AATG News

Deborah Page, University of Cincinnati, American Association of Teachers of German Representative

2014 National German Exam

This year’s National German Exam had a new on-line format with 592 students in 18 schools around Ohio attempting the exam.  At level 2 fifty-one students scored in the 90th percentile, at level 3 twenty-six scored high and at level 4 eighteen scored in the 90th percentile.

Results were strong for Ohio and as a result, we were allowed to nominate 3 candidates for the award trip, instead of the usual 2 candidates.  Candidates must have scored in the 90th percentile, be 16 years of age by the end of the year, and have spent less than 2 weeks in a German speaking country to be eligible.

The Ohio nominees this year were:  Kristen Vellinga, a senior at Westlake High School (teacher:  Frau Kristen Harter), and Adam Erickson and Altan Turkoglu, students at Dublin Jerome High School (teacher: Frau Michele Engberg).

Congratulations go to Altan Turkoglu, a sophomore, who won a 3-week AATG/PAD study trip to Germany, including round-trip air transportation to Germany, where he will live in a home, attend classes at a Gymnasium, and participate in excursions to places of cultural and historical significance. A total of 39 students throughout the country were selected for this honor.

New Website in Progress

The chapter has a new website, which is currently under construction.  The URL for the site is:  http://www.ohioaatg.com/.  Bookmark the site now so you can follow its development.

Constitution & Bylaws Update

As part of the spring meeting, the chapter membership reviewed the current constitution and bylaws, and discussed sections that needed updating.  The officers will prepare amendments to the document and will distribute it to the membership in advance of the fall meeting, where the revised document will be voted upon.

Ohio AATG Fall conference

All German instructors are welcome at the chapter’s fall conference, which will be held November 7-8, 2014 at the Hyatt Place Worthington, the same location as the last two years.  Special room rates have been negotiated ($99 for a single, $109 for a double room).

The program has not been finalized, but we are happy that Mohammad Esa has agreed to present a workshop on fairy tales.  Anka Fehling (Beraterin für Deutschunterricht, Zentralstelle für Auslandsschulwesen) is scheduled to speak on the new organization of the ZfA in the US, how she can assist the schools in her assigned area.  Once the program is finalized, watch for registration information on the Ohio AATG and the OFLA Listservs.

Officer Elections To Be Held

Elections will be held at the fall conference meeting for a Second Vice President, who will make a six-year commitment (2 years as Second Vice President, 2 as First Vice President and 2 as President).  Due to a resignation, an election will also be held for the First Vice President, who will make a four-year commitment (2 years as First Vice President, 2 years as President).  Please contact Debbie Page if you are interested in serving in one of these two positions.

Early Fall Immersion Workshop: AATG Ohio and the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen

It’s not too early to think about professional development opportunities for the fall.  An immersion workshop has been set for all teachers of German in the tri-state area of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana for September 13-14, 2014.  The event will be held in the Cincinnati area.  Watch for registration information and program details from Anka Fehling, a German Language Advisory for the ZfA, based out of Chicago.  The preliminary program looks very interesting, with the opportunity to talk about pedagogy, keeping German programs strong, as well as practical information for lesson plans on a variety of topics and time to develop teaching units.