Children’s Bible (Die Kinderbibel)

Posted on August 3, 2011 by germanle

Die Kinderbibel (Children’s Bible) iPhone app

Yes, blog posts have been too sporadic, so let’s try more byte-sized posts of apps and stuff now.

Some of you know since the 4th of July 2011 I have an iPhone and have been baptizing myself in the world of apps. Some are just junk, and others are gems.

The Bible is a great way to learn German! Especially in America, many kids and teens are familiar with Bible stories and apps like the Die Kinderbibel, provide really useful ways to learn German. Some of the stories are free and some cost money, though I have so far only experimented with the free stuff. I believe you get a “woechentlichen kostenlos-Comic” – a weekly free comic. Supercool, ja?! This week’s free Comic is ,,Der Exodus” – so go check it out! You should be able to download it at TheChildrenBible.org or via your app store on your phone.

The Children’s Bible (Die Kinderbibel) is basically a comic of those well-known Bible stories and verses so people with a biblical background already know what’s going on in the story which makes learning new vocabulary a lot easier and more effective.

Remember though, if you need to look up words, just scoot on over to http://dict.leo.org/

Don’t have an iPhone or anything for such apps? There are some Children’s Bible Stories – Kinderbibel Geschichten on YouTube as well, such as these ones, called Jesus wird geboren (Jesus is born) and Jesus ist auferstanden (Jesus is resurrected):

Jesus wird geboren:

Jesus ist auferstanden:

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Samford German with Drs. Pickett & Ferguson

Posted on May 25, 2011 by germanle

As you may know, I attended Samford University from 2001-2005, where one of my German professors, Dr. Terry Pickett, has been the director of the Samford German Program since 2001 and helped welcome me into the Delta Phi Alpha, the German National Honor Society. Dr. Pickett is retiring soon (or perhaps better said, becoming a Professor Emeritus) from teaching at Samford, so let’s bid him ein freundliches ,,Auf Wiedersehen!”

Dr. Pickett also taught in Bamberg in Germany, I believe, and helped organize an educational exchange with the Pädagogische Hochschule Weingarten, and I have it on good authority that he is a seriously hardcore hiker, which I believe, since my wife and I have been hiking with him in the States on a German club excursion ourselves.

German @ Samford University

Deutsch macht Spass mit Frau Ferguson!

Dr. Angela Ferguson, another of my previous German professors from Samford, recently challenged her German 201 class to do a podcast promoting foreign language study and 4 German students, Ian Hudson, Hunter Martiniere, Melissa Carlisle, and Crute wrote the podcast. The brief video below is about the mistakes people make when they don’t learn a foreign language properly and is also visible on the ACTFL website.

I suppose the German the guy is trying to communicate is trying to say something like, “May I play against your friend,” but instead he says, “Can I have your girlfriend?”

You may request to join the Samford University German Program Facebook Community or the German Learning Help FB Group

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Die Zauberziege – ein Gedicht von Sarah Nicole Harris

Posted on May 24, 2011 by germanle

Sarah asked for my help with a poem she had concocted in German, so I obliged. This is the interesting result.

Die Zauberziege

,,Hallo, ich bin die Zauberziege!"

Die Zauberziege

Die Ziege schreibt meine Lieblingsbriefe,

Aber sie mag, dass die Sätze schließen.

„Angst vor den Punkten!” hat man gesagt…

Angst vor nichts, ‘ne gute Arbeit gemacht!

 

Die Ziege hat ‘nen ideenreichen Kopf,

Überlaufend genau wie ein Kochtopf.

„Einzige weisen Freunde!” sagt das Gedicht,

Wie schade! Ich glaube, es hat Einsicht!

 

Die hat eine unbewegliche Miene und Humor

Sie ist manchmal ironisch und meistens sauber.

„Diese Ziege stammt aus dem Meer!” sagt sie,

„Aber trockener als die Sonne,” lacht sie.

 

Letztens, die Ziege ist ein guter Schriftsteller,

Sie ist aufmerksam, fürsorglich und umso besser!

Man sagt, der Elefant wird es nie vergessen.

Hoffentlich hat ihn die gescheite Ziege gegessen!

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Beatles in Germany, Klaus Voormann, Backbeat

Posted on May 20, 2011 by germanle

Backbeat (1994) is a film providing the backstory to the Beatles’ days in Hamburg, playing on the Reeperbahn, getting deported from Germany, getting into lots of trouble, etc. The film is not suitable for minors.

As an interesting sidenote, the song “Wonderwall” uses a plethora of Beatles references (“Wonderwall” itself is the title of a George Harrison album), and the line, “Backbeat, word is on the street,” conjures the then-recently released Beatles film Backbeat. Oasis’s “Wonderwall” came out in 1995.

The film is mainly inspired by the life of the elusive “Fifth Beatle” Stuart Sutcliffe, who was an artist who met the Liebespaar Astrid Kirchherr and Klaus Voormann, who were also artists, while playing in the band in Hamburg. Stuart went on to basically steal Astrid away from Klaus and get engaged to her to be married. Almost all of the film takes place before the Beatle lads had really made it big.

Even though Stuart, who was a very close friend of John’s, stole Astrid away from Klaus, Klaus remained a lifelong friend of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Klaus, also a graphic artist (Graphiker), designed the Revolver album cover as per John’s request. George Harrison was one of Klaus’s favorite people.

Now, for Beatle fans, here’s another benefit to knowing German – you can listen to interviews of famous people speaking in German to find out more about them. Here’s one interview in Deutsch (which Klaus says he prefers), and one in English.

Deutsche Welle:

Auf Englisch (different interview):

Also, if you’re in Hamburg, you’ll probably want to visit the Beatles Museum in Hamburg. The Beatles recorded German versions of their songs “She Loves You” (“Sie liebt Dich”) and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” (“Komm gib mir deine Hand”) in German as well.

Note the grammatical error in the following video’s title – it should be “Die Beatles” for the plural unless they mean “Das Beatles Lied ‘Komm gib mir deine Hand.’”

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Conversational German Group @ Hoover Library Plaza, May 26th & July 28, 2011, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Posted on May 18, 2011 by germanle

Achtung! May 26th & July 28, 2011, 6:30-7:30 p.m @ the Hoover Library Plaza. This a great, free networking event for foreign language people and there is also a French conversation group.

Hoover Library German Group

Great for networking and meeting other people who want to learn German in Birmingham, AL

There will be a free German group meeting for conversation at the Hoover Library where Zac Sullivan will be helping facilitate German conversation. The group should be for all levels on German and is not instructional, but rather conversational. If you know someone who may be interested, please let them know by sharing this via FB, Twitter, or e-mail.

More info:

Conversations @ Plaza, Hoover Public Library
Purpose

• This is not an instructional class.
• The purpose of this group is for language practice and fun.
• The group was started so that persons at all skill levels can gather and practice language skills that they otherwise may not get to use.

Rules

• The facilitator sets the topics.
• Everyone will get a chance to speak and ask questions if they so choose.
• The featured language should be spoken from this point to the end of the meeting.

Conversation starters

1. Introductions – Vorstellungen
2. What are their reasons for attending (work, school, travel or casual learner)? Warum sprechen Sie Deutsch / Warum möchten Sie Deutsch sprechen?
3. Where did you learn what you already know? Wo haben Sie Deutsch gelernt / Deutsch studiert?
4. What do you hope to learn from the group? Was möchten Sie von der Gruppe lernen?
5. Does anyone have travel stories as it pertains to the featured language? Hat jemand eine gute deutsche Reisegeschichte / wer von Ihnen ist schon mal nach Deutschland gereist?
• What to expect where – Was soll man erwarten?
• Landmarks and places to see – Was soll man machen? – Was sind die besten Sehenswürdigkeiten?
• Best time to visit – Wann soll man dort hinfahren? Was ist die beste Zeit des Jahres in Deutschland und warum?
• Holidays and festivals – Feiertage und Feste – Was gefällt Ihnen?
• The most significant cultural differences – Wovon bekommt man den größten Kulturschock?
• Best foods of the region and the best places to eat – Was soll man essen? Wo soll man speisen?
6. Tell about a time that you had to use the language and it was difficult. Wann war es für Sie schwierig / am schwierigsten, Deutsch sprechen zu müssen?
7. Tell about a time of using the language and it was easy or made you proud of yourself. – Wann waren Sie am stolzesten wegen Ihrer Verwendung der deutschen Sprache?
8. Describe how to complete a very simple task or give short directions. Könnten Sie mir sagen, wie ich etwas machen könnte?
9. What are the best features of the Hoover Public Library? – Was sind die besten Eigenschaften der Hoover Library?
10. How often do you attend the library? Wie oft kommen Sie zur Hoover Library?
11. What is your favorite book? Was ist Ihr Lieblingsbuch?
12. What are the best features of the City of Hoover? Was sind die besten Eigenschaften von Hoover?
13. What is your ideal day? Wie sieht ein idealer Tag aus? / Beschreiben Sie einen idealen Tag für Sie.
14. How is the weather today (encourage attendees to be as descriptive as possible)? Wie ist das Wetter heute? Wolkig / Neblig / bedeckt / schlecht / gut / toll / regnerisch / es regnet / es donnert / es schneit
15. What is your favorite time of the year (this can cover weather, holidays and other celebrations)? Was ist Ihre Lieblingszeit oder Lieblingssaison des Jahres?
16. What is your favorite food or drink and where is the best place to find it? Was ist Ihr Lieblings-essen oder -Getränk und wo findet man das am besten?
17. Do you have a favorite sport, do you play a sport and what is your favorite team? Haben Sie einen Lieblingssport / Treiben Sie Sport? Spielen Sie einen Sport? Was ist Ihr Lieblingsteam / Ihre Lieblingsmannschaft?
19. What is your favorite and least favorite color(s) and why? Was ist Ihre Lieblingsfarbe und warum? Was ist Ihre zweite Lieblingsfarbe? Dunkel-violett? Hellblau? Dunkelgrün? Schwarz? Weiß? Rot? Gelb?
20. PC or Mac—iPod or MP3 why? Warum?
21. Name a talent that you wish for and why? Welches Talent möchten Sie am liebsten besitzen?
22. Was this conversation group fun and useful? War dieses Deutsch sprechendes Zusammenkommen spaßig und / oder nützlich?

Zac Sullivan
xaksullivan@gmail.com
German | ESL Teacher
@ http://www.germanlearninghelp.com/

We are also meeting October 8th, 2011 and Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at the Hoover Library in the Coffeeology section.

Some of the Most Important German Adjectives:

alt – old
ängstlich – scared
ärgerlich – annoying
arm = poor
aufgeregt – excited
ausgezeichnet – excellent
bescheiden – modest
böse – evil / mean
brilliant (as in French) – brilliant
dankbar – grateful
doof / dumm – stupid
ehrgeizig – ambitious
ehrlich – honest
eifersüchtig – jealous
einfach – easy
erfahren – experienced
erfolgreich – successful
ernst – earnest / serious
erste, -r, -s – first
faul = lazy
fett – fat
fleißig = hardworking
frech – cheeky
freundlich – friendly
froh – glad
ganz – quite / whole / all the…
gebildet – educated
geizig – stingy
gemein – mean
gierig – greedy
glücklich – happy
grausam – cruel
groß – tall, big
häßlich – ugly
gerecht – fair / just
glücklich – happy
groß – big / tall / great (großzügig = generous)
gut – good (gutaussehend = good-looking)
hervorragend – excellent
hilflos – helpless
hilfsbereit – helpful (ready to help)
höflich – polite
hübsch – handsome / pretty
intelligent = intelligent
jugendlich – youthful
jung – young
klein – little, small
klug – clever / smart
komisch – comical / funny
lächerlich – ridiculous
lang – long (langsam = slow, langweilig = boring)
laut – loud
leise – quiet
lustig – fun, funny, cheerful
machbar – doable / makeable
möglich – possible / likely
munter – happy / cheerful / wide-awake
mutig – bold, brave, lion-hearted
müde – tired
neidisch – envious
nervös – nervous
nett – nice

neu – new
neugierig – curious
pünktlich – punctual
reich = rich
ruhig – calm, quiet
schlau – sly
schnell – fast (blitzschnell = lightning fast)
schön – beautiful
schüchtern – shy
schwach – weak
seltsam –strange
spät – late
stark – strong
stolz = proud
süß – sweet
tapfer – brave
traurig – sad
treu – true / loyal
überrascht – surprised
verrückt – crazy
vertrauenswürdig = trustworthy
vorsichtig – careful – carefully
wahrscheinlich – probable / probably
weich – soft
weise – wise
wütend – furious
zufrieden – content
zuverlässig – reliable

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Amy Walker, The Accent Girl – Das Akzent-Mädchen

Posted on May 17, 2011 by germanle

This video speaks for itself in 21 different accents.

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German Viral Video – Nein, Mann – ich will noch nicht gehen – ich will noch ein bisschen tanzen

Posted on May 13, 2011 by germanle

Article by Zac Sullivan
Follow on Twitter @XakSullivan
Zac Sullivan posts include Intro to German Music & Music Makes You Smarter

Smoothly seguing from dancing into May from the last post “Tanz in den Mai“, what is it about this German viral video “Nein, Mann” that scores it so many hits on YouTube (going on 30 million views)? You can see Laserkraft videos of dancing into May from this May 1st, 2011 on Laserkraft’s YouTube channel, btw.

It has been very super-popular in Germany. Is it the low-fi video production? No, it’s probably the catchy chorus and dancey beat. Any other theories? Post in the comments section. Wait – perhaps it has to do with the common theme of the song being like a country song in taking a person through many situations and then resorting to a relevant chorus. Jedenfalls, das Lied ist bestimmt ein Ohrwurm.

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Tanz in den Mai | Über den Wolken

Posted on May 2, 2011 by germanle

May Day | ,,Tanz in den Reinhardt Mey?”

Tanz in den Mai

Mayday Mayday we're going down

Tanz in den Mai! Dance into May! The first of May is a day of celebration, and a day, upon which, if you are a German in America you might not want your significant other being alone in Germany and going to festive parties with other single people. On the first of May a common tradition is raising the maypole, a towering symbol of the celebration of fertility. Related topics include Walpurgisnacht and May Day.

Do you celebrate May Day – do you dance into May?

It’s a big day for parties in Germany. Here in America it is not widely celebrated, although the expression “May Day, May Day,” has become associated with a pilot going down.

Also, this May 1st, 2011, brings us news that Osama Bin Laden is now dead. What say ye? Was sagt ihr dazu?

Disclaimer: ,,Tanz in den Mai” is of course not to be confused with ,,Tanz in den (Reinhardt) Mey.”

Reinhardt Mey is the author of that good ol’ campfire song, “Über den Wolken.” The above video will teach you how to play “Über den Wolken” using basic guitar chords. For Skype Lessons on Guitar | Piano in English or German, you can check out my other site Fret Zero Guitar – there are also some free guitar lesson videos there.

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Energy saving lightbulgs could be causing cancer | Energiesparlampen könnten Krebs verursachen!

Posted on April 22, 2011 by germanle
Did the government ban light bulbs that don't cause cancer?

Did the government ban light bulbs that don't cause cancer?

Englische Fassung: My goodness!! It seems as if the energy saving bulbs could be causing cancer! And they stink to heaven to boot – what do y’all think of that, dear readers? Especially if people are required to buy energy saving bulbs by the government…#energy saving bulbs stink #toxic #phenol #cancer

Meine Güte!!
Es scheint, als ob, die Energiesparlampen Krebs verursachen könnten! Und sie stinken auch zum Himmel – was haltet ihr denn davon, liebe Leser? Besonders wenn die Leute von der Regierung verpflichtet werden, die Energiesparlampen zu kaufen…Gift aus #Energiesparlampen belasten die Raumluft…#Schadstoffe #Phenol #Krebs

    #Sterb’ ich jetzt? | #Am I going to die now? #Sterben wir alle? #Are we all going to die?

#We’re all gonna die.

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Is Schnitzel Ranch the Best German Restaurant in Alabama?

Posted on April 5, 2011 by germanle

When first I drove up to Schnitzel Ranch, I was excited even though the building exterior is humble. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

The friendly waitstaff and the delicious foods brought my taste-buds delight in unpretentious surroundings, offering a variety of dishes including many types of Schnitzel. For those of you who don’t know what Schnitzel is, first of all, shame on you, and secondly, Schnitzel is akin to the German verb “schneiden,” which means to cut. Thus, Schnitzel is a cutlet of meat, often pork, though I prefer quality chicken breast.

Check out this intriguing video about Schnitzel Ranch, located in Huntsville, AL and a bit of its backstory:

If that link doesn’t work, you can check out Schnitzel Ranch on Clip Syndicate.

If you do not think Schnitzel Ranch is the best restaurant in Alabama, please post in the comments what you think is, so that I may eat there as well.
Like Schnitzel Ranch on Facebook!

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