Welcome to Gymnasium Horn Upper School!

- 2 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Greetings in formal contexts

Hello, I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m ... I’d like to introduce myself. I’m ...

(Very) nice to meet you Pleased to meet you It’s a pleasure to meet you

Likewise ...

I don’t think/believe we have met before

- 3 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Chain story telling

Pick up a postcard from the floor which you think makes you remember one of the following:

(a) a memorable event in your life

(b) a positive or negative past or recent experience

(c) a story about a friend or family member

- 4 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Chain story telling

Find another student in the class and introduce yourselves to one another

Tell your partner what the picture makes you remember

Then listen to your partner’s story

Each student must tell his/her story for about one to two minutes only

- 5 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Chain story telling

When you have finished exchange pictures and find another student to talk to

Introduce yourselves to one another

Tell your partner the story of the person you last talked to - give his/her name

Swap pictures again and move on to talk to someone reporting the story you’ve just listened to

- 6 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Here is what I expect from you

- 7 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Behaviour in class

Respectful, polite and friendly behaviour

Honesty

Accept hierarchy

Know boundaries and limits

Grown up working attitude: take over responsibility for your own personal learning success

Attentiveness and participation in class: no unrelated side conversations; no “sleeping”, no refusal to work

- 8 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Behaviour in class

No German; speak English ONLY

Have relevant material at hand (books, novels, handouts, homework)

Punctuality

No eating and drinking during class

No chewing gum

- 9 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Marking

3-4 oral or written exams, vocab tests; brief tests = 40%

Oral participation = 60%

- 10 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Criteria for oral grades

Speak English before and after the actual lesson.

Active participation is necessary for (very) good grades.

What you say:

Quality (= content + coherence)

Quantity (= appropriate length, no waffling)

Courage to begin a discussion / an interpretation

Reference to what classmates have said before

- 11 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Criteria for oral grades

How you say something (“communicative competence”):

Appropriate loudness, clarity and fluency

Appropriate vocabulary

Ability / willingness to paraphrase

Linguistic correctness (pronunciation, grammar etc.) but do not be afraid of (grammatical) mistakes

Willingness to elaborate, explain and illustrate

Appropriate verbal reaction to questions, especially when you cannot give an answer (= avoid silence)

- 12 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Any questions?

- 13 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Homework

Carefully carried out (form, handwriting, contents)

Checked regularly

No homework - tell me at very beginning of the lesson – NOT LATER

You are expected to have your homework even if you were absent

Will have influence on final mark

Identical pieces of homework both count as copied

- 14 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Missed lessons

Letters of excuse are only accepted in the first lesson after the one you missed - NOT LATER

You are responsible for catching up with what we dealt with during your absence

Ask a classmate for lesson vocab, homework and copies - NOT ME

In doubt: I will call parents/tutor or ask for medical certificate

I’m going to check with other teachers

- 15 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

No plagiarism (from the internet)

Plagiarism is theft; is punished severely

Normally I can tell immediately if the text is copied

Slightest doubts: you will be tested

Mark 00 for work habits

From then on you will be tested on your homework more thoroughly

I will talk with your parents/tutor/head mistress

- 16 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Any questions?

- 17 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Here is what you can expect from me

- 18 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Here is what you can expect from me

Respectful, polite and friendly treatment

No abuse of hierarchy

Competent leadership

Equal and fair treatment

Reasonable boundaries

Punctuality

- 19 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Here is what you can expect from me

Transparent and fair marking

Clear instructions

Being prepared to give reasons for educational decisions

Positive role model for English

Stress-free atmosphere: feel free/like to talk in English

- 20 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Here is what you can expect from me

Stress-free atmosphere: feel free to express your opinion

Clearly structured lessons

Reasonable and stimulating learning matter

- 21 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Any questions?

- 22 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Course Topic

1st term: Great Britain

- 23 -©2009 Dr. Claudia Börger

Course Topic

2nd term: USA