My teachers (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
My teachers
Key vocabulary for describing teachers
Understanding how to describe your teachers is essential for discussing school life in German. This vocabulary will help you express balanced opinions and demonstrate sophisticated language skills in exams.
Here are the most important adjectives and phrases you'll need:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hilfe (f) | help |
| Prüfung (f) | exam |
| Ziel (nt) | destination/goal |
| beliebt | popular |
| bereit | prepared (to) |
| böse | angry/cross |
| ehrlich | honest |
| freundlich | friendly |
| locker | relaxed |
| negativ | negative |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| positiv | positive |
| stolz (auf) | proud (of) |
| streng | strict |
| verrückt | crazy |
| begeistern | to inspire |
| bestehen | to pass (an exam) |
Example Sentences Using Teacher Vocabulary
- Der Mathelehrer ist sehr streng, aber effektiv. (The maths teacher is very strict but effective.)
- Meine Deutschlehrerin ist energisch und beliebt. (My German teacher is energetic and popular.)
- Die Kunstlehrerin ist cool und geduldig. (The art teacher is cool and patient.)
Using "obwohl" to describe teachers
The conjunction obwohl (although) is particularly useful when giving balanced descriptions of teachers. It allows you to present contrasting ideas about someone's character or teaching style.
Grammar Rule: Obwohl + Verb Position
Obwohl behaves exactly like weil - it sends the verb to the end of the clause. This is a critical grammar point that frequently appears in exams.
Structure: Obwohl + [subject] + [other elements] + [VERB at the end], [main clause].
Worked Examples with Obwohl
-
Obwohl der Lehrer locker war, war er auch sehr effektiv. (Although the teacher was relaxed, he was also very effective.)
-
Obwohl die Lehrerin streng war, war sie bereit, uns zu helfen. (Although the teacher was strict, she was willing to help us.)
-
Obwohl es schwierig war, haben wir unsere Prüfungen bestanden. (Although it was difficult, we passed our exams.)
Describing what makes a good teacher
When discussing teacher qualities, you should be able to express both positive and negative characteristics. This demonstrates sophisticated language skills and shows examiners that you can form balanced opinions.
Essential Teacher Qualities
Good teachers typically demonstrate these characteristics:
- Set clear targets for the class (klare Lernziele)
- Want everyone to do well (wollen, dass jeder Schüler erfolgreich ist)
- Are there to help when needed (sind bereit zu helfen)
- Inspire their students (begeistern ihre Schüler)
Translation practice
Translation Exercise
German to English:
- Der Lehrer ist fleißig und hat viel Energie.
- Obwohl sie viel zu tun haben, haben sie auch immer Zeit für Schwierigkeiten.
English to German:
- The maths teacher can often be strict.
- My German teacher is energetic and very popular.
Answers:
- The teacher is hardworking and has lots of energy.
- Although they have a lot to do, they also always have time for difficulties.
- Der Mathelehrer kann oft streng sein.
- Meine Deutschlehrerin ist energisch und sehr beliebt.
Exam Success Tips
- Reading comprehension: Look for key adjectives describing teacher qualities
- Writing tasks: Use obwohl to show contrast when describing teachers
- Speaking: Prepare balanced opinions about different teachers using positive and negative vocabulary
- Gap-fill exercises: Remember that adjectives must agree with the gender of the teacher (der Lehrer/die Lehrerin)
Key Points to Remember:
- Obwohl sends the verb to the end of the clause, just like weil
- Learn teacher vocabulary in positive/negative pairs for balanced descriptions
- Use a variety of adjectives to show sophisticated language skills in exams
- Practice describing both what makes a good teacher and criticisms of poor teaching
- Remember gender agreements when describing male (der Lehrer) and female (die Lehrerin) teachers