Category Archives: languages

My Legacy

Posted on October 24, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Our legacies are passed down from one generation to another. The world is connected by stories, memories, traditions, dreams and hopes. Waxing philosophical I reflect on the legacies of my parents, grandparents, and other family members. What have I learned … Continue reading →

Posted in family, Goethe, languages, legacy, letters, memoir: A Past Worth Telling, music, teaching German | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

How Learning German Changed My Life

Posted on March 7, 2015 by maryannniemczura

What do you consider most important in your life? Looking back, was there a single turning point in your life which made you who you are today? Probably, like most of us, life’s most eventful moments come in a series … Continue reading →

Posted in children, college education, customs in Germany, education, family, family stories, Foreign Language Learning, Free German University Study for American students, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, German culture, German language, Germany, global citizens, languages, life lessons, Parents, schools in Germany, Teacher, University of Colorado at Boulder, vocational education in Germany, world languages | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Celebrations and World Languages

Posted on February 28, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Except for our July baby, most of our family celebrations fall during January and February. We take time to honor one another and express our love with gestures such as cards, flowers, a cake or pie and dinner with family … Continue reading →

Posted in 6th grade registration for world languages, birthday celebration, birthday celebrations at school, customs in Germany, education, family, family tradition, friends, German culture, German customs, German language, global citizens, interdisciplinary projects, languages, love, pen pal letter exchanges, preparing world leaders, Teacher, Teaching, video conferences, video conferences between US & German schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Free German University Study for American Students

Posted on February 21, 2015 by maryannniemczura

It’s that time of the year in our American school district for 6th graders and their parents to make decisions regarding which world language to study. I would like to offer reasons to study German. The emphasis these days is … Continue reading →

Posted in 6th grade registration for world languages, About the book, Colorado, education, Foreign Language Learning, Free German University Study for American students, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, Germany, languages, Massachusetts, parents, preparing world leaders, school, schools in Germany, Teaching, Teaching in Germany | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1000 Pounds and 1000 Feet Tall

Posted on January 31, 2015 by maryannniemczura

Language development in children has always intrigued me. When my two children were young and learning to talk, they each had distinctive words for milk. One would ask for “muck” and the other would ask for “moke” rhyming with poke. … Continue reading →

Posted in children, education, Foreign Language Learning, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, kindergarten, languages, learning words, school, Swabian German, word meanings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Quick thinking…

Posted on January 24, 2015 by maryannniemczura

As part of being a teacher, parent and a mother, I have grown accustomed to “assuming blame” when something has been misplaced or heaven forbid moved somewhere such as sweaters or a sock. Even my husband claims he put in … Continue reading →

Posted in : Critical Thinking, languages, life lessons, Mother, parents, Problem Solving, Teaching, Thinking Outside the Box | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Languages Reveal Cultures

Posted on January 17, 2015 by maryannniemczura

As a German language educator for some forty-eight years now, I am still intrigued with languages and words and recall as a young girl in Massachusetts how we used certain words for everyday things. When I was ten and moved … Continue reading →

Posted in children, Colorado, education, family, Foreign Language Learning, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, influences in life, languages, Massachusetts, parents, rural America, school, South, Sturbridge, Teaching, Teaching in Germany, Western Massachusetts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment