Classes

GSSOP Classes (Click on a class or scroll down for additional info)
Spielgruppe	age 3
4's	age 4
Grundstufe I Beginning & Continuing	ages 5-6
Grundstufe II Beginning & Continuing	ages 7-8
Mittelstufe I Beginning & Continuing	age 9-11
Mittelstufe II Beginning & Continuing	ages 12-14
Beginning German	High school age–adult
Teen Intermediate	Ages 13-18
Teen Advanced	Ages 15-18
Continuing German	Intermediate Adults
Thursday Evening Classes
Class Schedule
Saturday Morning
9:30AM–10AM	Kinderchor (children's choir) Open To All
9:30AM–12:30PM Odd Saturdays of the Month	Advanced Teen Class
10AM–12:30PM	Language Instruction (all ages)
Mid-week Evening
6:30PM–8PM	Language Instruction (Beginning Teen/Adult, Intermediate Adult)

Spielgruppe (age 3)

Children this age are all language learners who become fluent together. Emphasis: the concrete world around us. Cirlce time ,songs, play and active learning keeps children engaged. We learn both authentic German songs & customs and adaptations of familiar American material. Spielgruppe is great for anyone wanting their child to make new friends and learn German.

Express certain everyday phrases (please, thank you, etc.), name a number of objects and answer simple questions about them, know about 15-20 core verbs, sing and play simple German songs and games. Most students will follow and adult lead to use German, and speak in very short statements.

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Main Text: 10 Kleine Zappelmänner

4's (age 4)

This is a mixed-ability group who become fluent together when consistently exposed to German. Emphasis: exploring the world around us within a safe zone. Ritual and repetition are built into the school day. Circle time, songs, play and active learning keep children engaged. We use both authentic German songs & customs and adaptations of familiar American material.

Pre-academic work: the alphabet, rhyme, writing one's name. Grammar is patterned. Premath skills: counting, "one more" and "one less."

Goals: Express simple everyday phrases, identify and simply describe a number of objects, know about 30 core verbs, sing and play simple German songs and games. Most students will speak in short statements; some may also ask questions in German.

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Main Text: Saturday School-Developed Curriculum

Grundstufe I (ages 5-6) Beginners & Continuing

This class focuses on early academic work: the alphabet (names, initial letters), rhyme. Writing is mostly copying of patterns, fill-in-the-blank. Grammar is patterned & emphasized through contrasting pairs (mein/dein). Early math skills emphasize counting, grouping.

Goals: Express simple everyday phrases, identify and simply describe a number of objects, describe common actions in German (core verb list: about 25-30 for beginners, 35-40 for continuing), sing and play simple German songs and games. Most students will speak in short statements and ask simple questions in German. Continuing students should be understood by most adults. All levels may be able to read familiar words.

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Main Text:
Beginners' class: 10 Kleine Zappelmänner (language play) + thematic worksheets
Continuing class: Kira's Lernwelt

Grundstufe II (ages 7-8) Beginners & Continuing

We begin with students' immediate surroundings, include the wider world, and learn more about German-speaking countries.

Goals: Beginning students can use everyday phrases, identify and simply describe a number of objects, describe common actions in German, and sing and play simple German songs and games. Most students will speak in short statements (sometimes simple compound sentences) and ask simple questions in German. They are learning to read in German.

Continuing students will describe their world and actions in increasingly precise, though simple, German. Most students can speak and write short statements (sometimes simple compound sentences) and ask simple questions in German. They are beginning to understand gender and case (especially for pronouns). They are starting to read and write more complex German.

All students can talk about time (calendar & clock). They know how the present and narrative past tenses work.

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Main Text:
Beginners' Class: Bärenspaß + Readers
Continuing class: Huckepack, 3-Malig + Readers

Mittelstufe I (ages 9-11) Beginners & Continuing

At this level, we balance play with teaching new skills. Children read short poems, songs, and repetitive stories. Language games introduce or expand vocabulary and help them understand sentence structure. Themes continue to expand from what students know to the larger world they will one day enter. Culturally, the class emphasizes authentic German songs & customs.

Goals: All students learn to negotiate the everyday world, including social and academic skills. They read and write short guided pieces. Grammar terms are introduced, but mostly learned through context and repetition. Number skills, practical questions, how many, how long, what time.

Beginning students can speak and write short statements (sometimes simple compound sentences) and ask simple questions in German. They will have a basic understanding of gender and case (especially for pronouns), present and narrative past tenses. They will begin to read and write more complex German.

Continuing students will describe their world and actions in increasingly precise German. Most students can speak and write longer statements and questions. They understand gender and case, and know how the present, future and narrative past tenses work. They will have a grasp of separable prefix verbs and modal verbs. They will write short essays and speak for several minutes (with feedback) on familiar topics.

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Main Text: 3-Malig leveled grammars+ Readers

Mittelstufe II (ages 12-15) Beginners & Continuing

Competency Level
Beginners: Beginning- International language level A1
Continuing: International language level A2-B1 (Upper limit is age-related).

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A more traditional class of German as a foreign language. Topics spiral out from the students & the classroom to new arenas. Culturally, the class emphasizes authentic German customs. Workbooks teach new concepts and practice language skills. Students also learn through games, skits, plays, dialogue and popular German songs.

Goals: Beginning students may depend on language patterning, but can apply simple techniques to personalize their statements. They can describe their world and actions in clear, simple German. Most students will speak and write short statements (including simple compound sentences) and ask questions. They have some understanding of gender and case. They know in general how the present, future and narrative past tenses work. They have a grasp of separable prefix verbs and modal verbs (50-60 verbs, total).

Continuing students will focus on filling in the gaps in their language skills. They can describe their world and actions in clear, precise German. They can talk (with feedback) for several minutes and write short, organized pieces on a number of topics. They have a growing understanding of gender and case, and understand present, future and narrative past tenses. They can work with any verb type.

Spoken skills reflect an increasing maturity in dealing with the world. Students move from hightly patterned models to reading and writing more open short pieces. Some grammar terminology is introduced, but is mostly learned through context and repetition.

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Main Text:
Beginners' class: 3-Malig, Mit Erfolg zu Fit in Deutsch 1 (Review & extension phase)
Continuing class: Lies mit mir! 2, Mit Erfolg zu Fit in Deutsch 2

Teen and Adult Beginning German

For pure beginners and those with little formal training. Speaking, writing, reading and other language basics. Songs, literature, and dialogue expand vocabulary and concepts. Class includes some English, until basic concepts are understood.

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Workbook: German Demystified, by Ed Swick: Student purchase. Widely availably for less than $25.

Teen Intermediate (ages 13-18)

Competency Level
Common framework level A2-B1

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Students in this class have some German, but want to review and build on the basics.

Skills: At the end of the year, students should be able to describe their world and actions in clear, precise German, to talk (with feedback) for several minutes and write short, organized pieces on familiar or researched topics. We move from simple reading and writing pieces to more analytical and refined ones, using a variety of authentic texts. Spoken skills reflect an increasing maturity in dealing with the world.

Grammar: Students will have a solid understanding of gender and case of nouns and how various verb tenses work. They will have been introduced to passive and conditional moods.

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Main Text: Eurolingua Deutsch 2

Teen Advanced (ages 15-18)

Competency level
Common framework level B1 +

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Students in this class are quite fluent in German for their age, but want to refine their skills because they hope to live, study or work in a German-speaking country.

Authentic texts from many sources build students' skills. At the end of the year, students should be able to describe their world and actions in clear, precise German. They will be able to talk or write extensively on a variety of topics. They will have a solid understanding of grammar, style and textual analysis.

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Main text: Mittelpunkt B2 & readers

Continuing German (Intermediate and Advanced Adults)

Largely conversational classes for students with language skills who want to use their language and or review. Basic listening, reading and writing skills required. Most important is your willingness to use German! Topics and material covered are agreed upon by instructor and students.

Thursday Evening Class

If there is sufficient student interest, the beginner teen/adult and the continuing adult classes may offer midweek sessions. Classes meet Thursday evenings from 6:30-8PM at the German Haus at 7901 SE Division Street. Tuition for this class may be paid per session (15 classes per session). Please clearly indicate either "Thursday evening" on your registration form. Classes begin the first Thursday in September.