News and Updates

Houstonfest Scholarships -  winners announced!

Changes and updates for 2022 including procedures for online contest

State Promo Video Contest

"Texas State German Contest at 40" newsletter series (full of tips for contest prep and Pass auf! study material)

"Leidenschaft der Aussprache" Pronunciation Contest

Scholarships at State

Contest Promo Video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest Promo Video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

Teacher-to-Teacher Tips

Tips for Pair Discussion

Photo Gallery

Arrival at Heights High School

Lunch options

Daily log of changes to state-qualifier list

Important Dates

Sat., Jan. 15, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $10/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/24).

Tue., Jan. 18, 2022, 4:00 p.m.:  Registration opens for pronunciation contest "Leidenschaft der Aussprache" (teachers who submit a Houstonfest registration by the regular deadline will receive a link to register for this special contest)

Mon., Jan. 24, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $12/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.

Wed., Feb. 2, 2022, 8:00 p.m.:  Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 5, 2022:  Houstonfest (virtual) -  submissions of art and recordings due by 9:00 a.m., some events conducted live via Zoom

Tue., Feb. 8, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  Remote Houstonfest judging ends

Fri., Feb. 11, 2022, 4:45 p.m.:  Houstonfest results announced via live-stream (see Results page for a recording of the awards show)

Wed., Feb. 16, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  State online registration due for "early bird" price of $10/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/18).

Fri., Feb. 18, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  State online registration due for regular price of $12/student. Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship applications due. Deadline to postmark State payment.

Wed., Feb. 23, 2022, 8:00 p.m.:  Deadline extended: Entries in promotional video contest due to State director Jennifer Christianson.

Sat., Feb. 26, 2022:  40th Annual Texas State German Contest (virtual) -submissions of art and recordings due by 9:00 a.m., some events conducted live via Zoom (ask your teacher for the sheet with all the links!)

Tue., Mar. 1, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  Remote State judging ends

Sat., Mar. 5, 2022, 11:59 p.m.:  Houstonfest Scholarship applications due. State awards video released.

Fri., Mar. 11, 2022:  Gail Cope Scholarship applications due.

Sat., April 30, 2022:  Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications due.

The 2022 contest will be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following rules are still in effect for the most part and are left here in their normal format for future years. Any tweaks to the rules and additional procedures for the 2022 online contest environment can be found by clicking "Changes and updates for 2022" in the column to the left.

Rules:  Drama Events

General rules for all drama events:

• It is not allowed to use the same script (or a substantially similar script) in more than one event at the same contest if there are any common cast members in both events.  For example:  A school may not use the same script for a skit and a puppet show if one or more students are in both casts.

• It is also not allowed for any cast member to perform a script which he/she has performed in any previous year.  For example:  If your Skit 2 in 2022 was "Rotkäppchen," you may not use "Rotkäppchen" for Skit 3 in 2023 or for Skit 4 in 2024 unless the casts from one year to the next are 100% different.  The spirit of these first two rules is that students should be challenged to work with different material in each event they enter, both within the same year and from one year to the next.

• All drama entries must be memorized. Points will be deducted if fellow cast members or the judges have to prompt performers.

• Cell phones may not be used at any time during the performances.

• Failure to provide at least 2 copies of the piece to the judges will result in a 10-point deduction from the cumulative score.

Duet Acting:

Entry Limit:  2 Lower Level pairs (German I-II) and 2 Upper Level pairs (German III-V) per school.

Time Limits:

Lower Level: 3-5 minutes.

Upper Level: 5-7 minutes.

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over).

This competition follows the basic rules of the National Forensic League, which include the following:  The 2 contestants may use no more than 2 chairs, no other props, and no costumes; may only pantomime actions; must have a memorized introduction in German; may have no prompting; must use a piece from a published work (including movie or television transcriptions) by a German-speaking author (no translations); must have 2 copies of this piece for the judges; and must adhere to the time limits set forth above. The merit of the selection will be a criterion in judging.  Duets may not be excerpts from a skit or puppet show in which the contestants are performing.

Download critique sheet.

Puppet Show:

Entry Limit:  1 Lower Level show (German I-II) and 1 Upper Level show (German III-V, incl. advantaged speakers) per school.

Time Limits:

Lower Level: 4-8 minutes.

Upper Level: 7-10 minutes.

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over) plus a maximum of 3 minutes to set up. 

Puppet shows may be written by the class, the teacher, German-speaking authors, or others.  Fairy tales may be adapted as puppet shows.  The performers must memorize all lines from the script.  The judges will ensure that the performers have no scripts.  No stage will be provided nor used on the contest site, but rather, contestants will perform behind chairs or desks covered by a black cloth (which is provided onsite).  Backdrops should be no larger than 10' × 10'.  They may be secured to the wall with painter's tape only.  Each group must provide its own puppets, props, backdrops, and painter's tape.  If advantaged speakers are included in an Upper-Level cast, this information must be given to the judges.  Two copies of the script must be provided for the judges.  Excerpts from the puppet show may not be reused in other categories by the same cast member.

Download critique sheet.

Skit:

Entry Limit:  1 skit per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, & 4); there must be a minimum of 3 performers with speaking parts, no maximum. 

Time Limits:

Levels 1 & 2:  4-8 minutes.

Levels 3 & 4:  7-10 minutes.

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over), plus a maximum of 3 minutes to set up.  

Mixed-level skits must be entered on the level of the most advanced cast member.  If advantaged speakers are included in a level 4 skit, this information must be given to the judges.  Skits may be written by the class, the teacher, German-speaking authors, or others.  Skits may be from fairy tales.  Good pronunciation and grammatically-correct German are most important in the judging.  Costumes and props may be added for flavor and effect, but are not required.  Two copies of the script must be provided for the judges.  Excerpts from the skit may not be reused in other categories by the same cast member.

Download critique sheet.