Sehnsuchtsorte – Places of Longing, Sehnsuchtsorte From the Wissower Klinken to Mt. Eden
written by National German Language Adviser, Beate Weinhardt
The famous chalk cliffs of Ruegen -- this is how they look in real life.
Sehnsuchtsort - one of these words that does not exist in the English language - means a place of longing. This year marks the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich, the renowned German Romantic painter whose works have become timeless symbols of longing, or "Sehnsucht." He was born in Greifswald, my last working place in Germany. One of his famous paintings, the Wissower Klinken, captures the dramatic chalk cliffs of Ruegen on the Baltic Sea. For those of us who grew up near this awe-inspiring landscape (like me), the “Wissower Klinken” represent more than just a place—they are a Sehnsuchtsort, a place of deep emotional resonance that calls to us across time and distance. Now, having relocated to Aotearoa New Zealand, I find myself drawn to another Sehnsuchtsort: Mt. Eden, or Maungawhau, a volcanic peak in Auckland. Like the Wissower Klinken, Mt. Eden offers sweeping views and a connection to nature that evokes a sense of peace and happiness. The rolling green slopes, coupled with the rich cultural significance, create a space that feels both sacred and serene—a perfect place to reflect on the past and imagine the future. In teaching the German language, these Sehnsuchtsorte offer a unique opportunity to explore the concept of longing and cultural identity with students. By comparing Friedrich’s Wissower Klinken with local landmarks like Mt. Eden, we can have discussions about how landscapes shape our feelings, memories, and identities. Students can engage in creative writing exercises where they describe their own Sehnsuchtsorte, linking their emotional landscapes to linguistic expression. This approach not only enhances language skills but also deepens cultural understanding, bridging the gap between German Romanticism and New Zealand's natural beauty. In this way, we bring the concept of Sehnsucht to life, making it a tangible part of language learning.
German Day Canterbury - 12 June 2024
written by National German Language Adviser, Alexandra Töniges
Four high schools from the Canterbury region joined together to celebrate the opportunities and pathways that learning German can offer at UC German Day 2024. The event featured Eve Walters from the German Embassy in Wellington as the keynote speaker, who shared her inspiring journey with students, illustrating the potential destinations that mastering German can lead to.
The day was filled with engaging activities including a scavenger hunt and NCEA workshops. High school students participated in group work to produce and create videos, guided by UC university students, providing a glimpse into university life.
Alexandra Töniges (German NLA) from the Goethe-Institut talked about exchange and scholarship opportunities for learners of German in Germany, adding further excitement to the prospects available through learning the language. Anne Blumenthal from DAAD New Zealand was the host of the event.
This event was a beautiful display of successful collaboration, bringing together contributions from the DAAD, the German Embassy in Wellington, the Goethe-Institut, PAD FSA/Language Assistant, and dedicated teachers. The effective teamwork from all parties involved clearly highlighted the pathways available through learning German. The day's success was also thanks to the generous support from Tui Tuia Learning Circle, ensuring everyone had filled stomachs. To add an element of excitement, a lucky straw draw was also part of the day's festivities. DANKESCHÖN!
Tui Tuia Immersion Day - German
written by Tui Tuia Facilitator, Janelle Wood
Finishing off with a hands-on activity – Teachers put together a ‘Lederhose’ or ‘Dirndl’ with recycled newspapers
Tui Tuia | Learning Circle welcomed teachers to participate in an Immersion Day in July, before the commencement of the 2024 NZALT conference in Auckland. Teachers of various languages chose a language they were new to for the first session. Those that opted for German experienced CLIL based activities and das Kiwi Handball Projekt . For the second session, Yona Brand shared Anke Szczepanski’s ‘Kulturbezogenes Lernen und Deutschland erleben in Neuseeland’ resources. Both Yona and Anke are staff of the Goethe-Institut Neuseeland . Teachers were enthusiastic about this opportunity to experience some of Anke’s resources she put together for us after her recent professional development in Germany. Rotating around different workstations and being offered tasks which we could learn from, enjoy, use and adapt for our individual contexts was really appreciated.
Thirdly, participants explored AI-powered digital tools, one example being the new function on Padlet called ‘I can’t draw’.
There was even more ‘Spaß’ when the day ended with seeing the results of some hands-on activities, as well as singing and moving! Overall, of course was the chance to immerse oneself in German for the day. Vielen Dank an alle!
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2024 - German - Term 3 Newsletter Articles
Sehnsuchtsorte – Places of Longing, Sehnsuchtsorte From the Wissower Klinken to Mt. Eden
written by National German Language Adviser, Beate Weinhardt
The famous chalk cliffs of Ruegen -- this is how they look in real life.
Sehnsuchtsort - one of these words that does not exist in the English language - means a place of longing. This year marks the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich, the renowned German Romantic painter whose works have become timeless symbols of longing, or "Sehnsucht." He was born in Greifswald, my last working place in Germany. One of his famous paintings, the Wissower Klinken, captures the dramatic chalk cliffs of Ruegen on the Baltic Sea. For those of us who grew up near this awe-inspiring landscape (like me), the “Wissower Klinken” represent more than just a place—they are a Sehnsuchtsort, a place of deep emotional resonance that calls to us across time and distance. Now, having relocated to Aotearoa New Zealand, I find myself drawn to another Sehnsuchtsort: Mt. Eden, or Maungawhau, a volcanic peak in Auckland. Like the Wissower Klinken, Mt. Eden offers sweeping views and a connection to nature that evokes a sense of peace and happiness. The rolling green slopes, coupled with the rich cultural significance, create a space that feels both sacred and serene—a perfect place to reflect on the past and imagine the future. In teaching the German language, these Sehnsuchtsorte offer a unique opportunity to explore the concept of longing and cultural identity with students. By comparing Friedrich’s Wissower Klinken with local landmarks like Mt. Eden, we can have discussions about how landscapes shape our feelings, memories, and identities. Students can engage in creative writing exercises where they describe their own Sehnsuchtsorte, linking their emotional landscapes to linguistic expression. This approach not only enhances language skills but also deepens cultural understanding, bridging the gap between German Romanticism and New Zealand's natural beauty. In this way, we bring the concept of Sehnsucht to life, making it a tangible part of language learning.
German Day Canterbury - 12 June 2024
written by National German Language Adviser, Alexandra Töniges
Four high schools from the Canterbury region joined together to celebrate the opportunities and pathways that learning German can offer at UC German Day 2024. The event featured Eve Walters from the German Embassy in Wellington as the keynote speaker, who shared her inspiring journey with students, illustrating the potential destinations that mastering German can lead to.
The day was filled with engaging activities including a scavenger hunt and NCEA workshops. High school students participated in group work to produce and create videos, guided by UC university students, providing a glimpse into university life.
Alexandra Töniges (German NLA) from the Goethe-Institut talked about exchange and scholarship opportunities for learners of German in Germany, adding further excitement to the prospects available through learning the language. Anne Blumenthal from DAAD New Zealand was the host of the event.
This event was a beautiful display of successful collaboration, bringing together contributions from the DAAD, the German Embassy in Wellington, the Goethe-Institut, PAD FSA/Language Assistant, and dedicated teachers. The effective teamwork from all parties involved clearly highlighted the pathways available through learning German. The day's success was also thanks to the generous support from Tui Tuia Learning Circle, ensuring everyone had filled stomachs. To add an element of excitement, a lucky straw draw was also part of the day's festivities. DANKESCHÖN!
Tui Tuia Immersion Day - German
written by Tui Tuia Facilitator, Janelle Wood
Finishing off with a hands-on activity – Teachers put together a ‘Lederhose’ or ‘Dirndl’ with recycled newspapers
Tui Tuia | Learning Circle welcomed teachers to participate in an Immersion Day in July, before the commencement of the 2024 NZALT conference in Auckland. Teachers of various languages chose a language they were new to for the first session. Those that opted for German experienced CLIL based activities and das Kiwi Handball Projekt . For the second session, Yona Brand shared Anke Szczepanski’s ‘Kulturbezogenes Lernen und Deutschland erleben in Neuseeland’ resources. Both Yona and Anke are staff of the Goethe-Institut Neuseeland . Teachers were enthusiastic about this opportunity to experience some of Anke’s resources she put together for us after her recent professional development in Germany. Rotating around different workstations and being offered tasks which we could learn from, enjoy, use and adapt for our individual contexts was really appreciated.
Thirdly, participants explored AI-powered digital tools, one example being the new function on Padlet called ‘I can’t draw’.
There was even more ‘Spaß’ when the day ended with seeing the results of some hands-on activities, as well as singing and moving! Overall, of course was the chance to immerse oneself in German for the day. Vielen Dank an alle!
