German class uses new tool
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Ceramic gnome figurines, about 7 inches tall and often with red pointy hats and white beards, are a common sight in gardens and backyards.
But this fall a bunch of these gnomes have become a fixture at a place where one might not expect to see them: a classroom at Slippery Rock High School.
German language teacher Megan Kramer has started a new program this year with her German 3 class in which each student “adopts” a gnome and uses it throughout the year as a learning tool.
The students took an oath last week, with help from Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci, in which they pledged to take care of the gnome for the year.
Kramer got the idea from a fellow teacher at Hempfield High School in Lancaster County through a meeting of the regional chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German.
The students, most of whom are in 11th grade, have been taking German for several years, but they are most comfortable forming sentences using the first person.
By writing or speaking sentences about their gnomes, they are prompted to use the third person, which entails different verb forms and different vocabulary.
“It is about encouraging students to not only speak in the first person. It's not automatic yet that they can have conversations about other things,” Kramer said.
Gnomes are fitting for a German language class, because Germany is where they originated, though there they are called “gartenzwerge.”
Several students from the class said they liked the idea of having a piece of German culture to help them learn.
Jordan Marslof, 16, said learning about culture, such as garden gnomes, is an important part of learning German.
“I think it will be fun and a great opportunity to learn more about German culture,” Marslof said.
Ragan Protzman, 16, said he likes the idea of having something out of the ordinary in the classroom.
“I don't really know what the plan with them is, but it's really out there, so I like it,” Protzman said.
