Elementary I

In this class for lower elementary school students (grades 1-2), German is all about “learning by doing”! Children play games, craft, learn songs and rhymes, and encounter German in an intuitive way. While the class emphasizes the spoken language, the children are also introduced to the German letter/ sounds system in a careful, age-appropriate way, and learn to read and write their first words and sentences in German.

Learning materials for this class include a textbook and supplemental material from other sources. All language levels welcome!

This class will be held in-person on Saturday mornings at our Novato campus.

Elementary II

This class is for elementary school students with intermediate (or higher) German language skills who are able to fluently read and write in English (app. Grades 3-4) Students should know “classroom language” in German so they can follow a class primarily taught in German. They should be able to express themselves in spoken German in simple sentences, should know the German alphabet and sounds and be able to read German sight words and simple sentences.

In this level, children will reinforce and build on vocabulary learned in lower grades. They will expand their conversational skills, develop their reading and writing skills, and gain first insights into German grammar. Culture and holiday tradition in German speaking countries is explored through songs, poems and crafts. Learning materials for this class include a textbook and supplemental material from other sources.

Not sure if this class is right for you? Contact us today!

This class will be held in-person on Saturday mornings at our Novato campus.

Elementary III

This class is geared towards upper elementary and lower middle school students (grades 4-6) with intermediate (or higher) German language skills. Students should be able to follow a class taught primarily in German, should be able to express themselves in German in simple sentences (in speaking and writing), and should be able to read short, age appropriate texts.

Students in this class will strengthen all four language skill levels: listening, speaking, reading and writing. They learn to understand age-appropriate texts and audios, play vocabulary and grammar games, write their own stories in German, and explore the culture of German speaking countries through project-based learning.

The curriculum prepares students to take the “Internationale Vergleichsarbeit A1” (Level A1 German exam for children). Learning materials for this class include a textbook and supplemental material from other sources.

Not sure if this class is right for you? Contact us today!

This class will be held in-person on Saturday mornings at our Novato campus.

Middle School Exam Prep

This class is geared towards middle school students with intermediate (or higher) knowledge of German, and is taught entirely in German. Throughout the school year, students in this level will learn to maintain a fluent conversation in German about everyday topics. They will explore topics in depth and learn to prepare/ give oral reports on them. They will read and understand more complex texts and audios, and work on their writing skills, using correct spelling and grammar.

The curriculum prepares students to take the “Internationale Vergleichsarbeit A2” (Level A2 German exam for youth), and they also participate in the AATG National German Exam Competition (Level 1 and 2). Learning materials for this class include a textbook and supplemental material from other sources.

Not sure if this class is right for you? Contact us today!

This class will be held in-person on Saturday mornings at our Novato campus.

High School I Exam Prep

This class is geared towards high school students with advanced knowledge of German, and is taught entirely in German. During the first half of the morning, students practice all language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), with special emphasis on “exam skills” such as writing letters, argumentative essays, and summaries, or preparing/ giving oral reports. During the second half of the morning (called “Lesestunde/ Book Club”), students will explore the German language and culture through literature (class readers, short fiction, or poems).

The curriculum prepares students to take the “Deutsche Sprachdiplom I” (DSD I – German Language Diploma Level I) and/ or the AP German Exam. Students also participate in the AATG National German Exam Competition each winter.

Learning materials for this class include a textbook and supplemental material from other sources. Exam students may need to purchase additional instructional material.

Not sure if this is the right class for you? Please contact the teacher Fanny Jasper.

This class will be held in-person on Saturday mornings at our Novato campus.

High School II Exam Prep

This class, taught entirely in German, is for advanced high school students who have successfully passed the DSD I exam (or have equivalent language skills) and would like to prepare for the AP German exam and/ or the DSD II exam (Deutsches Sprachdiplom II/ German Language Diploma Level II).

High School II Exam Prep is a 3-semester program (fall-spring-fall). Students entering the program in grade 10 will take the AP German exam in grade 10, and the DSD II exam in the fall of grade 11. Students entering the program in grade 11 will take the AP German exam in grade 11 and the DSD II exam in the fall of grade 12.

Each class session has two parts: During the first half, called “Lesestunde/ Book Club”, students explore literature in German (a semester reader, short fiction, or poems) often in connection to cultural topics. The “Book Club” portion of the morning is taught together with the High School I class. The second half of the class is dedicated to intensive exam training (reading, listening, vocabulary enrichment, grammar review, advanced writing skills such as formal letters/ emails, argumentative essays, etc.)

This class will be held in-person on Saturday mornings at our Novato campus.