Integrating the Standards for Foreign

Language Learning in the 21st Century

Council on Language InstructionMarch 2005Ingrid ZellerDepartment of German

Lernort Architektur: Bauhaus Chicago

Ideas Starting Points

Interests and Goals Wish to integrate culturally engaging and relevant material

and to make it come alive for the students Intersections between German and American art and culture -

architecture! Life in the metropolis History of Weimar Architecture as expression Interdisciplinary approaches to

learning Alternative to classroom instruction -

meaningful exploration and discovery of surroundings through excursions

Intended Features

Production of Materials for Instructional Use Production of Texts, Photographs, Interactive

Exercises, Videos by Students Integration of Interactive Videotour

Northwestern Universität: Bauhaus in Chicago

Bauhaus in

Chicago

A unit on the integration of architecture and culture in Chicago

and Berlin

Context of Unit:

University: Northwestern University

Course Title: Dimensions in Writing: Berlin -

Scenes of a Century (3rd year Intermediate Grammar and Composition)

1 quarter (9 weeks) 3 times a week for 50 minutes

15-25 students

Reichstag in Berlin

Goal of Course:

Composition writing Develop fluency and proficiency and

creativity in writing in German Review of grammar and vocabulary Understanding of different styles

and genres of texts Assignments:

3-5 essays (+ rewrites) 3-4 quizzes weekly journals / additional homework /

grammar exercises on Course Management System

1 final exam or project

Materials:

Reader With new texts and personally designed

activities and grammar exercises, but based on structure and approach of book Übergänge by Corl / Jurasek / Jurasek and the concept of “genre.”

Four units/topics (2-3 weeks each) Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik

by Larry Wells and Jamie Rankin Grammar exercises on Course

Management System

4 Topics: Topic 1

Berlin • Portraits of People Film: Lola Rennt Text: Portrait Franka Potente

Also Collage of short texts Grammar: word order, cases, der/ein words

Writing assignment: Collage and 2-page biography of famous

personality

4 Topics: Topic 2

Berlin • Portraits of Places Texts: Poems on Potsdamer Platz (Erich

Kästner / Sarah Kirsch) Artikel on Berlin Mitte from Deutschland

Nachrichten Video excerpts from Himmel über Berlin;

Turbo Grammar: adjective endings, adjectival

nouns, participles Writing assignment:

Photograph and 2-page description of place

4 Topics: Topic 3

Berlin • Third Reich • Narratives Film: Comedian Harmonists Texts: excerpts from Damals war es

Friedrich and das Tagebuch der Anne Frank

Grammar: present and past tenses Writing assignment:

2-page story about an event in your life or something related to Third Reich

4 Topics: Topic 4

Berlin and Chicago: Reports Culture and architecture in the

metropolis Texts: articles on Bauhaus on web Field trip Grammar: passive voice

Writing assignment / final project: 2-page article with photographs on a

given topic related to architecture in Berlin or Chicago

Interactive exercise to be prepared in teams

Architecture Unit:

Introduction 1: Personal questions on living

With partner Then discuss some points in class

(advantages of living in a high rise etc.)

Picture of favorite building Bring in and discuss in groups of

four Nominate particularly good one

to be shared with class

Architecture Unit:

Introduction 2: Vocabulary brainstorming

and association with city/country living

In groups Share with class How and why do big cities

develop? How and why does architecture

change?

Architecture Unit:

Introduction 3: Pictures of buildings from

architectural styles Working in groups to answer

questions about them Share with class

Worksheets on pictures of Weimar, Dessau, Berlin

Bauhaus Texts 1:

Discuss answers to questions on texts on web, including:

History of Bauhaus Individual choice of biography - mini-

oral reports Additional questions on transparency

for students to be answered by other student groups

Bauhaus Texts 2:

Draw strip of paper with two topics one large one on historical topic (many students

have same); one specific (individual) one on a workshop / biography

Research and work in groups to present results

Any additional information Slides, pictures

Discussion questions Lernspirale

Grammar: Passive Voice

Introduction of passive voice: Examples from Bauhaus texts Explanation Practice

Various exercises A/B handouts: von wem wurde gebaut…? Chicago history matching Chicago trivia

Bauhaus Chicago

Chicago architects Mies van der Rohe - Lückentext

Explanation of vocabulary not yet covered

Skyscraper; inventions; columns on vocabulary list

Discuss questions for tour guide

Field Trip

Santa Fe Building Staircase

Field Trip:

Architecture Tour (skyscraper) in German with Ingeborg Kohler (CAF) and lunch at German Restaurant

Students have questions prepared (2 per station)

Make notes on buildings (portrait of each with specific information)

Take pictures if possible Answer questions on art work (handout) Additional work sheets

Ingeborg Kohler and Students

In Santa Fe Building

In Thompson Center

Students on a Discovery Tour

Federal Center Plaza

The Search for the FBI

After Field Trip

Discuss reactions - extremely positive!

Collect information together on samples of buildings

Reconstruct portrait of building with information - who has it? • exchange of information based on note cards (portraits)

Go over one from each style (international, Chicago, postmodern)

Show parts of Bauhaus and Beyond: An Interactive Architektour

Have students complete exercises Continue as game (A/B):

Von wem wurde gebaut ….? Etc.

Activities by Students Student produce interactive exercises

in groups for class: Powerpoint (Monadnock • Federal Center •

Mies Quiz • Altes Museum • MCA • Millennium Park)

Baked Strudel Matching games Puzzles Sketches Interactive timeline Videos

Rest of class rates them (peer assessment)

Helmut Jahn • Interactive Timeline

Articles by Students:

Texts: Biographies Texts on buildings in Chicago Texts on buildings in Berlin

Guidelines: If possible, include own

collages • photos • videos Include interviews with people in or around the

building Grammar: include passive structures

Reactions from Students: The architecture tour was excellent! The field trip was one of the most

enjoyable parts of the class! In four years here I have never gone on a

field trip - this was great and so much fun! I didn’t really know Chicago - those

buildings and all the thought that went into creating them are amazing!

The trip opened up a new world for me!

Benefits: Great way to get the students out of the

classroom - brings material to life! Explore interesting German heritage in

their area Understand structure of society better

or some aspects of it that they wouldn’t otherwise be discussing

Provide bonding experience through the field trip

Students speak German and love it!

ACTFL Standards: Goals for Learning German

Standard 1: CommunicationCommunicate in German

Engage in communication in class / with tour guide / with other students / with people from the community

Work with written and spoken language Present information in interactive format

as a final project

Standard 2: CulturesGain Knowledge and Understanding of the German-Speaking World

Understanding relationship among perspectives, practices, and products of German-speaking cultures

Emphasis on history of Bauhaus architecture Shaped modern world Products associated with socialism / fascism

Keychain / tea kettle / furniture / house

Standard 3: ConnectionsConnect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information

Interdisciplinary Project - Culture and Architecture

Evaluate new information: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe = Founder of

International Style History of Bauhaus

Standard 4: ComparisonsDevelop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

Factual Architectural Development in USA/Germany

Helmut Jahn Sony Center/Thompson Center Market place concept

Comparison of Libraries Sports Stadiums

Linguistic connections (Bauhaus; passive voice)

Standard 5: CommunitiesParticipate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World

Use German both within and beyond the school setting

Excursion ventures into community Scavenger Hunt Individual projects (interviews, videos, photos ….)

Show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using German for personal enjoyment and enrichment

Go to Berlin and other places and explore the corresponding places

Come to a new understanding and curiosity regarding how cities and houses are built, societies are constructed

Bauhaus Chicago

Northwestern Universität: Bauhaus in ChicagoBauhaus and Beyond: An Interactive ArchitekTour