Englisch

“More than 350 million people in the world speak English and the rest, it sometimes seems, try to. It would be charitable to say that the results are sometimes mixed. (…)

To be fair, English is full of booby traps for the unwary foreigner. Any language where the unassuming word fly signifies an annoying insect, a means of travel, and a critical part of a gentleman’s apparel is clearly asking to be mangled.” (Bill Bryson, Mother Tongue)

Germans use English all the time, and often not correctly.
Can you spot the five mistakes? (Solutions further below)

1. Do you hear that?! It is that evergreen my parents love.
2. This brand new beamer is really great.
3. My handy doesn’t work.
4. The talk master is boring today.
5. My oldtimer cost $ 22,000.

We at the Gymnasium Altenholz try to ensure that pupils show good results in spite of the difficulties. We aim to teach them how to communicate and express themselves in English and also introduce them to the various cultures of English-speaking countries like Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia or India.

English as, the global language of today, is of prime importance at the Gymnasium Altenholz.
Teaching starts in Year 5 continuing the first encounter children had with this language at primary level and (usually) ends with Abitur in Year 13. There is a LK and there is also English as Profilfach in the new Oberstufe.
For the first 5 years of learning pupils use the G21 books by Cornelsen Verlag, later on many different novels and texts, films and audios are discussed in class.
English is not only part of the normal lesson but also part of school life with theatre plays, visits of performances, contests, projects and a link to the Royal Grammar School in Lancaster.
An additional component of English learning is bilingual Geography which is open to pupils. They get additional English lessons in classes 5 and 6 (the EVK) and from Year 7 onwards can decide to be taught Geography in English.
Pupils who enjoyed primary school in the bilingual classes of the Claus-Rixen-Schule and those who have a linguistic background from an English-speaking country have the chance to join an English course that is aimed at their fairly advances abilities and special needs (Advanced Class of English – ACE).

At present there is also an Business English class on a voluntary basis for pupils of class 10 who meet every fortnight and aim at passing a Business degree. This course is run by Didacta and a fee applies.

See you

your English teachers

Links
Pupil results
LK site about Garland’s “The Beach”
http://www.the-beach.net.ms/

This is the result of a workshop of some of us that is meant to be an ongoing help in the Oberstufe for producing all kinds of texts. We expect all pupils in Oberstufe to download this Manual to use it.

Writing Skills Manual Download

The best online dictionary
http://dict.leo.org/

Skills practise
Learning English with BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/

English grammar online – Übungen for everybody
http://www.ego4u.de

More grammar practise
http://www.homepage.bnv-bamberg.de/

Manhattan Murder Mystery
Manhattan Murder Mystery Part I
Manhattan Murder Mystery Part II


solutions:

1. golden oldie; an evergreen is a plant
2. data projector
3. handy means praktisch; cell phone, mobile (phone)
4. chat-show host
5. old-timer is an old person! vintage car