The German group gained a new member again this month. It is pleasing that Benalla U3A's efforts are well known around eastern Victoria. Group members are making  tremendous improvements in their general knowledge of the German language.  

​Horst Gunther

​The German group has a new member who has fitted well into the present program.  The first talk at the beginning of every weekly session shows a remarkable boost in confidence by individual members. The occasional slipping in of some grammar helps to boost that confidence.

We used free room time for a longer session on the fifth Tuesday to enjoy coffee and cake and listen to some German travel shows which help the ear to get used to the rhythm of the German language.

​We made significant progress this month.

Horst

​The German class is making very good progress. We're communicating more fluently, and reading aloud helps with pronunciation.

​Horst

The German group has settled in well.. We started with the basics to review our learning over the last few years. Next month we will delve a little more into the intricacies of the German language.

​Horst

Welcome, 2025. I look forward to another exciting year of learning and discovery.

Welcome to our new group for 2025.  Thank you for trusting me to share my German knowledge with you.

Welcome also to Beverley, our loyal supporter and outstanding helper. 

​I leave the following music with you to get you into our usual friendly spirit...   

​Horst

​"Dies sind die Weihnachtslieder die wir als Kinder Hörten. Habt alle eine gute Zeit.  Herzliche Grüße Horst"

2024 was a wonderful and productive year for the German Group. Everyone, including me, learned a lot. I was able to share my knowledge with the group, and they helped me understand why certain expressions are used. They also encouraged me to find clear grammatical answers in YouTube lessons. This way, we stayed a close-knit group, and I believe everyone enjoyed our Tuesdays together.

Keeping my brain active, which is important as we age, was beneficial, and I'm sure it helped all the group members too. Throughout the year, we discovered that many English words have been adopted into the German language. The group also enjoyed Oktoberfest in Beechworth.

I am very grateful to Beverley Lee for all the help and support she gave us throughout the year. I also want to thank the management for allowing us to meet in such a pleasant environment where learning is enjoyable. Our year-end celebration will be at Sophie’s beautiful garden and home.
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Horst Gunther

Many of you may have noticed that the German group had a fantastic time at the Oktoberfest in Beechworth! ​

Thank you for the selection of photos, Rene!  You can watch the video that René posted on YouTube below—it captures the fun of the event and the impressive turnout of people dressed in authentic German costume.

​I'm also pleased to share that conversation in German has become a regular feature of our sessions, and several written stories are being produced. Progress is being made!

Horst Gunther

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