So I think it’s about that time that we started getting the German grading system really working. We have ~500 gradings, amazing work everyone!
Next Step:
Now we need to choose a series of books which will serve as the ‘benchmark’ for the grading system. As an example, I always choose Harry Potter volume 1 and put it at lvl 29/30 (~B2). This makes it similar to the Japanese Grading system.
Once we have a series of book set at certain levels, then the grading system starts to take shape.
Textbooks and graded readers are the obvious ones to set at specific levels, but I just remembered this thread: Books translated into multiple languages, which might be useful.
There are some I think that will be useful to calibrate new languages in the future, although they haven’t been graded enough in Japanese yet, specifically:
In addition to the above, I also took a look at the gradings.
Below are the most graded items so far. Are any of these items commonly recommended for a certain level? Would they serve as a good benchmark for a certain cefr / level?
I haven’t read super extensively in German compared to Japanese, but if it’s helpful here are a few books I’ve read and the levels I read them at/felt they’re appropriate for. I hope this data somehow helps!
In terms of movies or tv shows, I unfortunately do not watch anything from the German speaking region so I’m not the one to weigh in here… hopefully someone else has some ideas lol.
For movies there’s Nicos Weg.
There are three movies designed by DW and graded as a1, a2 and b1. They are just like graded readers and are available for free on YT.
Sorry I haven’t watched anything else in German
Great thanks! I’ve updated my initial thread comment with those potentials and a few others I found. Everyone take a look and see what they think.
Interesting. If you’ve seen them, mind adding them to the database?
I will continue to try and find some good resources / benchmarks. We do ultimately need more grades too I think. Spanish is starting to take off, but they needed around 12-14 well-graded benchmarks to get the system going. They also have around 2x as many grades as german… may just need to recruit some more folks!
Also, @mic I’ve noticed you read quite a few of these books, any thoughts? Would really help.
And there are quite a few german readers i’m seeing too that are hesitant to grade. If you are comfortable grading, I encourage you to do so, it’d make a big difference!
Done! But apparently only the one for A1 is on tmdb and the other 2 are missing. A little surprised because this is a very well known series around me and an often recommended source.
I checked my German class notes from years ago and looks like my teacher had recommended Die Verwandlung for B2, and Draußen vor der Tür | L30?? (this one isn’t really well known, is it?) for B1. Though I actually never continued my classes to that level and haven’t read these two yet.
Sorry, I read that I am not supposed to grade books in my native tongue. And on the other hand, that are books I read quite some time ago → many of them children books.
Ok! I went ahead and ‘set’ those gradings. If anyone hadn’t had a chance to look at those gradings and disagrees with something, please let us know!
Most importantly though, check out your gradings (if your a learner). We will now prioritize comparisons against ‘known’ items now and those are super beneficial to do.
Looking at the the top books, the most important ones to make ‘known’ either by setting as a benchmark or by more grades:
For translated Japanese manga in Germany I would first of all go to Carlson Verlag. Btw the prizes of new books will be the same wherever in Germany you buy them, that‘s by law.
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They are definitely for advanced learners.
hopefully someone else has some ideas lol.
