In this activity, students listen to messages left on an answering machine in the target language and take notes. This activity is created for listening comprehension but extensions are included to make this a speaking assignment, also. This activity can be utlized at many different proficiency levels and for any spoken language. Included are ‘message’ templates for English, German and Spanish.

In this German-language website, students can see what Burger King products are sold in Germany and learn their names in German. Products are pictured and described in detail.

This website houses recordings of native speakers of many countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Colombia, USA and the UK, imitating the sounds of animals and vehicles.

In this lesson, students explore the Internet for information on the metro system as a means of transportation and for information on culturally appropriate and polite behavior for the metro. Students research polite forms of address and connect to a digital penpal in the target country. Students email digital penpals in the target country to ask about culturally appropriate behavior on the metro. Modalities include interpersonal communication, reading and writing. Language structures focus on forming questions and polite language. The acitivity includes a variety of role play scenarios. This activity is applicable for any written world language course.

In this activity, students are asked to make a decision or take an opinion on a given topic then defend that choice to a like-minded partner. Ultimately, each student writes their two top reasons for making that decision or taking that opinion. A group spokesperson then orally summarizes the written reasons to the rest of the class. This activity is applicable for any written world language course. Included are suggestions for adapting and extending this performance task.

This scientific article explains the historical background and the spreading of the legend. It starts with lady Kunigunde who, after the death of her husband, falls in love with Albrecht the Handsome from Nuremberg. After a misunderstanding she kills her two children from the first marriage. Albrecht leaves her and she dies of sorrow over her dead and her fate. Ever since she has been spooking in the Plassenburg castle. The legend spread in variations as one of the most popular ghost stories all over Germany and into England. The article is written for native speakers 9 years and up.

This article explains a famous German invention, the Autobahn or the German highway. It compares the history and current features of German highways to former models in the USA and in ancient Rome.

This article highligths the various aspects about cars: history, success, future, manufactoring, and car tires.

This is a historic article illuminating the different groups of people that compose today's Bavarian population ranging from ancient Rome 2000 years ago to people coming from all over Europe 1500 years ago. In the second half of the text the rural living style is being explained along with archeological research methods.

This is a scientific report discussing the history of the bicydle starting with the treadwheel by Karl Drais over the velocipede to the modern bicycle. The text is written in childfriendly language for children 8 and up.

This article explains different aspects of an important German tradition: Fasching or Carnival. It provides several possible versions of its origin, the tradition of carnival royalties, and the invention of confetti and streamers. Audio texts supply additional information on some of the topics. The text is written in child-friendly language. The audio texts are spoken at a slow rate.

This article explains the history of the profession of a charcoal burner and the process of creating charcoal. Charcoal burner is a traditional but almost extinct profession in Germany. The famous fairytale "The Cold Heart" is spun around a charcoal burner and thus became integral part of German tradition. The text is written for native speakers age 9 and up.

This article describes the history of the Germans’ favorite sport: soccer. It dates back to China 2,000 years ago and underwent several alterations until the current rules were invented 150 years ago in England. The text closes with the manufacturing process of soccer balls are manufactured and quality improvements over time. The article was written for native speakers 8 years and up.

This article is a brief biography of Albert Einstein elaborating the most important stations and events in his life: school time, theory of relativity, the importance of music in his life, the time of National Socialism in Germany, the nuclear bomb, and the world formula. Links to other pages provide more detailed information about some of the sections. The text is written for native speakers of age 10 years and up.

This scientific report explains the history and the technology of the modern fountain pen. Fountain pens are widely used in Germany starting in the first years of school. They are considered part of the German life style and culture. The article is written for children 9 years and up.

This article starts by explaining that air actually has weight, because it consists of minute particles that are distributed unevenly - especially based on different altitudes. Then the reader learns that changes in air pressure can be felt in the eardrum. As an extension, the article provides the instructions for an experiment with an air filled toothpaste tube that is taken on a mountain top.

This scientific article describes various aspects of bees. It starts with specialized functions within the bee population. It then elaborates how bees manage to survive the winter and keep the bee hive warm. The next section discusses the tasks of bee keepers. Finally, current threats to bees are mentioned. Three embedded audio files provide additional information to some of the sections. The text is child-friendly and created for children 8 years and up.

This article illustrates the question how and why blowfish can pump themselves up to more than double their volume. It provides details about the scales which have turned into spikes that so that the fish can turn it into ball in situations of danger. The article also mentions that the fish is very poisonous but yet considered a delicacy in Japan with the poisounous parts cut out. The article is written for native speakers age 8 and up.

This article is divided into four parts. The first parts explains the structural features of bones and their role to physically support an organism. The second part focuses on the self-healing ability of bones and how broken bones are medically attended. The third part exemplifies how the sceletal and muscular system are connected with the example of the shinbone. The last part explains the astonishing fact that the number of bones shrinks with growing age, since separate bones during infantry grow together later in life into one bone. The text is written for native speakers age 9 and up.

This article provides information about the adaptation of cacti to drought and protection, as well as basic facts about age, distribution, and varieties. Pictures support the text that is written for native speakers age 8 and up.