Classes and events
Mondays 6-8pm
German language class at intermediate level – register now for Semester 2 starting on 27 July – contact Katrin on on 6262 8782 or email:
katrin.matthews@anu.edu.au.
Tuesdays 6-8pm
German language class for beginners. Semester 2 starts on 28 July. To join or for more details please ring Birgit on 6166 1510 or email:
matwijiw@grapevine.com.au.
Wednesdays 6-8pm
German language class for continuing beginners 2. For more information or to enrol for Semester 2 starting on 29 July please contact Susanne on 6262 8767.
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.
Friday 26 June
6pm tour
7pm dinner
Winter Solstice Dinner at Zierholz at the Brewery. Join us for our mid-year dinner. 2 courses for $25. Brewery tour starts from 6pm.
Friday 24 July
7pm
Bilingual Trivia Night – did you miss this popular event last year? Test your knowledge in English AND German! Includes supper, tea & coffee and prizes! At Der Keller at the Harmonie
German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah. $18.00/person or $15.00 for members/concessions.
Thurs 20 August
6.30pm
Film screening “The Baader Meinhof Complex”. Join us for this Oscar nominated film about an important chapter in Germany’s history. Screening at the Burton Theatre, Canberra Boys Grammar School (parking off Alexander Street). Drinks and canapés served before the film from 6.30pm. $10 per person. DVD screening in German with English subtitles). See article enclosed for more details. Note film is rated MA Strong violence, coarse language and nudity.
18-19 September
Immersion Weekend – immerse yourself in German language, food and culture right here in Canberra. Our popular event is back commencing Friday evening 18th September and running all day Saturday 19th September. More details to come in our next edition.
Labels: culture, events, language courses, movies
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
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
Calendar of Events, October - December 2008
Mondays 6-8pm
German language classes at intermediate level. For more information on language classes including expressions of interest for 2009 please contact Patricia at:
bezi@bigpond.net.au.
Wednesdays 6-8pm
German language classes for continuing beginners 2
re-starts for final term of 2008 on 29 October. A few places are still available – please contact Susanne on 6262 8767.
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 29 October
8pm
Annual General Meeting at the Griffin Centre – it’s that time of year already. Send in your nominations or get nominated yourself! Contact Paul for more information on 6281 0486.
Sat 8 November
10am – 1pm
Das Zentrum’s Home Cooking Series – Cheesemaking – another session to meet demand. See more information enclosed. If interested please contact Angelika on 6281 4023.
Sun 16 November
3pm
Eine kleine Nachmittagsmusik – A little afternoon music
Music performed by Sarahlouise Owens (Soprano) and Natasha Tkachenko (Piano) from Klassik to Kabarett – Gems from the world of German music and song. At the Harmonie German Club, Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah. Tickets available at the door - $20 or $16 for members or concession holders – see article enclosed for more details.
Thurs 4 December
6.30pm for 7pm
Christmas Dinner Celebration for members and friends of Das Zentrum. Join us for a traditional Christmas dinner at the Harmonie German Club in Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah. Cost is $30 for 2 courses. Please RSVP to Paul on 6281 0486 by Sunday 30 November.
COMING in
MARCH 2009
Do you want to improve your German language skills in just one weekend? Das Zentrum’s highly regarded Immersion Weekend is coming again. More information coming in early 2009.
Labels: events, language courses
Semester 2, 2008: Upcoming Events
Mondays 6-8pm
German language classes at intermediate level – semester 2 starting 21 July still has a couple of vacancies at time of going to print. For information contact Katrin Matthews on 6262 8782.
Wednesdays 6-8pm
German language classes for continuing beginners 2 are on Wednesdays with classes already underway. For details please contact Susanne on 6262 8767.
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.
Note: Das Zentrum is running only the above weekly language groups for Semester 2 – our Tuesday beginners class will not be offered this semester. For more information on language classes please contact Patricia at:
bezi@bigpond.net.au.
Thursday 7 August
6.30pm
Film Screening “Die Schweizermacher - The Swissmakers” This 1978 comedy remains one of Switzerland’s most successful films. 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 with English subtitles. See article enclosed for more details.
Sat 13 September
10am
Das Zentrum’s Home Cooking Series – Cheesemaking
See more information enclosed. If interested please contact Angelika on 6281 4023.
20 September to
12 October
Deutsche Wochen – German weeks feature a series of events from members of the Canberra German Speakers’ Network including Das Zentrum, CMS Radio, the ANU, the ACT German Language School, the German Australian Playgroup, and the Harmonie German Club. Das Zentrum’s reading competition is the opening event and the weeks finish with the Harmonie German Club’s Oktoberfest.
Sat 20 September
2pm
Vorlesewettbewerb – Reading Competition – this year we invite you to join our Wilhelm Busch themed reading competition. Come along on the day to hear the finalists – coffee and cake will be available. From 2pm at the Griffin Centre. More information and entry form enclosed.
Labels: competitions, culture, events, language courses
Newest calendar of events
Mondays 6-8pm
German language classes at intermediate level are on Monday evenings. Semester 1 intermediate class is full.
Tuesdays 6-8pm
German language classes for beginners. Spaces are still available in the beginners group – please contact Susanne for more information by email:
susanne.gross@anu.edu.au or on 6262 8767.
Wednesdays 6-8pm
German language classes for beginners 2 (continuing) are on Wednesdays with limited spaces still available. For details please contact Susanne on 6262 8767.
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.
Sunday 11 May
6pm
Hildegard von Bingen by Candlelight at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton. For more information see article enclosed or visit
www.cimf.org.au.
Friday 23 May
7.30pm
Trivia Night – test your knowledge at this bilingual event at the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah – more details to come.
Thursday 5 June
7.30pm
Talk by Mr Max Hughes – “Australia, Germany, Austria – Can we do better?” Mr Hughes is a former career Diplomat and was Australian Ambassador to Germany and Austria. The talk will be at the Griffin Centre. Contact Paul for more information on 6281 0486.
COMING SOON
WINTER! – that means our Christmas in July function – cost and venue to be advised in our next edition.
Labels: culture, events, language courses
German Language Courses for Semester 1, 2008
Learn German with Das Zentrum in 2008Beginners INo prior knowledge of German needed to join this course
Cost: $200 for 14 two-hour sessions on Tuesdays, 6-8 pm
Start: 5 February 2008 (To be confirmed)
Book: Langenscheidt Optimal A1 Text- and workbook (available at or can be ordered through the ANU Co-op Bookshop)
You have to be a member of Das Zentrum to do the course – for more details regarding membership, course location, enrolment and fee payment please see below.
Continuing BeginnersCost: $200 for 14 two-hour sessions on Wednesdays, 6-8 pm
Start: 6 February 2008 (To be confirmed)
Book: Langenscheidt Optimal A1 Text- and workbook (available at or can be ordered through the ANU Co-op Bookshop)
We will start with the second half of chapter 6. If you would like to join this course and have done a little bit of German before it should be quite easy to catch up. You can revise by going through the previous chapters and contact Susanne if you have any questions (her contact details are below). We will also do some revision in the first lesson.
You have to be a member of Das Zentrum to do the course – for more details regarding membership, course location, enrolment and fee payment please see below.
Intermediate Cost: $200 for 14 two-hour sessions on Mondays, 6-8 pm
Start: 4 February 2008 (To be confirmed)
Book: EM neu Brückenkurs Text- and workbook (publisher: Hueber) (available at or can be ordered through the ANU Co-op Bookshop)
We will start with chapter 7. If you would like to join this course and have done some German before use the time before the course starts to do some revision by looking at the earlier chapters. Susanne can send you the contents page of the book electronically if youwant to see if this level suits you. Contact her if she can help you with anything (contact details below).
You have to be a member of Das Zentrum to do the course – for more details regarding membership, course location, enrolment and fee payment please see below.
Additional course informationDas Zentrum membership ($50 full/$30 concession per year) gives you free access to our library resources (books, magazines, videos, DVDs). We meet at Das Zentrum, which is on the first floor of the Griffin Centre on Genge Street in Civic. To sign up please ring Susanne on 6262 8767 or email (
gross.susanne@gmail.com) and let us know your name and contact details (email and mobile phone numbe). Susanne will then confirm your enrolment.
Labels: language courses
Calendar of Events, October-December 2007
Mondays 6-8pmGerman language classes at intermediate level – continuing on Monday evenings. For more information please contact Susanne on 6262 8767 or susanne.gross (at) anu.edu.au.
Tuesdays 6-8pm German conversation classes at advanced level. For more details please contact Patricia on 6295 3565.
Wednesdays 6-8pmGerman language classes for beginners 2 (continuing) are on Wednesdays. Please contact Susanne for details on 6262 8767.
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.
Fri 12 to Sun 14 OctoberOktoberfest organised by the Harmonie German Club is on again at Thoroughbred Park in Lyneham.
Saturday 20 October
1 – 4pmGeburtstagsfest – 10 year party
Join us at the Griffin Centre to celebrate 10 years. And don’t miss our Vorlesewettbewerb (Reading Competition) from 2.45pm.
Wed 31 October
8pmAnnual General Meeting at the Griffin Centre – it’s that time of year already. Send in your nominations or get nominated yourself! Contact Paul for more information on 6281 0486.
Wed 5 December
7pmJoin us for our Christmas dinner – cost and venue to be advised.
Labels: about das zentrum, events, language courses
Immersion Weekend 2007
Do you have a basic knowledge of German (minimum 30 hours tuition)?
Would you like to “immerse yourself” in German language and culture without leaving Canberra?
If so, Das Zentrum’s famous immersion weekend is for you. It consists of language sessions and workshops for adult learners (year 11 & 12 college students welcome) at the levels of continuing beginners, intermediate and advanced (other levels may be available depending on demand). Previous participants are welcome – the successful format is unchanged, but the content will be all new.
The weekend starts on Friday evening with an introductory session, class placement and a film screening (in German with English subtitles), and continues on Saturday with language classes and special interest workshops. The language classes will focus on Deutsch im Alltag (German in everyday situations), as well as on Landeskunde (background studies). Speaking and listening skills will be specially trained. The workshops on Saturday afternoon will cover such diverse topics as creating a sketch and/or play, writing a quiz, singing and much more. The aim is to present the results of the workshops to the other participants on Saturday evening, which in previous years was a lot of fun!
And when you are not hard at work: The program includes a buffet dinner on Friday evening and a Kaffee und Kuchen buffet on Saturday afternoon after the workshops. As a conclusion and grand finale to a successful weekend – “the Show”: a dinner with live entertainment (your presentations!).
We are particularly pleased that this year our very hard-working teachers from Canberra are once again joined by language instructors from the Goethe Institut Sydney.
Friday August 3rd 6 pm – 10 pm
Saturday August 4th 9am – 10 pm
Cost: $140 standard, $120 for das Zentrum members
Concession: $90 for school students and full-time university students
Includes tuition, 2 dinners and coffee/cake buffet, drinks during the day. It does not include lunch on Saturday – please bring your own.
Venue: International Centre, Canberra (Boys) Grammar School
Car park off Alexander Street, Red Hill
For registration form, placement test or for more information please contact:
Patricia Schiessl on 6295 3565 (evenings) or
email:
bezi@bigpond.net.au OR
Susanne Gross on 6262 8767 (evenings) oremail:
susanne.gross@anu.edu.auLabels: culture, events, language courses
Semester 2, 2007 German language classes
Mondays 6-8pm
Semester 2 from
Monday 9 July
German language classes at intermediate level –
Semester 2 starts on 9 July. For more information please contact Susanne on 6262 8767 or susanne.gross (at) anu.edu.au.
Tuesdays 6-8pm
Semester 2 from
Tuesday 31 July
German conversation classes at advanced level starts again on 31 July. If students are interested, this class may focus on the dramatisation of a text, with a possible stage production in 2008! For more details please contact Patricia on 6295 3565.
Wednesdays 6-8pm
Semester 2 from
Wednesday 11 July
German language classes for beginners 2 (continuing) – starts on 11 July. Please contact Susanne for details on 6262 8767.
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.
Labels: language courses
Language Courses Offered in Semester 1, 2007
Learn German in 2007!Das Zentrum will be offering German language classes in 2007 at beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. All classes are held at our premises at the Griffin Centre (Level 1) in Genge Street, Civic and teachers are qualified native-German speakers.
All semester one courses are fully booked. For more information about upcoming language classes, please visit Das Zentrum and leave your contact details.
Labels: language courses
Announcement: German playschool
Register now for a new German Australian playschoolOpen for children from all language backgrounds
No previous knowledge of German necessary
Commencing one day a week (Wednesdays) in 2007
Part day, full day and possible after school care options
A local community group is organising a German language playschool to operate once a week starting in 2007. We will provide a fun, caring and supportive environment for children who already have some German language as well as for those who do not.
Playschool is for 3 and 4 year olds and is a middle ground between playgroup (where parents attend) and preschool (where a paid teacher runs a structured program). A fully qualified teacher who is a native German speaker will run the playschool program. Interested parents can be rostered on to assist.
We are now calling for expressions from parents. We intend to hold the playschool on Wednesdays at Cook Preschool and offer half days (three hours) and full days (six hours). If there is enough interest, we may also be able to offer an after school program in German as well.
Please let me know if you might be interested (even if you aren't sure), or if you want to know more. Contact Maria Fleming on mariafleming (at) dodo.com.au
Labels: for children, language courses
