Writing Activity
About This Activity
Language
German
Level
Intermediate 2
(4th semester college level)
Previous Knowledge Needed
Past tense structure; food vocabulary words
Time Needed
30 minutes class time
Weekend to complete homework
Goal
For students to creatively write on a topic through use of a Microsoft Word, and to include in their composition new vocabulary, images, and layout to make their assignment both creatively written and visually pleasing.
Materials Needed
- Handouts 1-3
- Microsoft Word/Google Sheets
In-Class Section
Time needed: 15 minutes
Materials needed: Handout 1
Students will first receive handout 1, and the instructor will go through each term and its definition, giving the students a chance to fill in the definition on the sheet. As the instructor goes through the vocabulary, the students should be repeating the words back.
Vocabulary Words
| Deutsch | English |
| das Restaurant, -s | restaurant |
| die Speisekarte, -n | menu |
| der/die Kellner/in, -/-nen | waiter |
| die Vorspeise, -n | appetizer |
| die Hauptspeise, -n | entree |
| das Abendessen, – | dinner |
| der Nachtisch, -e | dessert |
| die Stimmung, -en | atmosphere; mood |
| das Trinkgeld, -er | tip |
| bestellen | to order |
| schmecken | to taste |
| möchten | would like |
| scharf | sharp; spicy |
| süß | sweet |
| lecker | tasty |
| salzig | salty |
| sauer | sour |
| bitter | bitter |
| heiß | hot |
| kalt | cold |
| lauwarm | lukewarm |
| Das schmeckt gut / schlect. | That tastes good / bad. |
| Hat’s geschmeckt? | Did it taste good? |
| Noch ein Glas Wein, bitte. | Another glass of wine, please. |
| Ich möchte zahlen. | I’d like to pay. |
| zusammen | together |
| getrennt | separate |
After the vocabulary section, the teacher will pass out Handout 2 and go through each thing listed with the students. The students will then role play in groups of two or three, with one student being the waiter and the other(s) being the customer(s). This will familiarize them more with the vocabulary.
Hausaufgabe – Homework
In the last five minutes of class, the teacher will pass out Handout 3 and go through the assignment, making sure that everything is clear for the students. They will have the weekend to complete the writing assignment, which will be due the following Monday.
My Thoughts
I find that this assignment is an interesting topic for the students, and extremely useful for their lives – probably none of them will become food critics in real life, but most likely all of them will go to restaurants and talk about their food and experience. It’s something that is very normal and familiar, making it easy for them to formulate their thoughts into a composition.