Chapter 3: Der Sport
Table of Contents
Der Sport A
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as variable prepositions (accusative and dative).
interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about athletics and recreation at a German university.
communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to athletics and recreation at a German university.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
| Human body | der Arm, das Bein, der Körper, die Kraft, der Rücken, die Schulter aktiv, fit, fit bleiben, die Gesundheit, gesund |
| Sports | das Spiel, Fußball spielen der Sport, der Sportler/die Sportlerin, sportlich, Sport treiben |
| Names of individual sports | |
| Frequency of activities | jährlich, monatlich, (nicht) oft, regelmäßig, sportlich, täglich, mehrmals täglich, wöchentlich |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
| Variable prepositions (accusative or dative) | im Fitnessstudio, im Sportzentrum, auf dem Feld, auf dem Sportplatz, in der Turnhalle |
| Modal verbs | wollen: Willst du am Wochenende ins Fitnessstudio gehen? mögen: Welche Sportarten magst du? |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
| There are no athletic programs at German universities and no scholarship players. There are, however, intramural options—some competitive—and fitness options. And only a few universities offer degrees in sports education, including Paderborn. | German tuition is free and fees are minimal compared to the U.S. where many tuition and fee dollars go to pay for sports scholarships and facilities. The downside is fitness facilities are often basic when compared to American universities. |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
Listening/viewing/reading
In preparation for the upcoming activities, please review these websites and take written notes using the questions below:
Interpreting Information
When you study abroad—for instance, at our partner university in Paderborn—sports is one way to meet new people and stay fit. Please orient yourself with the basics of the fitness offerings at the university using the link above and the right-side navigation box labelled “Sie interessieren sich für”:
The Gesundsheits-Trainings-Zentrum (GTZ): size, hours of operation, cost (Abo = membership)
What sport and fitness options (Sportangebot) are currently offered?
What additional health options (Benefit) are provided (online courses, stress prevention, healthy eating, etc.)?
How COVID-19 has affected course offerings, etc.
Add new words to the vocabulary table above based on what you find in the individual sport offerings list, such as Gewicht heben (to lift weights).
Activity 2: Presenting Information
Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting to a classmate the details (when, where, how much, why) of one of the sport/fitness options listed on the Sportangebot sub-page. Choose the one you would most want to participate in while studying abroad.
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can. Use modal verbs to express your preferences.
This activity should take you 3-5 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 1-2 minutes.
Activity 3: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
What athletic activities they take part in currently (and in the past) and how often
Why they like these sports/activities
What sports they like to watch
What else they do to stay fit and healthy
What campus health/fitness resources and facilities they use
These activities should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation and conversation should last about 5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
| I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
| I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question. Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Check out additional, fitness-related announcements from the Uni Paderborn on their “Recharge UPB” Facebook page, including a video tutorial about pen-spinning.
Der Sport B
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as modal verbs.
interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about sports clubs and hobbies.
communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to sports clubs and hobbies.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
| Finding a team/club | die Freizeit, das Mitglied, das Team, der Verein, beitreten individuell, der Teamsport, entscheiden, wählen |
| Costs and benefits of fitness | finanziell, hoch – niedrig, der Preis, die Kosten, leisten die Energie, die Hilfe sich fühlen, gewinnen, sich verletzen |
| New sports vocabulary |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
| Modal verbs | sollen: Ich soll öfter zum Fitnessstudio gehen. dürfen: Darf man diesen Verein beitreten? |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
| Germany has strict gun laws, but owning a gun for hunting, shooting clubs (sports), and collecting are frequent exceptions. | Many Germans belong to shooting clubs and societies called Schützenvereine. |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
Listening/viewing/reading
When you study abroad—for instance, at our partner university in Paderborn—sports is one way to meet new people and stay fit. Please orient yourself with the sports clubs in the city. These are not affiliated with the Uni-Paderborn, but many students participate in them. In preparation for the upcoming activities, please review these websites and take written notes using the questions below:
Interpreting Information
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
What sport, where, when, cost, etc.
Why you want to participate in this particular club
Add new words to the vocabulary table above based on what you find in the individual sport offerings list, such as Gewicht heben (to lift weights).
Activity 2: Presenting Information
Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting to a classmate the details (when, where, how much, why) of one of the city sports club options listed on the webpage. Choose the one you would most want to participate in while studying abroad.
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can. Use modal verbs to express your preferences.
This activity should take you 3-5 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 1-2 minutes.
Activity 3: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
Interview your partner about their hobbies, both past and present and sport-related and non-sport-related.
Also ask them which new hobbies they would like to try and why?
Use the modal verbs to express your preferences and abilities.
These activities should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation and conversation should last about 5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
| I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
| I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question. Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
The strict gun laws in Germany and the exceptions to those laws have historical reasons. You can learn more about these cultural differences on Wikipedia.
Shooting clubs in Germany are also different than an American might expect. Competitive sports shooting is only one aspect. To get a flavor for Schützenvereine and their distinctive clothing, parades, and rituals, watch the NDR documentary: Schützenvereine: mehr als schießen, trinken und marschieren?
Der Sport C
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as modal verbs.
interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about attending a professional soccer match.
communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to attending a professional soccer match.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
| Sports | das Spiel, Fußball spielen der Sport, der Sportler/die Sportlerin, sportlich, Sport treiben, ein Spiel schauen, das Team der Beruf, beruflich, professionell, der Profi(sportler)/die Profisportlerin, verdienen, der Vertrag die Medien |
| Planning to attend a match | finanziell, hoch – niedrig, der Preis, die Kosten, leisten entscheiden, schauen, wählen sich freuen auf, sich interessieren für, warten auf (Akk) |
| Watching a match | das Feld, die Hälfte (erste, zweite Hälfte), die Endzeit, der Fan/der Anhänger, das Team anfeuern erfolgreich, plötzlich |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
| Modal verbs | wollen: Willst du zusammen fahren? mögen: Magst du Baseball? sollen: Sollen wir mit dem Bus fahren? dürfen: Darf man alkoholische Getränke mitbringen? |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
| There are no athletic programs at German universities and no scholarship players. There are, however, intramural options—some competitive—and fitness options. And only a few universities offer degrees in sports education, including Paderborn. | German tuition is free and fees are minimal compared to the U.S. where many tuition and fee dollars go to pay for sports scholarships and facilities. The downside is fitness facilities are often basic when compared to American universities. |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
Listening/viewing/reading
While you are studying abroad, you might want to watch a professional soccer match. In this unit, you’ll learn all about SC Paderborn 07, a professional team in Paderborn, and its non-professional youth clubs. In preparation for the upcoming activities, please review these websites and take written notes using the questions below:
Interpreting Information
After clicking on the “Arena” and “Teams” tabs at the top of the screen, gather notes to the following prompts:
The stadium (der Stadion): when was it built? how many does it seat? other facts?
Watching a match: how much do tickets cost? (Preise) can one ride public transit to a match and how much does it cost? (Anfahrt) what is prohibited to bring to or do at a match? (Stadionordnung)
Teams: how many teams belong to the club SC Paderborn 07? what ages? when does the professional team play? how internationally diverse is the professional team? how much of the racial/ethnic diversity comes from players born in Germany? (Mannschaft, Nachwuchs, Spielplan)
Activity 2: Presenting Information
German exchange students are interested in attending professional sports games in the U.S. as well. Using your notes from the previous activity, please record yourself presenting to them the details of attending a professional (incl. minor league) sports game in the U.S., for instance, in Atlanta. How much does it cost? What are the transportation (and parking) options and costs? What can one not bring to or do at a game? When are the games (days, times, seasons)? Include at least one relevant photo in your presentation.
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can.
This activity should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 2 minutes.
Activity 3: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
Role-play: imagine that you and your partner are both studying abroad in Paderborn and want to attend a professional soccer game for SC Paderborn 07. Using the details learned in the previous activities, plan your visit together—including before, during, and after the match—with each of your providing the other information that they did not know. Remind each other of the differences to American sports matches. Use modal verbs frequently to express what is allowed/prohibited (dürfen), what you want (wollen, möchten), and what you plan to do and bring (können, sollen).
Alternately, the role-play could be between a German and American student, each explaining to the other the basics of attending a professional sports match and asking questions about the differences. Be specific about which game (i.e., sport and team) you recommend attending together and why. Keep in mind that some sports, such as baseball, are unfamiliar to most German-speakers.
These activities should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation and conversation should last about 5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
| I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
| I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question. Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Discuss the pros/cons of professional sports teams sponsoring under-21 athletics (Germany) rather than universities sponsoring U-21 athletics (USA). Use verbs like finden, meinen and denken.
Der Sport D
Learning Objectives
In these activities, you show that you can:
communicate using high-frequency vocabulary and structures such as da- and wo-compounds.
interpret short texts and videos and identify relevant information about sports as an integration tool.
communicate with others in scripted presentations and unscripted conversations on topics related to sports as an integration tool.
Tools
Vocabulary
| Topic | Words and Phrases |
|---|---|
der Plan, die Regierung, der Sommer/Winter, die Welt, das Land bereits, darum, davon, dazu gründen, vorbereiten |
Grammar and Structures
| Structure | Usage |
|---|---|
| wo-compounds | Wovor hast du Angst? Neue Menschen kennen lernen? |
| da-compounds | Ja, ich habe Angst davor. |
Cultural Knowledge
| Fact | Effect |
|---|---|
| The German government started the initiative Integration durch Sport over 30 years ago for this very purpose when Germany was experiencing a different type of influx of people, namely from the former East Germany and parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe. | Many residents of the eastern states of Germany have themselves experienced losing their home country. Nevertheless, these areas demonstrate the most anti-refugee and anti-immigrant sentiment and acts of violence., despite having the fewest numbers of refugees per capita. |
Tasks
Activity 1: Interpreting Information
Listening/viewing/reading
Sports can unite people of different backgrounds—not just exchange students like we’ve previously examined, but also asylum-seekers (Asylbewerber) and refugees (Flüchtlinge). The German government started the initiative Integration durch Sport over 30 years ago for this very purpose when Germany was experiencing a different type of influx of people. Sports clubs in Paderborn take part in this nation-wide initiative. In preparation for the upcoming activities, please review these websites and take written notes using the questions below:
Interpreting Information
Please write down notes to the following prompts:
Text: Who co-sponsors this initiative? What are its goals? How are sports particularly useful for integration? How broad is participation in Germany?
Video: What are the names, home countries, and sports of the athletes profiled? What personal and societal benefits do sports offer and how have sports helped them thrive in Germany?
Activity 2: Presenting Information
To build upon the previous activity, search for and select one athlete profile of your choice from the website below. In the search box (Stichwortsuche), enter either “Podcast” or “Interview” to bring up short text synopses of longer recordings and conversations. Click on “weiterlesen” to see the text. Read one, make notes, and then record yourself presenting the athlete to the class. Include at least one relevant photo in your presentation.
Podcasts and Interview (Integration durch Sport)
Please use high-frequency words and provide as much detail as you can. Focus on the basics: who (age, sport, country) and what benefits sports have brought them.
This activity should take you 15 minutes to prepare and your presentation should last about 2 minutes.
Activity 3: Exchanging Information
Practice with partner(s) (interpersonal activity).
Taking the previous activity as a guide, engage in a brief conversation with a partner covering the following topics:
Conversation: When German students visit our university in the U.S., they often are looking for ways to become integrated. But integration is a two-way process: both those who are new to the environment and those who are not need to reach out and adapt to the other. With this reciprocal approach in mind and thinking more broadly than sports alone, discuss with a partner ways in which our class can help exchange students experience an authentic sense of belonging here.
Consider ways in which this integration can begin before the students arrive, endure while they are here, and continue once they’ve returned to their home country.
Think about both curricular and extracurricular outreach. What activities and events could we offer? How could we help them with academic and campus life? What invitations could we make? What smaller things could we do to adapt to them and help them adapt to us?
If you’ve already studied abroad, think about what helped you to adapt to the new culture, city, and university? What do you wish you’d done to further integrate? What do wish others had done to welcome you?
These activities should take you 10 minutes to prepare and your presentation and conversation should last about 5 minutes.
Take-Aways
Self-Reflection
Ask yourself what went well, where you or your partner(s) struggled to communicate, and how you could improve next time. To help you keep speaking in German, try these strategies:
| Problem | Strategies |
|---|---|
| I don’t know a word | Look it up, use its opposite with “nicht” or “kein-“ use gestures, Pantomime |
| I don’t understand my partner | Repeat the word you don’t understand and inflect at the end to indicate it’s a question. Ask for repetition with the phrase “Wie bitte?” |
Digging Deeper: Follow-up Activities
Look up and read additional short-profiles of athletes in the Integration durch Sport initiative using the link and entering “Podcast” in the search box (Stichwortsuche). After clicking on “weiterlesen” to see the text synopsis, scroll to the bottom to find a link to the full podcast. The podcasts are long (>60 minutes), but you can click on the three horizontal bars to find a table of contents so you can listen to a shorter, 5-minute section. These episodes are part of a podcast series, Halbe Katoffln, that interviews multicultural Germans of all professions, not just athletes.