Here’s why your students will love Deutsch So Aktuell.
When language teacher Chris Gordon first adopted Deutsch Aktuell as his German textbook in 2008, “mp3 player” was still a relevant vocabulary word. Sixteen years and four editions later, the material may have changed, but Mr. Gordon’s love for the program certainly hasn’t.
“I continue to use Deutsch So Aktuell because it is a series that continues to refine itself,” he said from his classroom in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. “I've seen other textbook series that are a little bit more stagnant, but with Deutsch So Aktuell, they take the time to reflect the current state of the world.”
Choosing a German textbook
Language teachers have many options when picking a world language curriculum. You want an updated, relevant curriculum that engages students by leaning into their interests while addressing grade-level standards. But you also want a dynamic online experience and plenty of target language materials to use in your classroom. Bonus points for programs that provide lots of teacher resources and low-prep, grab-and-go activities.
And while Deutsch So Aktuell (the 8th edition added the So) offered all of these features, what really stood out to Chris Gordon when he was deciding between German textbooks in 2008 was the emphasis on culture.
“When people say ‘German,’ they tend to exclusively think of Germany,” he noted. “The German language is spoken in only a few countries, but Deutsch So Aktuell actually incorporates aspects of Austrian, Swiss, and German culture with a small sprinkling of Liechtenstein, which is wonderful to see, because there's so much diversity of language, even for one that's spoken in a relatively small geographic area.”
Another element of the Deutsch So Aktuell German textbook program that appealed to Mr. Gordon was the online learning environment.
Mr. Gordon indicated that ease of access to resources was one of his motivators for exploring digital learning solutions. “It's a lot harder for an individual to forget a device that connects to Wi-Fi than it is a heavy book,” he noted.
The audio files that e-books offer can be particularly helpful for students who are auditory learners or ones with auditory processing or decoding difficulties. “That audio really has helped my students with phoneme recognition and with honing their pronunciation skills. By having the text read to them, and by following along, they're able to make those connections.”
But the wide range of program resources is only one aspect of the online learning environment that appealed to Mr. Gordon.
“The digital platform really beefs up the opportunities for students to learn because they have access to so many more resources,” he explained. “They can access the student textbook and workbook and supplemental material, like listening activities, grammar exercises, and a video series.”
Mr. Gordon pointed to the video series Café Julia and the eReader library—including a beloved version of “The Tortoise and the Hare”—as some of his students’ favorite resources from the online learning platform.
“One of my students was struggling a few years ago, and got really into the storyline of Café Julia,” Mr. Gordon recalled. “He would watch the episodes on his own time, and come into class saying, ‘Guess what happened with Petra and Tanja?’ Having access to that resource with the click of a mouse was really valuable to him and helped develop competencies outside of class.”
“The online resources really allow students to further develop and flourish,” Mr. Gordon added.
One of the most important aspects of picking a curriculum is ensuring that the curriculum provider is responsive, collaborative, and supportive of both teachers and students.
“I've been very happy with Carnegie Learning,” Mr. Gordon said. “I've always had just great support whenever there's been an issue or question. They get back to me very, very quickly.”
Recalling first expressing interest in the online learning platform, Mr. Gordon noted: “I reached out to Carnegie Learning, and they set up a one-on-one tutorial to walk through the platform. I learned how to create a class, add students, and select assignments. They took the time and care to really check in, to make sure that I was comfortable with the platform before the school year started.”
Why you’ll love the Deutsch So Aktuell German textbook
From the series' emphasis on culture to its robust online platform library of resources, Deutsch So Aktuell is the best choice for a grade 6-12 German textbook.
“I would recommend it without reservation,” said Mr. Gordon. “The series is great. It has a lot of different activities. There are some great teacher support materials, as well, that help to really engage the students with the content and culture.”
He continued: “I've been impressed with the continual improvements and changes towards the program to reflect the world around us. Deutsch So Aktuell is the best resource I have found to help support my students.”
After sixteen years and four editions, Mr. Gordon still loves the series. We know you will, too.
Kelly joined Carnegie Learning in 2023, bringing a decade of diverse educational experience. Her career includes one year as a high school Dean of Students and nine years teaching French at secondary and post-secondary levels. An AP French exam reader in 2017 and 2020, Kelly holds ACTFL OPI certification and is versed in various world language pedagogies, including TPRS and Organic World Language (OWL). She taught using Carnegie Learning's T'es Branché? curriculum for six years. As a content writer, Kelly is dedicated to highlighting educator experiences and empowering teachers to enhance student outcomes nationwide.
Explore more related to this authorDeutsch So Aktuell is the best resource I have found to help support my students.
Chris Gordon, German teacher of 17 years
