About Our Department

The German Department of CBC Monkstown is a committed and vibrant department, facilitating learners of all abilities to achieve their full potential as speakers of the EU's most spoken mother tongue. Over the years we have built on excellent classroom practice to enrich the learning experience of our students with a highly successful exchange program, language assistants, pen-pals and the use of ICT and interactive digital media projects.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Relativpronomen

Following up on yesterday's sixth year class, I thought I'd put this up.

Relative pronouns are quite tricky. They look and behave like articles. In a relative clause, they refer back to a noun in the previous clause. What's handy about them, is that because they behave and look like definite articles, they can hold all the grammatical information of the noun they refer to. If a noun is a subject, is masculine and is singular, then the relative pronoun with behave like a masculine, singular subject. Simples!

Remember that in a relative clause, the  verb always goes to the end.

Click below to find a really good explanation of relative pronouns & clauses, with online exercises with which to practice.

Relative pronouns & Clauses: explanation and exercises 

Monday, April 26, 2010

Auf wiederesehen, unsere deutsche Freunde!

The Germans are going home tomorrow, and the details are: students must be at Goggins pub at 8am at the latest, in order to get the Bus to the airport. Any delays or alternate arrangements must be clarified with Herr Kuech or Herr Morgan this evening at the latest. A text message is being sent out to host parents as well.

Städte in Deutschland, deutsche Städte - Deutschland

6th years especially!!

Click link below for an excellent overview of the most important cities in germany, as well as sights and landmarks.

Städte in Deutschland, deutsche Städte - Deutschland

Another great sight here - just click on the towns and get all the info you need!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Sunday April 25th: trip to Dublinia and No. 29 Merrion Square. 

Both are great exhibitions about life in Dublin in the past. Dublinia is about Dublin in the Middle Ages, No. 29 Merrion Square is a restored Georgian townhouse. Students who have no plans with their Irish exchange partners and host families should call Herr Küch on Sunday morning to let him know if they will come, and to arrange a meeting time, which has already been earmarked in as approximately lunchtime.

Monday April 26th Plans for the last day:

Student are meeting Herr Kuech to discuss the day in advance of students participating in lessons from Second period until 4pm.

The exchange students are also to remember the relatively early time they are meeting on Tuesday morning- Monkstown village, outside Goggins Pub at 8pm sharp. 


ACHTUNG!!!  Any students making alternative travel arrangements, e.g. from Bray instead of Monkstown, must ensure they have told either Mr. Morgan or Herr Kuech already on Monday.  

Thursday, April 22, 2010

As I wrote in my letter on Monday, which some students received, it was unclear until Wednesday exactly what was happening regarding the rescheduling of flights. This was beyond our control.
Although several other options were pursued vigorously, the following decision was taken yesterday, April 21st 2010:

The German students have been booked onto a flight for 11.10 am Tuesday morning. They are to meet at 8.45 at Dublin Airport for check-in. 

This was the earliest (and only) flight Ryanair was willing to take the group as a whole, at no additional cost. Ryanair took a ‘take it or leave it’ approach. It was also the option deemed best under these extraordinary circumstances, bearing in mind the best interests and welfare of the students, and the view of the school authorities at the Lichtenberg Gymnasium in Kassel, which is supported by the CBC authorities.
In this regard, may we thank the many parents who showed a generosity we hope we would be shown if anything were to happen to our students whilst in Kassel.

Parents are also reminded that anyone who is unable or unwilling to keep their son’s exchange beyond today, please contact us, and we will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. Many people have offered to accommodate students in this event.

Mr. Morgan will be happy to coordinate this with the students and parents, e.g. meeting students in Monkstown to take the Patton Flyer together. I will make any necessary phone calls etc.

Some parents may have already made plans, and may require a contingency for their son’s exchange. Below is an updated itinerary, so you can know what, where and when your son’s exchange should be.

Thursday, Friday and Monday daytime: school all day. This is compulsory.

Activities will be planned for Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday daytime. Other events may be arranged, and details of those events will be communicated as soon as they are set in place.

Friday: School all day until lunchtime. Leave school and proceed to Trinity College for 2pm, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch tour to follow. Tour to end well before 6pm. Note: Any students intending to go to Rugby match or have other plans arranged by you, please let us know.

Saturday and Sunday: whole day activities will be arranged for any student who wishes to take part.
Most likely, this will include a “Hop On - Hop Off” tour of Dublin. In particular, Kilmainham Gaol will be given focus on this tour. If possible, a day trip to Wicklow will also be arranged.

All information will be posted on the German Department blog, which can be accessed from the school’s website, http://www.cbcmonkstown.ie .

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Junior Cert Deutsch - Pruefung 2007

Liebe Schueler,

Hier klicken fuer die Antworten zur Pruefung 2007. Sie schon mal was du richtig hast. 

Ich werde morgen die Arbeit sowieso mit euch korrigieren.

Viele Gruesse,

Herr Morgan

Friday, April 16, 2010

Ein staatsmann wird 90 - Senior German

 Richard von Weizaecker, former German Bundespraesident, turned 90 yesterday. He's most famous for his speech to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of world war two, where he hit the reset button on how Germans viewed the war. Below is a short video of an extraordinary, and still highly respected public figure, who despite his age, refuses to slow down in his work.


Thursday, April 1, 2010

6th Years German Oral Meeting April 1st 2010

Guys, I'll see you today, April 1st, in room F4. I have been unable to post any work on the blog page and it occurred to me that I really don't need to. It's easier for me to go through the stuff with you in person and copy what you need. I'll bring up a printer, type up what's needed and print off for you individually.

When I see you later, I will go through what is missing, what you have - and you have nearly everything - and provide you with a last opportunity to go through the exam with me present. If you do't turn up,well, that's your business.

Viele liebe Gruesse,

Herr Morgan
PS. I have your subjects translated and ready....