The Importance of Learning a Foreign Language

Here's an interesting article from the TSA Tours website. Note the reference to the German-American Partnership Program (GAPP)!

This is fun

Take this quiz on German-speaking celebrities!

Frau Fleming scored 89% ~ let me know how you do in the comments below!

Art's Survivors of Hitler's War

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/arts/design/01abroad.html?_r=1

Oh, the Weltschmerz of it all

http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-06-07/opinion/17301307_1_german-weltschmerz-national-spelling-bee

Dan Hamilton, Professor of International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, is also Dean of Waldsee, America's German Language Village, an übercool German immersion adventure program:
http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org

February 20, 2010: Fabulous Show at the beautiful Paramount Theatre in Oakland

I want to let you know about the show that's coming up at the Paramount on February 20:

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester

Greg and I went to see him perform in October 2008 at the Paramount, and the show was really something special. With elegance and biting humor, Raabe sings both English and German songs from the 1920s. He also known for his interpretations of today's pop music - his version of Britney Spears' "Oops I Did It Again" is a hoot. The group is very popular in Germany, and they are developing a significant following here in the Bay Area as well - this will be their third visit here in as many years.

http://www.palastorchester.de/

Prof. John Connelly's fascinating speech on the fall of the Berlin Wall

Connelly is a professor of history at UC Berkeley and describes his first-hand experiences during this amazing time.

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/event_details.php?seriesid=f9cd6448-710b-484a-95dc-dd14987b26e3&p=1&ipp=15&category=

20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

As you know, today marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

There is lots of information on the news, but the most exciting for Foothill HS has to do with our partner school in former East Germany, the Herder-Gymnasium in Halle, Germany.
I have not had a chance to pick up the Tri-Valley newspaper today, but it seems that a photo on the front page of the Morning Report section clearly features the giant domino that was painted by students at Herder (the giant dominos are being toppled tonight in Berlin to symbolize the fall of the wall).

Even more exciting: according to the exchange partner of one of my students (yay Facebook!), CBS news came to Herder-Gymnasium and interviewed students there, and the segment will be on the news tonight!

Here are several articles on the anniversary and the celebrations:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_13746385?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com

http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_13736987?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com

http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_13745178?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com

http://www.insidebayarea.com/nation-world/ci_13747110