Grade 7 German FUN AND ENJOYMENT (WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS)- Listening and Speaking – Active Listening, Oral Expressions Notes

German — FUN AND ENJOYMENT (WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS)

Subtopic: Active Listening, Oral Expressions (3 lessons)
Target age: 12 (Kenyan context)
Specific learning outcomes: identify vocabulary, listen for comprehension, value active listening, practise oral expressions using grammar (gern / lieber / am liebsten; destinations; time phrases)

Suggested vocabulary (with grammar notes)

• die Freizeit — leisure (singular)
• das Wochenende (pl. Wochenenden) — weekend; am Wochenende = at/on the weekend
• die Ferien (pl.) — holidays/vacation; in den Ferien = during the holidays
• das Ziel (pl. Ziele) — destination
• Orte: die Stadt, der Strand, der Wald, das Dorf, die Berge
• Aktivitäten (Verben): gehen, fahren, besuchen, schwimmen, wandern, spielen
• Präpositionen/Zeit: am (am Wochenende), in (in den Ferien), zum (zu + dem), ins (in + das)
• Ausdrücke der Vorliebe: gern, lieber, am liebsten

Grammar focus (what pupils must learn)

1. Use of gern / lieber / am liebsten to say what you like, prefer and like the most (with verbs).
2. Word order: in a main clause the verb is second (e.g., Am Wochenende spiele ich Fussball.).
3. Prepositions of time/direction: am Wochenende, in den Ferien, ins Meer, in die Stadt, zum Markt. Movement = accusative (direction); location/time often dative.
4. Simple present tense of common verbs for activities (ich gehe, du gehst, er/sie geht, wir gehen).

Lesson 1 — Present tense + time expressions (am Wochenende / in den Ferien)

Goal: Use present tense verbs with weekend/holiday time phrases. Teacher reads short sentences; learners repeat and identify verbs and time phrases.

Short listening texts (teacher reads slowly twice)

Text A: Am Wochenende gehe ich mit meiner Familie spazieren. (3 short sentences are fine per reading.)

Text B: In den Ferien fahren wir in die Berge. Wir wandern und spielen zusammen.

Comprehension questions (listen & answer)

1. Wann geht die Person spazieren? (Answer: Am Wochenende.)
2. Wohin fährt die Familie in den Ferien? (Answer: in die Berge.)
3. Nenne zwei Aktivitäten aus Text B. (Answer: wandern, spielen.)

Class activity: Pupils form pairs. Pupil A reads Text A slowly; B answers. Swap roles.

Lesson 2 — gern, lieber, am liebsten (expressing likes/preferences)

Goal: Learn position and use of gern, lieber, am liebsten with verbs and make simple comparisons.

Practice sentences — say them aloud, then change the verb

• Ich spiele gern Fussball. → Ich spiele lieber Basketball. → Am liebsten spiele ich Basketball.
• Ich besuche gern meine Grosseltern. → Ich besuche lieber meinen Onkel. → Am liebsten besuche ich meine Grosseltern.

Oral exercise (pair work)

1. Student A: Ask "Was machst du gern am Wochenende?" Student B answers using gern.
2. Student A: "Was machst du lieber?" Student B answers using lieber.
3. Swap roles and repeat. Encourage full sentences: "Am liebsten spiele ich..."

Lesson 3 — Destinations and movement (cases and prepositions)

Goal: Use correct prepositions and case for destinations (movement) and locations/times.

Listening sentences (teacher reads)

Text C: Am Samstag fahre ich mit dem Bus ans Meer. Ich schwimme gern im Meer.

Text D: In den Ferien bleiben wir oft zuhause. Manchmal besuchen wir Freunde in der Stadt.

Comprehension & grammar checks

1. Welche Präposition zeigt Bewegung in Text C? (Answer: ans / an den — movement to the sea.)
2. Welche Zeitangabe in Text D? (Answer: In den Ferien.)
3. Find the verb and the preference expression in Text C. (Answer: schwimme — gern.)

Pair role-play: One pupil is a friend planning the holiday; the other asks and gives preferences. Example prompts: "Wohin fährst du in den Ferien?" "Fährst du lieber ans Meer oder in die Berge?" Use gern / lieber / am liebsten in replies.

Exercises (written + oral) — 15 minutes

1. Write 4 sentences about your weekend using am Wochenende and three different verbs (use gern for one sentence).
2. Choose two activities and say which you prefer using lieber and which you like best using am liebsten (speak to your partner).
3. Listen to the teacher read Text C twice; answer: "Womit fährt die Person?" and "Was macht die Person gern?"
4. Change the sentence to show location instead of movement: Convert "Ich fahre in die Stadt." → "Ich bin in der Stadt."

Answer guide (teacher)

• Q3 answers: "mit dem Bus" / "ich schwimme gern."
• Q4 example conversion: "Ich bin in der Stadt." (Note: "in die Stadt" = movement (acc.), "in der Stadt" = location (dative)).

Teacher notes & assessment

• Use clear, slow reading for listening checks. Repeat sentences twice. Encourage pupils to write keywords while listening (activity, place, time).
• Assess by oral performance: can pupil form sentences with gern / lieber / am liebsten? Do they use am Wochenende / in den Ferien correctly?
• For written assessment: 4 short sentences (max 2 mistakes allowed in verb form or preposition).
• Make examples local: suggest Mombasa (Strand), Nairobi (Stadt), local family visits or church on Sunday — adapt to school context sensitively.

Quick flashcards (cut into strips)

(Each line is a card: German — English)

am Wochenende — on the weekend | in den Ferien — during the holidays | Ich schwimme gern — I like swimming | Ich fahre lieber ans Meer — I prefer going to the sea | Am liebsten spiele ich Fussball — I like playing football best

End of notes — focus on practising speaking and listening using the grammar patterns: present tense, gern/lieber/am liebsten, and movement vs. location prepositions.