On the ‘fifth Tuesday’ in July, with no class taking place after us, we used the time to enjoy a German variety show.

Like our weekly addition of a German song, music is good for the ears to get accustomed to German pronunciation. The songs are many years old but have clear speech that modern songs lack.

A trip to the Beechworth Oktoberfest was suggested and welcomed by most members and is now organized for the 12th of October.

The weekly conversation is getting better and better.

Horst

Monday 1st July was my birthday and the group surprised me after our class next day with a nice coffee and cake celebration. Thank you, friends.

We continue to listen to a German song each session which helps to get the ear accustomed to German sounds and different voices.

We welcomed a new member in July and will do our best to help him to enjoy our relaxed way of learning. I will try to help him to catch up and release all the German knowledge that is hidden in his brain.

The general knowledge of the group is growing well.    

Horst                        

The happy German group had some interesting happenings in June.

One member came back from an extended holiday in Germany (schnapps photo) and told us in good German pronunciation about her wonderful experiences meeting her extended family in the north of Germany. A while later another member returned from a discovery holiday in Austria and Slovenia and again explained with good pronunciation what he discovered about his childhood.

It gave us an incentive to do this sort of talk more often.  I was able to tell the group in German a little bit about my life and we will continue this with other members in the coming months.

I commend all the members for their diligence and enthusiasm to make progress with the good old German Proßt (Cheers!).

Horst Gunther

The German group members are progressing well and the catching up by the new members is remarkable. We have reached what German teachers would class as B1 level.  I look forward to the weekly meeting with the present members who show respect to each other, enthusiasm and share a lovely coffee time after the meetings. The common background of members is showing all the time. Thank you, members.

​Horst Gunther

​Some weeks ago class member Siggi suggested a trip to the Hofbraühaus restaurant in Melbourne. The suggestion was unanimously accepted and, thanks to Siggi, was well organised. Some family members were able to join us as well.

The outing was a memorable experience and I believe a bonding one. The food and drinks were authentic and a delightful atmosphere developed as we enjoyed the genuine Bavarian beer or Schnaps.

We drifted contentedly back to the station, surfed the adjoining shopping centre and, at the appropriate time, joined our train home in a wonderful mood.

​It was a long day and I'm fairly sure everyone slept well that night. I guess also, for some of us, the experience brought back happy memories.

Apart from this happy event, group members are becoming more and more conversant in the German language, with good conversation occurring during our regular weekly classes. 

Horst Gunther 

The German group is studying well and eager to learn. The new members are fitting well into lessons and catching up on the basics. Due to the initiative of Siggi, a plan has developed to visit the Hofbräuhaus in Melbourne next month for a meal together.  The group will travel to Melbourne by early morning train on Tuesday 16 April, enjoy the atmosphere and food of the Hofbräuhaus, then travel home by train, arriving back late that day.  As a result, there will be no German class in Room 1 on Tuesday 16 April between 12.15 and 1.45 pm.  
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Horst

It was ‘all hands on deck’ in February for the German class.  Horst was unable to attend the first three classes, however was keen for the group to come together to welcome and work with the new class members.  Week 2 began with sharing of introductions and migration stories.  Horst emailed video suggestions which Bev screened for the class who also suggested ideas and resources.  A segment suggested by Sigi (Lin) on Vegetables in Week 3 was followed by a video of recipe for Kartoffelsalat (Potato Salad) in German.  New members Irina, Meg and Patricia have a smattering of German and were able to follow along.. Sigi also demonstrated skill in using the whiteboard in a segment on the German Alphabet. Retired meteorologist Graham was just the right person to present a segment on weather to start Lesson 4, after a very warm welcome to Horst on his return.  Horst then eased back in to his role in a segment on pronunciation and conversation. This was followed by a presentation and Q&A session in German by Lou Sigmund on his recent overseas trip  Thank you, Lou.  The session ended happily with ‘Coffee, Cake and Conversation’ in the kitchen to celebrate Horst’s return! 

Bev Lee

​Im Februar hieß es für den Deutschkurs „alle Mann an Deck“. Horst konnte nicht an den ersten drei Kursen teilnehmen, wollte jedoch, dass die Gruppe zusammenkam, um die neuen Kursteilnehmer willkommen zu heißen und mit ihnen zusammenzuarbeiten. Woche 2 begann mit dem Austausch von Vorstellungen und Migrationsgeschichten. Horst schickte Videovorschläge per E-Mail, die Bev für die Klasse überprüfte, die auch Ideen und Ressourcen vorschlug. Auf einen von Sigi (Lin) vorgeschlagenen Abschnitt zum Thema Gemüse in Woche 3 folgte ein Video mit einem Rezept für Kartoffelsalat (Kartoffelsalat) auf Deutsch. Die neuen Mitglieder Irina, Meg und Patricia sprechen ein wenig Deutsch und konnten mithalten. Sigi zeigte auch Geschick im Umgang mit dem Whiteboard in einem Abschnitt über das deutsche Alphabet. Der pensionierte Meteorologe Graham war genau die richtige Person, um zu Beginn der vierten Lektion einen Abschnitt über das Wetter zu halten, nachdem er Horst bei seiner Rückkehr sehr herzlich willkommen geheißen hatte. Anschließend widmete sich Horst in einem Abschnitt über Aussprache und Konversation wieder seiner Rolle. Es folgte eine Präsentation und eine Frage-und-Antwort-Runde auf Deutsch von Lou Sigmund über seine jüngste Auslandsreise. Danke, Lou. Die Sitzung endete glücklich mit „Kaffee, Kuchen und Gespräch“ in der Küche, um Horsts Rückkehr zu feiern!
(Thanks, Google Translate! Bev)

To my class members, "Danke für die Freundschaft die ihr mir geschenkt habt".  Thank you for the friendship you gave me. 

To the U3A Committee, thank you for the wonderful organisation which makes U3A work so smoothly and my work with the German group possible!

Gruß Horsto

​​I am very proud of this group!

Horst Gunther

German class members have increased their vocabulary substantially.  It is being put to good use in both reading and writing. Writing gives me insight into where they need to fill gaps in their knowledge of grammar.

Throughout the year it has been obvious how keen the members are to learn, so it is a pleasure to find the right lesson and share my knowledge with them.

Tuesday 12th September will be a day off for the class because my daughters are taking me on a trip to Western Australia.  However, I will leave class members plenty to read!

​Horst

The German group can often be found after class in the kitchen celebrating birthdays with coffee and cake, and Horst’s 90th birthday in early July was no exception.

This photo of group members who had stayed behind with Horst to tidy up was taken just before they were leaving – Horst for a two-week cruise, a birthday gift from his children, the class members for a two-week break.  

​Bev Lee

The German group goes along like a wildfire.  The vocabulary is increasing, and some difficult grammar is slowly sinking in.  We have increased reading and hearing and I hope writing will soon follow.  Talking on the phone was practised.  

​The group will have a winter recess on the 11th and 18th of July.


​Horst

The German group is making good progress. The combination of beginners and advanced students is working well.

​It is pleasing to share my knowledge with such a keen to learn group.

​Horst

The German group happily assembles every Tuesday at midday and eagerly absorbs the new lessons and vocabulary presented. Humorous commentary delights everybody and helps to contain good pronunciation.

If there is any interest in what is presented, try to see our U3A Weebly site, where all lessons are kept thanks to the great help of Bev Lee. Unfortunately, you miss the homework which all members digest.

​I am happy and delighted that I can still share my German knowledge with this keen group.

​Horst Gunther

Sharing my German knowledge with the German group is the highlight of my week.  We have this year a combined group of beginners and advanced members and we begin the session with the beginners lektions, which is also a review for the advanced members, who act as helpers to the beginners.  It works well and good advance is notable.  The beginners again receive more information and knowledge of pronunciation by listening to the advanced sessions.  The members are keen to further their language skills and the sessions are filled with a good splash of humor, which certainly helps learning.

​Horst

The new season has started very well.  The group is very keen to learn and I’m very pleased to share my knowledge with them.  We are continuing our tradition of having ‘Kaffee un Kuchen’ after class for special occasions, this month celebrating Barbara’s birthday with a delicious cake made by Sophie. 

​Horst

Held each Tuesday from 12.15 to 1.45pm, the first class commenced on 7th February in the U3A Room!  

After trialling a fresh page for Lessons 2023, we've decided to just add them to the Lessons page to make it easier for Horst to access previous lessons using the right hand column. 

Bev Lee
Website Manager

​Now at the end of the year, I believe the German group has been a wonderful experience for all concerned, including me.  Every member has gathered an advanced knowledge of the basic German language in vocabulary and pronunciation. 

It is now time to overcome the natural inhibition to speak freely using the accumulated wealth of vocabulary and not be afraid to ask questions if unsure of a word.  My hope is that we make big advances next year in that respect. 

For those members or new interested persons who wish to start afresh, we will give you a new beginners course next year.  
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I thank every member for given me the opportunity to freshen up my own German knowledge and Beverley Lee for helping me to make the weekly sessions easy to present.

I wish everybody connected to U3A a Merry Christmas time and a Happy New Year.   

Frohe Weinacht und ein glückliches Neujahr .

Horst Gunther

Our German group is making good progress, the wealth of German vocabulary obtained throughout the year is now enforced by translating English into German which was initiated by a member of the group. I always appreciate suggestions of the group members. It shows great interest and willingness by the members to learn and further their pronunciation and vocabulary.

The group continues to be a happy group at times creating a most humorous atmosphere.

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Horst Gunther