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2025 – German - Term 1 Newsletter Articles

Beate Weinhardt
March 18, 2025

Newsletter articles for Term 1 include
¨Von Osterhasen und Eierbäumen – So wird Ostern in Deutschland gefeiert¨
Written by Beate Weinhardt, German National Language Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle.


"New Adventures, New Perspectives – German Language Assistants Discover Life and Work in Aotearoa"
Written by Leandra Haßmann, German Language Assistant, John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School,

Rylan Köhler, German Language Assistant, Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College,

Beate Weinhardt, German National Language Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle.

Beate Weinhardt
National German Language Adviser

Von Osterhasen und Eierbäumen – So wird Ostern in Deutschland gefeiert

Written by Beate Weinhardt, German National Language Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle.

Photo 1: Ostereindrücke

Ostern steht vor der Tür und es ist eine gute Gelegenheit, typische Osterbräuche oder Fun facts wieder aufleben zu lassen. Wissen eure Schüler:innen zum Beispiel, …


Der Osterhase hat seinen Ursprung in Deutschland.
Die Idee, dass der Osterhase den Kindern Eier bringt, entstand im 17. Jahrhundert in Deutschland. Deutsche Einwanderer brachten diese Tradition später in die USA, von wo aus sie weiter in die Welt getragen wurden.
Osterbäume – ja, es gibt sie.
Ostern in Deutschland wird im Frühling gefeiert. Wir schmücken Bäume und Büsche mit bunten Ostereiern. Diese Tradition, bekannt als Ostereierbaum, bringt – nach dem grauen Winter – frische Farben in Gärten und Stadtplätze. Wir holen uns diese Farben als Osterstrauch auch in die Wohnung. Birken- und Kirschbaumzweige werden oft mit bunten Eiern dekoriert.
Deutschlands größte Ostereiersammlung
Das Ostereiermuseum in Sonnenbühl (Baden-Württemberg) zeigt über 1.000 dekorierte Eier aus aller Welt – einige aus Porzellan, Holz und sogar Schokolade! Es ist in der Zeit vor Ostern geöffnet.
Eierschlacht beim Osterfrühstück
Ein beliebtes Spiel in einigen Familien ist das Eier-Titschen oder Eierpecken: zwei Personen klopfen ihre hartgekochten Eier gegeneinander. Die Person, deren Ei nicht zerbricht, ist der Gewinner!
Lagerfeuer, um den Winter zu vertreiben
Am Ostersamstag oder -sonntag werden in vielen Regionen Osterfeuer abgehalten. Diese großen Gemeinschaftsfeuer symbolisieren den Sieg des Lichts über die Dunkelheit und markieren die Ankunft des Frühlings.
Schokoladenüberschuss
Besonders die Kinder lieben die Schokohasen. Jedes Jahr füllen Millionen davon die Supermarktregale – und das nicht nur in Deutschland.


Egal, ob im Unterricht oder zu Hause – Ostern bietet viele Möglichkeiten, Traditionen aufzugreifen, kreative Aktivitäten zu gestalten und mit Schüler:innen ins Gespräch über Kultur und Bräuche zu kommen. Vielleicht probiert ihr ja dieses Jahr das Eier-Titschen aus oder schmückt einen kleinen Osterstrauch im Klassenzimmer?

In diesem Sinne: Frohe Ostern!

New Adventures, New Perspectives – German Language Assistants Discover Life and Work in Aotearoa

Written by Leandra Haßmann, German Language Assistant, John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School,

Rylan Köhler, German Language Assistant, Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College,

Beate Weinhardt, German National Language Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle.

Photo 2: Rylan Köhler (Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College) and Leandra Haßmann (John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School).

My first three weeks of working at my two schools here in Wellington were lovely. Not only did I already gain insight in teaching practices and correlating expectations, I was also met by incredibly nice colleagues in appreciative working environments. My two schools here are quite different: one is public girls’ college, and the other one a public co-ed college, but both schools share engaged teachers and students that are fun to work with. The biggest difference to how I learnt to teach back home is the emphasis on enjoying the language while learning; an emphasis I am sure many of my future students will benefit from. Within my first weeks, I already participated in professional development sessions, athletics day, and of course many German lessons across all years. I enjoy working with the students at both schools, seeing them proud when they do well on tasks, or laughing with them at funny German things. I am excited to see what the following weeks have in store and am looking forward to implementing my now prepared lesson segments in the classroom.

Rylan Köhler (Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College)

My first few weeks in Dunedin were just as varied as Rylan’s in Wellington. I absolutely love getting to know the students and teachers at my three schools, sharing insights into German culture, e.g. about typical food, Karneval, and speed limits on the Autobahn, and also teaching my first independently prepared lesson segments and lessons. This gives me the unique opportunity to apply the theoretical teaching knowledge I learned in university back home in a supportive environment, to develop my teacher personality and to gain a better understanding of New Zealand’s education system. The absolute highlight so far, however, was the 5 days I got to spend with the Year 9s in their Outdoor Education camp in Te Anau. What a fantastic way to begin my adventure on the South Island, I cannot wait for what’s to come.

Leandra Haßmann (John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School)

If you’d love to bring the German language and culture to life in your classroom with a native-speaking Language Assistant, get in touch with beate.weinhardt@auckland.ac.nz to explore this exciting opportunity for your school!

Beate Weinhardt
Beate is the National German Language Adviser.
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2025 – German - Term 1 Newsletter Articles

Von Osterhasen und Eierbäumen – So wird Ostern in Deutschland gefeiert

Written by Beate Weinhardt, German National Language Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle.

Photo 1: Ostereindrücke

Ostern steht vor der Tür und es ist eine gute Gelegenheit, typische Osterbräuche oder Fun facts wieder aufleben zu lassen. Wissen eure Schüler:innen zum Beispiel, …


Der Osterhase hat seinen Ursprung in Deutschland.
Die Idee, dass der Osterhase den Kindern Eier bringt, entstand im 17. Jahrhundert in Deutschland. Deutsche Einwanderer brachten diese Tradition später in die USA, von wo aus sie weiter in die Welt getragen wurden.
Osterbäume – ja, es gibt sie.
Ostern in Deutschland wird im Frühling gefeiert. Wir schmücken Bäume und Büsche mit bunten Ostereiern. Diese Tradition, bekannt als Ostereierbaum, bringt – nach dem grauen Winter – frische Farben in Gärten und Stadtplätze. Wir holen uns diese Farben als Osterstrauch auch in die Wohnung. Birken- und Kirschbaumzweige werden oft mit bunten Eiern dekoriert.
Deutschlands größte Ostereiersammlung
Das Ostereiermuseum in Sonnenbühl (Baden-Württemberg) zeigt über 1.000 dekorierte Eier aus aller Welt – einige aus Porzellan, Holz und sogar Schokolade! Es ist in der Zeit vor Ostern geöffnet.
Eierschlacht beim Osterfrühstück
Ein beliebtes Spiel in einigen Familien ist das Eier-Titschen oder Eierpecken: zwei Personen klopfen ihre hartgekochten Eier gegeneinander. Die Person, deren Ei nicht zerbricht, ist der Gewinner!
Lagerfeuer, um den Winter zu vertreiben
Am Ostersamstag oder -sonntag werden in vielen Regionen Osterfeuer abgehalten. Diese großen Gemeinschaftsfeuer symbolisieren den Sieg des Lichts über die Dunkelheit und markieren die Ankunft des Frühlings.
Schokoladenüberschuss
Besonders die Kinder lieben die Schokohasen. Jedes Jahr füllen Millionen davon die Supermarktregale – und das nicht nur in Deutschland.


Egal, ob im Unterricht oder zu Hause – Ostern bietet viele Möglichkeiten, Traditionen aufzugreifen, kreative Aktivitäten zu gestalten und mit Schüler:innen ins Gespräch über Kultur und Bräuche zu kommen. Vielleicht probiert ihr ja dieses Jahr das Eier-Titschen aus oder schmückt einen kleinen Osterstrauch im Klassenzimmer?

In diesem Sinne: Frohe Ostern!

New Adventures, New Perspectives – German Language Assistants Discover Life and Work in Aotearoa

Written by Leandra Haßmann, German Language Assistant, John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School,

Rylan Köhler, German Language Assistant, Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College,

Beate Weinhardt, German National Language Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle.

Photo 2: Rylan Köhler (Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College) and Leandra Haßmann (John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School).

My first three weeks of working at my two schools here in Wellington were lovely. Not only did I already gain insight in teaching practices and correlating expectations, I was also met by incredibly nice colleagues in appreciative working environments. My two schools here are quite different: one is public girls’ college, and the other one a public co-ed college, but both schools share engaged teachers and students that are fun to work with. The biggest difference to how I learnt to teach back home is the emphasis on enjoying the language while learning; an emphasis I am sure many of my future students will benefit from. Within my first weeks, I already participated in professional development sessions, athletics day, and of course many German lessons across all years. I enjoy working with the students at both schools, seeing them proud when they do well on tasks, or laughing with them at funny German things. I am excited to see what the following weeks have in store and am looking forward to implementing my now prepared lesson segments in the classroom.

Rylan Köhler (Wellington Girls College and Heretaunga College)

My first few weeks in Dunedin were just as varied as Rylan’s in Wellington. I absolutely love getting to know the students and teachers at my three schools, sharing insights into German culture, e.g. about typical food, Karneval, and speed limits on the Autobahn, and also teaching my first independently prepared lesson segments and lessons. This gives me the unique opportunity to apply the theoretical teaching knowledge I learned in university back home in a supportive environment, to develop my teacher personality and to gain a better understanding of New Zealand’s education system. The absolute highlight so far, however, was the 5 days I got to spend with the Year 9s in their Outdoor Education camp in Te Anau. What a fantastic way to begin my adventure on the South Island, I cannot wait for what’s to come.

Leandra Haßmann (John McGlashan College, Columba College and Bayfield High School)

If you’d love to bring the German language and culture to life in your classroom with a native-speaking Language Assistant, get in touch with beate.weinhardt@auckland.ac.nz to explore this exciting opportunity for your school!