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. Because Research Paper is always a digital-submission event, the rules and procedures for 2022 are the same as always (except that the paper is not due until the day of contest this year, whereas normally it is due a week earlier).

Rules:  Research Paper

Entry Limit:  1 research paper per school, with 1-2 authors

Length Limits:  minimum 700 words, maximum 1000 words, not including Works Cited

This is a "digital event." You must submit your entry no later than one week before the contest (exception for 2022: paper is due on the date of contest). Specific instructions for uploading the entry will be published on the contest website and/or distributed to teachers each year.

Write a research paper in English on an interesting German-Texan cultural and/or historical topic. The topic should not be commonly known:  a particular person, family, place, building, business, area, group, settlement, organization, church, tradition, activity, practice, etc. The paper should contribute to a greater understanding of German-Texan history and/or culture. The entry must be typed and double-spaced and have internal documentation with proper in-text citation and a Works Cited page, as per MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines. Follow the rules in the latest MLA Style Sheet, paying special attention to rules for entering Internet sources. Use at least three sources, at least two of which must be non-Internet. Digitally archived sources originally published in hard copy may be counted as non-Internet sources. Sources should include primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources are evidence in the form of artifacts, photos, letters, interviews, music, charts, illustrations, etc. with a direct connection to the era being studied. They may be personally documented by the contestant(s) (photos taken, interviews recorded) or found in personal collections, archives, libraries, museums, etc. Secondary sources are documents that discuss or analyze primary sources and topics - primarily other academic work. All entries will be checked for plagiarism via turnitin.com or a similar service.

1. Using MLA Style, include your name(s), your school, the date, and the title of the paper at the top of page 1.

2. To include photographs, other images, and/or audio materials, add an appendix after the Works Cited page. Images may be pasted directly into the document. Audio files should be linked, e.g., via a Google Drive link.

3. Convert the completed research paper, including the Works Cited and any appendix, to a single PDF file and upload it according to the instructions provided.

Download critique sheet.

Read about

scholarships for the winners of the Research Paper contest at State!