Perfecting the Perfekt!

Structurally:

Fall-Vergnügen: Perfecting the Perfect is a six-week German course focused on mastering the Perfekt tense, one of the most important grammatical structures for everyday communication in German. Students will review the essentials of forming and using the perfect tense, revisit familiar past participles, and learn a wide range of new and useful participles. The course will also provide extensive practice with the helping verbs haben and sein, including when and how to use each one.

Functionally:

Students will practice using the perfect tense in meaningful, practical situations rather than simply completing grammar exercises. Through role plays, games, guided activities, and conversation, students will use the Perfekt to talk about what they have done, what happened, where they have been, and experiences from their everyday lives. Activities will provide repeated opportunities to recognize and produce past participles, choose the correct helping verb, and form complete sentences in the perfect tense.

The course is designed to make working with the Perfekt more automatic and comfortable. Students will have opportunities to practice both familiar and newly learned vocabulary while focusing on accurate and natural communication. Worksheets and other guided materials will support the in-class activities and give students additional opportunities to reinforce what they have learned.

Objectives:

At the end of the six-week course, students will be able to form and use the German perfect tense with greater accuracy and confidence. They will be able to recognize and produce common past participles, select the appropriate helping verb (haben or sein), and use the Perfekt to communicate about past events and personal experiences. Students will strengthen their everyday speaking skills and become more comfortable using the past tense spontaneously in German.

Course Dates, Location, & Time:

This is a virtual class that meets for 6 weeks at the GAI. Each class session will include a combination of guided grammar review, role plays, games, and communicative activities designed to give students plenty of practice using the perfect tense. Worksheets and other course materials will be provided. Come ready to play, practice, and perfect your Perfekt!

Course Materials:

Worksheets, practice activities, and other instructional materials will be provided by the instructor. Students should bring something to write with and be prepared to participate actively in class activities.

Prerequisites:

This course is intended for German learners who have already encountered the perfect tense and have a basic foundation in German. Students should be familiar with some common past participles and have a basic ability to communicate in German. The course will review the fundamentals while introducing new vocabulary and providing extensive practice, making it appropriate for learners who want to strengthen their confidence and accuracy with the Perfekt.

Minimum Enrollment:

If there are too few students registered to run the class, the Director of Language Education will contact the student(s) in the week prior to the course start date to discuss other class options.

Questions?

Contact our Language Education Department at [email protected].