 Poster: A snowHead
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Are you going to go to Austria /Germany /Swiss (Ger) to teach skiing? Is your command of German poor? I used to be a ski instructor in Austria (I'm English) but I don't go out to work any more. While I was working there I was going through my 'Learn German' course and was thinking it would be a lot more helpful if the course was about skiing. So I started to convert the 'movement of the lessons' into German and add everyday phrases that a ski instructor would know. I didn't really finish it, but I've got quite a bit that covers the first day of a beginner group lesson. If you would like to see what I have produced you are welcome. It's only sitting on my computer doing nothing. It might help to get you started. This is a little example;
1. INTRODUCTIONS / VORSTELLUNG
Note Skis in German are nowadays spelt Skis, but pronounced ‘Schees’
1. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, come with me please.
1. Guten Morgen meine Damen und Herren. Kommen Sie bitte mit mir.
2. I hope you don’t mind if I use the friendly form of grammar.
(Obviously this sentence does not apply in English)
(Germans tend to use the formal and informal forms of grammar correctly, but in
Austria it is usual to go immediately to the informal version)
2. Ich hoffe es macht Euch nichts aus wenn ich Euch mit Du anspreche?
3. I’m Andrew, and I am your instructor for this week.
I hope we will have a pleasant and enjoyable week.
3. Ich bin Andrew und ich bin Ihr Skilehrer für diese Woche.
Ich hoffe wir werden eine gute und lustige Woche haben.
4. Please tell me your names. I’ll do my best to memorise them.
4. Bitte sagt mir Eure* Namen, Ich werde mein bestes tun, um sie mir zu merken.
*Plural
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@skiday, I'd love to see your list. Just tried to PM you but you are down a crevasse.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@skiday, So how's about.....as we all enter the après bar......"So who'se buying the beers? Oh poo my ski boot laces are undone just going to tie them, wont be long lads mines a large Stiegl by the way...." Ha 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@clarky999, cheers for that!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Gämsbock, the Salzburger group (SBSSV) have a special German course organised using a DAF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) specialist as well as a handy booklet with essential phrases in it. The course starts just before any of the Anwärter ones and basically primes you for the exam. Even then plenty of trainees with only English as either their native language or as their only foreign one have their full Anwärter qualification held back because of the lack of basic German. It does not stop you working for a ski school but you have to represent and do some of the practical again. flangesax, (Ben) will know for sure as he went through the process, although he did not have a problem with the German (I think).
[edited to clear up a typo]
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 11-10-15 12:14; edited 1 time in total
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| clarky999 wrote: |
| @skiday, I don't know about the other organisations, but the Tiroller Skilehrerverband used to give out a booklet with all these sort of phrases (and tech ski terms) translated in English and German. May be worth trying to get hold of a copy?l |
I cant remember now if I saw this when I was teaching, if I did I was either unimpressed or I would never have bothered trying to do what I did. At the beginning I was using the son of the boss (probably now the boss - as in fine Austrian tradition) to check my translations, so he surely would have mentioned it, which makes me think the book is something new. Having said that, and it's hard to have an opinion when I haven't seen it, I bet it doesn't go into general chit-chat like I tried. Also, I found that when the bosses son translated for me he would sometimes completely restructure the sentence. For example, if I want to say "It's a beautiful day today" you could say "Das Wetter ist nicht schlecht heute" and essentially it's the same meaning, but if your German is bad you won't learn what 'schlecht' means because it's not in the English sentence. You have to put "Es ist ein schöner Tag heute"
I wonder if they (Snowsport Tirol) give it away to their ski instructors for free and sell it for EUR5 to anyone else on the web site. I just contacted another old ski boss and she doesn't have a copy. They didn't seem to care (back then) whether their German speaking instructors spoke any English or not, but they were very insistant that I spoke German. I hope that has changed and they now issue this book to all instructors. I took a professional pride in improving my teaching German.
If you are going to teach in German then definitely buy this book, but contact me at acday'at'gmx'dot'com and I'll send you what I have. Sorry about 'being in a cravass', I'm trying to correct that.
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Snowsports Academy have some of the key phrases/words in the different languages (DE, EN and NL I think) in their books given out to candidates too. Can't remember what, would have to fish the books out and look. Having said that, I already had a decent understanding of German courtesy of a GCSE and a few seasons working in Austria for UK TO's and was able to pick quite a bit up easily whilst on the mountain rather than learning parrot fashion as some did.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@skiday, when were you teaching? I did the Anwärter in Dec 2008 (I don't teach any more), and it was included in the course materials. But no, it doesn't go into general conversation. I have no idea where my copy is anymore, but it's basically a translation of all the *ski related* phrases you might use in lessons up to a certain level (can't remember what, but not very high, maybe early parallel - though that might have changed in the meantime).
Only example from the book I can remember now was something like "pressure both skis - beide Ski belasten"
When I did the course English was very important - any non-native speakers had to do an extra English test, while we only had to do the standard written test in German (and were allowed dictionaries in the exam).
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@skiday, there are more than enough native-speakers of German with the correct qualifications to teach in that language so it is rarely necessary for non-German speakers to fill in. Plus these days many native German speakers have had such good language teaching that they speak and understand English far better than some "Muttersprachler". Non-native speakers are usually teaching through the medium of English to multi nationality groups or exclusively to British/American groups. Ski schools I've worked with recently have Danish, Swedish, Russian, French, Dutch and Czech instructors, the SBSSV for example has been running training groups in Russia for several years now training their Federation qualified instructors in both German and the Austrian teaching system. Some of their trainers are in Moscow right now running Anwärter training in the big fridge in Moscow!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Samerberg Sue,
You maybe be partially right, however an instructor who can teach in more than one language is far more employable as can teach multi national groups or a wider range of people. Clearly there are not enough local instructors to cope with demand in may resorts, and is the reason why so many foreigners are employed....some with specialist language skills ie Russian. I know many generally older locals who do not speak English as they do not need to, the younger ones or foreigners provide this service.
The book clarky999 refers I know can be provided by some ski school employers in Tirol.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@mayr, are you being deliberately obtuse? That is exactly what I was saying! The chances that a non-native speaker will have to teach in German these days is very very slight. However, knowledge of the language and how to use it to teach someone who has no English for example is essential. That is the reason the Anwärter exams also have a language component for both Austrian and non-Austrian candidates. The higher level exams have to be taken entirely in German as far as I know with a second language module included - I have recently helped friend's who are going through the Staatliche Geprüfte process bring their technical English up to scratch.
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Depends on the ski school and resort. I worked in a small ski school in Austria predominantly visited by Austrians, Germans and Dutch. Almost all my lessons throughout the season were conducted in German, with a handful done in both English and German.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Sitter, where are you working this coming season? If I remember correctly you were in the Lungau last season weren't you?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
I have recently helped friend's who are going through the Staatliche Geprüfte process bring their technical English up to scratch.
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I hope their technical knowledge of the correct use of apostrophes is up to scratch!  (Sorry, couldn't resist it).
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Samerberg Sue, Not being deliberately obtuse.....it was not 'exactly' what you were saying. I was stating my experience, if that is permitted?
I say there are not enough native German speakers to teach those that book lessons auf Deutsch. This is why many non native instructors are teaching in German. Also not all natives speak English, so English and other language skills are brought in. Seemingly we do disagree. I can live with that.
Sitter mentions difference between resorts......I would agree and add maybe ski regions.
Maybe it is different in your part of the world.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Samerberg Sue wrote: |
| @Sitter, where are you working this coming season? If I remember correctly you were in the Lungau last season weren't you? |
I was in Obertauern. In the Arlberg this season, not sure what I' doing work wise yet, not heard anything back from the main ski school yet even tho I've tried chasing them up. Got my own accom sorted and offers of bits of work of various types here and there so will wait and see.
I know plenty of people who have worked as instructors in St Anton, very few used their German at all.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just a quick point - I don't think you need use 'werden' if it is the immediate future 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@erica2004, are you referring to 4) above? Looks good to me.
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