Calendar at a Glance for February - May 2009
Mondays 6-8pm
German language class at intermediate level has limited spaces still available. More details in Federkiel. To sign up please ring Katrin on on 62628782 or email:
katrin.matthews@anu.edu.au.
Tuesdays 6-8pm
German language class for beginners. No prior knowledge of German is necessary and places are still available for Semester 1. More information enclosed. To join please ring Birgit on 6166 1510 or email matwijiw@grapevine.com.au.
Wednesdays 6-8pm
German language class for continuing beginners 2. The class is full for Semester 1, 2009.
Every Thursday
7.30pm until late
German conversation group continues weekly at Das Zentrum. Cost for this popular group is $30 per six months – contact Paul for more details on 6281 0486.
Wed 11 March
8pm
Talk by Prof Dr Michaela Gross-Letzelter, from the Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München, University of Applied Science, “A DIFFERENT VISION OF GERMANY - POVERTY, EDUCATION and UNEMPLOYMENT in GERMANY”. Talk in English, questions in English or German. More information enclosed.
Thursday 19 March
6.30pm
Film Screening “Kirschblüten – Hanami”-“Cherry Blossoms”. One of Germany's foremost filmmakers, Doris Dörrie, writes and directs this film which has won numerous awards. Screening at the Burton Theatre, Canberra Boys Grammar School (parking off Alexander Street). Join us before the film from 6.30pm for drinks and canapés.
$10 per person. DVD screening in German (film does NOT have English subtitles). See article enclosed for more details.
A Sunday in late March (date to be confirmed)
2pm
Federweisser Wine Tasting at Helm’s Winery, Butts Road via Murrumbateman (25 minutes drive north on the Barton Highway from Canberra). It’s that time of the year again when this traditional young wine is ready – more information on Federweisser is enclosed. Enjoy it with Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) for $12 per person. Car pooling can be arranged if required. RSVP to Paul on 6281 0486 and he will confirm when the wine is ready.
Wed 8 April
8.15pm
Talk by Bern Brent about his journey to Australia on the Dunera and his subsequent internment: 'Unrasiert und fern der Heimat - Tatura, Victoria, Internment Camps 2, 3 and 4., Sep 1940 to Jan 1942'. Talk at Das Zentrum in English and German. More details enclosed.
Labels: culture, events, language courses
Public Lecture
Das Zentrum presents:
A Talk by Prof. Dr. Michaela Gross-Letzelter
from the
Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München, University of Applied Science
Wednesday 11 March 2009
8pm at Das Zentrum
A DIFFERENT VISION OF GERMANY
POVERTY, EDUCATION and UNEMPLOYMENT in GERMANY
The prospects of economic development in 2009 have also deteriorated in Germany. In Europe, recessive tendencies are constantly growing. In recent years things appeared to be clearly more positive in Germany. Despite the good economic situation, however, poverty has been evident.
In her lecture, Prof. Dr. Michaela Gross-Letzelter will focus on those Germans not profiting from economic developments. She will discuss social inequality in Germany, and will consider those Germans who belong to the poor. She will present statistics on poverty and the interconnection of poverty, education and unemployment. Besides this, Prof. Dr. Gross-Letzelter will also review socioeconomic background and educational chances. To demonstrate how Germany is positioned, she will partly draw comparisons with Europe.
The talk will be in English, questions can be in English or German.
Labels: culture, events
Federweisser 2009
Have you tried this traditional young wine?
Any of our long-term members know all about Federweisser and our annual event to taste it and enjoy an afternoon at Helm’s Winery at Murrumbateman. You would also know that there is only a short window in which to enjoy it! But for those who don’t know, what is it???
In the German speaking regions of Europe it goes under a variety names such as Neuer Wein, Federweisser, Sauser, Sturm, Suesser, Neia Siessa – but it all means the same, it tastes terrific, is delicious to drink and is not too alcoholic. It is grape juice in the early stages of becoming wine (fermentation). Fermentation is a process whereby yeast converts the grapes’ natural sugar into carbon dioxide, alcohol and eventually into wine. This unusual drink combines the taste of yeast and freshly crushed grapes with the sparkle of champagne and foams like a beer. It is not much to look at with its cloudy mauve dusty color but it is soooo good to drink in particular if you have it with freshly baked onion tart (Zwiebelkuchen).
This drink has a long tradition in the wine growing districts of the German speaking regions. No grape harvest would be complete without this fine drink to fortify the grape pickers and satisfy the eager local populous as well as the tourists. The drink is also reputed to be very healthy because of its low alcohol content and the B-vitamins it contains from the yeast.
While in days gone past Federweisser was only available in the actual wine growing districts of central Europe it is now widely available in supermarkets sold in screw top bottles with a small hole in the top and a piece of paper glued over it to prevent the bottle from exploding due to too much gas building up inside. Supermarkets keep the bottles in cool storage that virtually stops the fermentation process. You buy a bottle and keep it at room temperature that restarts fermentation and in two days it is ready to drink.
For the last few years, Helms Winery near Murrumbateman has given us the opportunity to sample Federweisser and to learn about the finer details of wine making. This year’s crop is almost ready, and because of the fermentation process, we have only a small window of opportunity in which to try it. It’s a great day out in the Autumn weather enjoying Federweisser and its traditional accompaniment, onion tart.
Where: Helms Winery, Butts Road, Murrumbateman (car pooling available – please let Paul know when you RSVP so we can make transport arrangements).
When: a Sunday in late March from 2pm. Ken Helm will tell us when the wine is ready to drink.
Cost: $12 per person. This includes two glasses of wine and a piece of Zwiebelkuchen.
Bring: Picnic rug/chairs, containers if you wish to take home some Federweisser.
Please RSVP to Paul on 6281 0486 and he will confirm the date once known.
Labels: culture, events, food
Film Screening
Einladung zum Filmabend /
Invitation to film screening
Kirschblüten – Hanami
Cherry Blossoms - Hanami
Ein Film von Doris Dörrie
Thursday 19 March
Pre-film drinks & canapés from 6.30 pm
Burton Theatre, Canberra Boys Grammar School
(parking off Alexander Street)
$ 10 per person, includes drinks and canapés
DVD screening IN GERMAN
WITHOUT English subtitles
Labels: culture, events, movies
Learn German in 2009!
Learn German in 2009
All of Das Zentrum’s language teachers are German native speakers with appropriate qualifications and several years teaching experience. Courses offered in Semester 1:
Beginning German (places still available)
$200 for 14 two-hour sessions
Tuesdays, 6-8 pm
Start: 17 February 2009
Book: Langenscheidt Optimal A1 Text- and workbook (can be ordered through or is available at the ANU Bookstore)
No prior knowledge of German necessary.
To sign up please ring Birgit on 6166 1510 or email (matwijiw@grapevine.com.au) and let us know your name and contact details (email and mobile phone number).
Intermediate German (limited number of places still available)
$200 for 14 two-hour sessions
Monday, 6-8 pm
Start: 9 February 2009
Book: em Hauptbuch Text- and workbook from Chapter 6 (the books can be ordered through or are available at the ANU Bookstore; please check with teacher!)
You need to be quite fluent in German and have a good understanding of the basic grammatical structures.
To sign up please ring Katrin on on 62628782 or email (
katrin.matthews@anu.edu.au) and let us know your name and contact details (email and mobile phone number).
Courses are held at Das Zentrum, which is on the first floor of the Griffin Centre in Civic.
You have to be a member of Das Zentrum to do these courses. Membership ($50 / $30 concession per year) also gives you free access to our library resources (books, magazines, videos, DVDs...).
Note the Continuing Beginners’ course which runs on Wednesday evenings is full.
Labels: language courses
