the early 20th century into German and was an instant favorite Wanderlied and has been so ever since. There have  even been parody spin-offs made from this song such  as  Ã‚  Beim Frà ¼hstà ¼ck am Morgen sie sehn and  Im Frà ¼hstau bei Herne wir blà ¼hen richtig auf. Grà ¼n, Grà ¼n, Grà ¼n   Today this  is regarded more of a childrens song sung in the primary grades. However, in the 19th century, it was known as a dancing folk song. This song  is perfect for  learning colors and job titles simultaneously. What I like most about this song is that you can insert your own color into the song and the accompanying job title associated with it.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Pros and Cons of Utlizing a Traditional Grading Scale

Pros and Cons of Utlizing a Traditional Grading Scale The traditional grading scale is archaic with roots extending back to early education. This scale is commonplace in schools as most incorporate the traditional A-F grading scale as the core of student assessment. This scale may also have additional components such as incomplete or pass/fail courses. The following example of a traditional grading scale is what most schools in the United States rely on to evaluate student performance. A 90-100%B 80-89%C 70-79%D 60-69%F 0-59%I IncompleteU UnsatisfactoryN Needs ImprovementS Satisfactory In addition, many schools attach a system of pluses and minuses to extend the traditional grading system to quantify and establish a more tiered traditional grading scale. For example, a 90-93 is an A-, 94-96 is an A, and 97-100 is an A The traditional grading scale has been embraced by many schools across the country. This practice does have many opponents who feel that it is outdated and that there are more beneficial alternatives available. The remainder of this article will highlight some of the pros and cons of utilizing the traditional grading scale. Pros of a Traditional Grading Scale The traditional grading scale is universally recognized. Virtually everyone knows that earning an A is good while earning an F is associated with failure.The traditional grading scale is easy to interpret and understand. The simplistic nature of the system makes it user-friendly for teachers, students, and parents.The traditional grading scale allows for direct comparison from one student to another within a specific class. A student with an 88 in a 7th-grade geography class is performing better than another student with a 62 in the same class. Cons of a Traditional Grading Scale The traditional grading scale is easy to manipulate because it is often subjective in nature. For example, one math teacher may require students to show work, while another may only require answers. Therefore, a student making an A in one teachers class may be making a C in another teachers class even though the quality of the work they are doing is identical. This can make it difficult for schools and decision-makers who are trying to compare students using a traditional grading scale.The traditional grading scale is limited because it does not show what a student is learning or what they should be learning. It provides no explanation for why or how a student ended up with a particular grade. The traditional grading scale leads to hours of subjective grading and fosters a testing culture. While it may be simple for teachers to understand, it takes a lot of time to create and grade the assessments that drive the traditional grading system. Furthermore, it promotes a testing culture b ecause they are simpler to score than other assessment practices typically are.