English-German Glossary School

What are the German terms used for and in school? If you are going to school in a German-speaking country, you will need to become familiar with these terms. You will see the English term and the matching German one. School and Education Glossary (A to L) A A, B, C, D, F (see grades/marks below) ABCs, alphabet  das ABC absence (school)  das Fehlenunexcused absence  unentschuldigtes Fehlen absent  abwesendabsent from class/school  in der Stunde/Schule fehlento be absent, missing  fehlenShes absent today.  Sie fehlt heute.Why were you absent?  Warum hast du gefehlt? Kultur:  The German  Abitur  (das) is a high school diploma or secondary leaving certificate (A-level), received after passing a written and oral examination during the 12th or 13th year of school (depending on the state).  Die Matura  is the Austrian equivalent. Also, see graduation below. academic  akademisch,  wissenschaftlichacademic advisor  der Studienberater/die Studienberaterinacademic year  das Studienjahr,  das Schuljahr academically gifted/talented  intellektuell begabt academy  die Akademie  (-n),  die Privatschule administration (office)  die Verwaltung after school  nach der Schulebefore school  vor der Schule algebra  die Algebra alphabet  das ABC,  das Alphabetalphabetically, in alphabetical order  alphabetisch,  nach dem Alphabet answer (v.)  antworten,  beantwortenanswer (n.)  die Antwort  (-en)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Er hat die Frage beantwortet.He answered the question. apple  der Apfel  (Äpfel) art (subject)  die Kunst,  der Kunstunterricht ask  fragenask a question  eine Frage stellen assignment  die Aufgabe  (-n) athletic field  der Sportplatz  (-plà ¤tze)athletics  der Sport  (sing.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  Athletics in German schools is generally limited to P.E. and intramural sports. It is rare to have school teams that compete against each other. Competitive sports tend to be done in clubs rather than in school, which is more academic. attend (school) (die Schule)  besuchencompulsory attendance  die Schulpflichthe has a poor attendance record  er fehlt oft  (in der Schule) B B.A./B.S. (see Bachelor of.. below)bachelors degree  der Bakkalaureus,  der BachelorBachelor of Arts  der Bakkalaureus der philosophischen Fakultà ¤tBachelor of Science  der Bakkalaureus der wissenschaftlichen Fakultà ¤t   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  It is difficult to compare the different academic degrees in Germany with those in the Anglo-American system. An American bachelors degree is closer to the German  Magisterabschluss, even though  Magister  translates as master. In a recent effort to become more international, some German universities now offer a B.A. degree in some fields, usually for six semesters of study. Also see the entries for a degree, M.A. and doctorate. ballpoint pen  der Kuli  (-s),  der Kugelschreiber  (-) band (music)  die Blaskapelle  (-n),  die Band  (-s) binder (loose-leaf)  das Ringbuch  (-bà ¼cher) biology (subject)  die Bio,  die Biologiebiology teacher  der/die Biologielehrer/in blackboard, chalkboard  die Tafel  (-) boarding school  das Internat  (-e)book  das Buch  (Bà ¼cher)   Ã‚  textbook  das Schulbuch/Lehrbuch break, recess  die Pause  (-n)after the break  nach der Pauseshort/long break  kleine/große Pausedas Pausebrot  sandwich eaten during the break bus, coach  der Bus  (-se)school bus  der Schulbus C cafeteria  die Mensa  (Mensen) (univ.),  der Speisesaal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  Most German students go home for lunch around 12:30 or 1:00, so few schools have a cafeteria. In eastern Germany, it is more common to have a school lunch. At the university, the  Mensa  offers low-cost meals for students and faculty. calculator  der Rechnerpocket calculator  der Taschenrechnerschool calculator  der Schulrechnerscientific calculator  wissenschaftlicher Rechner calculus  der Kalkà ¼l,  die Integralrechnung chair  der Stuhl  (Stà ¼hle)chair (person), department head (m.)  der Abteilungsleiter  (-),  der Fachleiterchair (person), department head (f.)  die Abteilungsleiterin  (-),  die Fachleiterin chalk  die Kreide,  der Kreidestifta piece of chalk  eine Kreide cheerleader  der/die Cheerleader  (-)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  Since interscholastic sports competition is rare in Germany, there is no need for cheerleaders. Although some American-football teams in Europe have volunteer cheerleaders, most Germans only know about cheerleading from Hollywood movies and TV. chemistry (class)  die Chemie,  der Chemieunterricht class (grade level)  die Klasse  (-n)German class  Deutschunterricht,  Deutschstundethe class of 2003  der Jahrgang 2003in the 10th grade/class  in der 10. Klasse  (zehnten)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  A German  Klasse  is a group of students that stay together for several years of school. Somewhat like a homeroom class, the students elect a  Klassensprecher/in  to represent the class. Classes have names like  9a  or  10b  referring to each class group within a grade level. A teacher who teaches two or more courses within a class group is the  Klassenlehrer, sort of like a homeroom teacher. Note: A class of instruction is  Unterricht  or  Unterrichtsstunde, not Klasse, but it is held in a  Klassenzimmer. class register, roll book  das Klassenbuch classmate  der Klassenkamerad  (-en) classroom  das Klassenzimmer  (-) clock  die Uhr  (-en) coach, trainer  der Trainercoach (v.)  trainieren college  die Fachhochschule  (FH) (-n),  das College  (Engl. pron.)College of Education  pà ¤dagogische Hochschule   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  The Anglo-American term college is usually  Hochschule  or  Università ¤t  in German. University departments or schools (College of Arts and Science) are called  Fachbereiche  or Fakultà ¤ten  in German.   computer  der Computer  (-),  der Rechner  (-)computer science  die Informatik correct (adj.)  richtigcorrect (v.)  korrigierento correct tests  Klassenarbeiten korrigieren course  der Kurs  (-e),  der Unterrichthonors course  der Leistungskurs  (-e) D degree (univ.)  der  (akademische)  Grad   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  One should not directly compare the different academic degrees in Germany with those in the Anglo-American system. Besides the degree differences, the university systems in the U.S., Britain, and Germany are very different in other ways. department  die Abteilung  (-en),  der Fachbereich  (univ.)department chair/head (m.)  der Abteilungsleiter  (-),  der Fachleiterdepartment chair/head (f.)  die Abteilungsleiterin  (-nen),  die Fachleiterin desk  der Schreibtisch  (-e) (teacher, office)desk  die Schulbank  (student) dictionary  das Wà ¶rterbuch  (-bà ¼cher) didactic  didaktisch,  lehrhaft doctoral dissertation  die Doktorarbeit doctorate, Ph.D,  die Doktorwà ¼rde,  die Doktorarbeitperson with a doctors degree  der DoktorandShes still doing her doctorate.  Sie sitzt immer noch an ihrer Doktorarbeit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  Someone with a Ph.D. or  Doktorwà ¼rde  is entitled to be addressed as  Herr Doktor  orFrau Doktor. In the old days, a woman married to a  Doktor  was also called  Frau Doktor. E education  die Bildung,  das Bildungswesen,  die ErziehungCollege of Education  pà ¤dagogische Hochschule education(al) system  das Bildungssystem,  das Bildungswesen educational  Bildungs- (in compounds),  pà ¤dagogisch,  lehrreicheducational (school-related)  schulisch educator  der Pà ¤dagoge/die Pà ¤dagogin,  der Erzieher elective (subject)  das Wahlfach  (-fà ¤cher)Italian is an elective subject.  Italianisch ist ein Wahlfach.Math is a required subject.  Mathe ist ein Pflichtfach. elementary school, grade school  die Grundschule,  die Volksschule  (Austria) elementary teacher, grade school teacher  der/die Grundschullehrer(in) e-mail  die E-Mail  (-s)to e-mail, send an e-mail  eine Mail absenden/schicken eraser (rubber)  der Radiergummi  (-s)eraser (for chalk)  der Schwamm  (Schwà ¤mme) exam  das Examen  (-),  die Klassenarbeit  (-en)final exam  das Schlussexamen  (-)finals  die Abschlussprà ¼fung  (-en) (univ.) F faculty  der Lehrkà ¶rper,  das Lehrerkollegium felt-tip pen, marker  der Filzstift  (-e) file (paper)  die Akte  (-n)file (computer)  die Datei  (-en),  das File  (-s)file folder  der Aktenordner  (-) (paper)file folder  die Mappe  (-n) (loose-leaf)file folder  der Ordner  (computer/paper) final exam  das Schlussexamen  (-)finals  die Abschlussprà ¼fung  (-en) (univ.) folder  der Ordner  (-),  der Hefter  (-),  die Mappe  (-n) foreign language  die Fremdsprache  (-n)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  In German schools, the most popular  Fremdsprachen  are  Englisch  and  Franzà ¶sisch (French). Latin, Russian, Italian and Spanish are also offered in some schools. At the  Gymnasium, students usually take two foreign languages, the major one for 8 years and a minor for 5 years, which means they become quite proficient. The typical U.S. practice of taking two years of a foreign language is a joke, and less than 1/3 of American students even do that.   French (class) (das)  Franzà ¶sisch,  der Franzà ¶sischunterricht freshman (9th grader)  amer. Schà ¼ler oder Schà ¼lerin in der neunten Klasse Friday  der Freitagon Friday(s)  am Freitag,  freitags funding, funds (for educ., etc.)  die Mittel/Gelder  (pl.)basic funding  die Grundmittel  (pl.)public funds  Ãƒ ¶ffentliche Mittel/Gelder  (pl.)private funding (for univ. research)  die Drittmittel  (pl.) G geography  die Erdkunde,  die Geografie geometry  die Geometrie German (class) (das)  Deutsch,  der Deutschunterricht globe  der Globus,  der Erdball grade, mark  die Note  (-n),  die Zensur  (-en)She has bad marks/grades.  Sie hat schlechte Noten/Zensuren.She has good marks/grades.  Sie hat gute Noten/Zensuren.He got an A.  Er hat eine Eins bekommen.He got an F.  Er hat eine Fà ¼nf/Sechs bekommen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  German grading system:  A1, B2, C3, D4, F5, F-6 grade (level, class)  die Klassein the 9th grade  in der 9. (neunten) Klasse grade school, elementary school  die Grundschule graduate (v.)  das Abitur ablegen  (high school),  absolvieren,  promovieren  (Ph.D.),  die Abschlussprà ¼fung bestehen  (high school)graduate (n.)  der Akademiker/die Akademikerinhigh school graduate  der Schulabgà ¤nger/die Schulabgà ¤ngerin,  der Abiturient/die Abiturientingraduate student  ein Student oder eine Studentin mit abgeschlossenem Studium   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  The German university system does not have the same divisions between graduate and post-graduate study found in the U.S. There is no German word for graduate student. It has to be explained as  ein Student oder eine Studentin mit abgeschlossenem Studium. gym, gymnasium  die Turnhallegym (class)  der Sport,  der Sportunterricht gym/P.E. teacher (m.)  der Sportlehrer  (-)gym/P.E. teacher (f.)  die Sportlehrerin  (-nen) H hall(way)  der Gang,  der Flur health, hygiene (subj.)  die Gesundheitspflege higher education  die Hochschulbildung,  das Hochschulwesen high school  die Sekundarschule  (-n)academic high school (in German Europe)  das Gymnasium   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  There are many kinds of German secondary schools, each with its own curriculum and purpose. A  Gymnasium  has an academic curriculum leading to  das Abitur  (die Matura  in Austria, Switz.) and college. A  Berufschule  offers a combination of trade skill training and academics. Other school types include:  Realschule,  Gesamtschule  and  Hauptschule.   high school diploma  das Abitur,  die Matura history  die Geschichte homework  die Hausaufgaben  (pl.) honors course  der Leistungskurs  (-e)honors/deans list  eine Liste der besten Schà ¼lerInnen/StundentInnenwith honors  cum laude I ink  die Tinte  (-n) institute  das Institut  (-e),  die Hochschule  (-n) instruct, teach  unterrichten instruction  der Unterrichtmath class/instruction  der Matheunterricht instructor  der Lehrer K kindergarten der Kindergarten  (-gà ¤rten) L language lab  das Sprachlabor  (-s) learn  lernen letter (of alphabet)  der Buchstabe  (-n) locker  das Schliessfach  (-fà ¤cher)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Kultur:  European schools, including Germany and Austria, dont have book lockers for students like those found in American secondary schools. loose-leaf binder  das Ringbuch  (-bà ¼cher)loose-leaf folder  die Mappe  (-n)