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German teachers recommend Interculturel textbook with online practice for levels 1–2
Summary
World-language teachers recommended Interculturel (Wayside Publishing) as the new German 1–2 textbook; district staff recommend buying 50 physical/digital copies at about $20,160.50 and offering community review before the June vote.
German‑language teachers presented May 12 a recommendation to adopt Interculturel (Wayside Publishing) for German 1 and 2, highlighting unit organization, cultural themes and online resources that include automated pronunciation practice.
Barb Paris and Ryan Mark, the German program teachers who led the review, said Interculturel aligns with national world‑language standards and builds communicative skills across presentational, interpersonal and interpretive modes. They noted that Wayside Publishing is already in use for the district’s French and Spanish programs, which offers continuity across languages and a single learning platform for students.
Paris and Mark highlighted an online feature called "New Alang" (presenters’ name for an automatic conversational/pronunciation feedback tool included with the program) that allows students to record speech and receive automated feedback. They said the recommendation is for 50 physical and digital copies with an estimated cost of $20,160.50; staff said the materials will be available for public review and then presented as a voting item at the June board meeting.
Presenters said middle‑school German enrollment remains steady, and high‑school pipeline numbers are consistent; they noted participation has declined slightly at the high school but attributed that in part to not offering German in earlier grades yet, not to immediate curriculum concerns.
No formal vote was taken at the May 12 meeting; staff said the item will be on the June agenda.
