CAS puts a little ‘gut’ effort into learning Deutsch

School adds a little flavour to learning a new language.

KARACHI:

Parents twittered as their children clattered through consonant clusters at the Centre of Advanced Studies’ (CAS) German Day on Friday. Deutsch (pronounced Doi’ch) is one of the three languages offered to students between grades VII and IX along with Spanish and French.

The event lasted over an hour as students demonstrated their newly acquired fluency in the language through song, dance and presentations about five of Germany’s 16 provinces. A guitar piece on Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the world’ by 7th grader Safay Wahidi and an instrumental, Unheilig’s [unholy] ‘Gross Freiheit’ [Big Freedom], by a 10th grade band were well received by the audience.

The school had invited German Consul-General Dr Christian Brecht as their chief guest. In his speech, he thanked the staff and students for their efforts and spoke about education opportunities in his country. “Learning German can be very useful; there is a real possibility to go to Germany for further studies. In fact, my wife teaches at Berlin University, where the quality of education is quite high. Many of our courses are now even in English!” he said laughing.

Prizes were distributed for academic excellence, best presentation and best dance along with a special prize for perseverance and willpower for student Mariam Rehman, who is recovering from a month-long coma after a car accident. The CG and CAS principal Sami Mustafa also exchanged gifts and German teacher Maha Jafery was lauded for her efforts.

In the courtyard, guests watched the students dance a lively Polka and a flowing Waltz. The dances were choreographed by Harzan D of the ActOne dance school along with dance instructor Beatriz Franco, who also performed a ballet for the audience.

“The students were constantly taught through the dance practices,” Harzan told The Express Tribune, “they are unable to associate themselves with dance until they experience it firsthand”. He explained how the students understood the importance of fluid movement and straight backs by learning about the German generals who had to be lithe because of the cumbersome swords they held across their chests.

Speaking to The Express Tribune after the event, the German teacher Jafery talked about how the event was a “hands-on” way of teaching the subject. “The students will definitely remember the five provinces they presented on, they will remember the songs and the dance steps. They wouldn’t remember all that if I taught it to them in the classroom.”

Parents, beaming over their children’s progress, felt the investment was worthwhile. “Learning a new language is very difficult, it can only be done through activities, and we can see that they have encouraged that here,” said Bushra Ali, mother of the best waltz dancer, Ibaad Ali. The students spent a month preparing for the event and believe they have experienced “something new” and accomplished plenty in the process.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2011.