:: German Language Program Questions and Answers
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Why should my child learn German?
How does the German bilingual program work?
Why should I choose the German Bilingual program at Edmonton Public?
How is the German Bilingual program taught in Elementary?
Interesting facts about the German language
Who supports the German Bilingual Program?
Why should my child learn German?
Learning German and English together provides a wider view and deeper sense of the world. It immediately doubles the range of songs, poetry, stories, films and websites that children can understand and learn from. Most of all, German is cool... and fun to learn!
As your child progresses through the program, various exciting opportunities are available. Your child can participate in the Grade 8 school exchange trip to Germany, and in grade 10 to grade 12 is able to begin writing the Deutsches Sprachdiplom examinations which allows for entrance into Germany's highly regarded universities (which also have lower tuition fees than Canadian universities).
For more great reasons, visit Edmonton Public Schools' Institute for Innovation in Second Language Education website or Goethe Institute's Why Learn German? website.
How does the German bilingual program work?
Your child will learn German and English at the same time which builds fluency in both languages. Students require no previous knowledge of German for admission to Kindergarten or grade 1.
While in the German Bilingual program, your child will explore rich traditions and experience German culture first hand. These may include receiving a Schultüte on the first day of school, finding candies in their shoe for St. Nikolaus Tag, or taking part in a range of family and community celebrations such as Oktoberfest.
This established program has a 30-year history and continues to draw parents wishing to expand their child's horizons.
Why should I choose the German Bilingual program at Edmonton Public?
- Over 30 years of proven results, and approximately 600 students attending each year.
- Has the highest retention rate of students from grades 1 to 12 than any other bilingual program.
- Parents who were former students are now choosing to enroll their children in the program.
- Students require no previous knowledge of German in order to begin the program in Kindergarten or Grade 1.
- Kindergarten to grade 6 is offered at three elementary schools with yellow bussing available for students.
- In elementary, a 50/50 split in instructional time between English and German allows students to build fluency in both languages. Children learn to understand and respond appropriately in German in a range of everyday situations.
- In junior high, students in grade 8 have an opportunity to participate in an exchange trip to Germany.
- Students who complete the program in junior high receive advanced credit for German 10 and can challenge the German Language and Culture 30 course for additional credits that can be counted toward their high school graduation requirements.
- In high school, students may seek internationally recognized certification of their German language proficiency by taking part in two Deutsches Sprachdiplom examinations (in grade 10 and grade 12), and by writing the advanced placement examination (in grade 11). Especially interesting for students planning to study abroad is the Deutsches Sprachdiplom II examination which meets the language requirements for entrance into Germany's highly regarded universities (which also have lower tuition fees than Canadian universities).
How is the German Bilingual program taught in Elementary?
- German bilingual students are taught the same curriculum as other students in the same grade level. Half of the instruction students receive is in German and the remainder in English. For example, some subject areas taught in German are math, gym, art, and German language arts.
- During German instructional time, classroom interaction is in German - whether the teacher or students are speaking. German becomes the operating language of the classroom.
- Languages are not mixed, if possible. Subjects taught in German are grouped together in order to allow for a more natural language learning environment and to give students more time to think in German.
- The teacher does not translate between English and German. Instead, the teacher facilitates understanding through the use of techniques such as gestures, mime, and appropriate intonation. Our teachers are expressive and animated, and use concrete materials and audio-visual aids. Students develop a passive vocabulary very quickly. Their active vocabulary also develops daily.
- Children are encouraged to express themselves in German during German instructional class time, even when they believe they will make errors. Students are taught to identify their own errors and edit their work.
- The philosophy of the German bilingual program is that no child should be afraid of making mistakes. Students who are less fluent will benefit from working with others who may be more fluent.
- In elementary, children will experience many rich German traditions first hand. Who wouldn't want to receive candies in their shoe on St. Nikolaus Tag?
Interesting facts about the German language
- Research shows that learning a second language helps a child learn English - especially in the case of German, as both languages come from a common Germanic language and share many similarities in both vocabulary and grammar. For example, Sie ist intelligent. Sie hat braunes Haar.
- German is spelled phonetically. Once a child learns the system of sounds, it is easy to predict how the spoken word is written and how the written word is pronounced.
- German is the official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
- German ranks among the top 10 most frequently spoken languages in the world and is widely used on the Internet.
- German is a leading language of science, literature, philosophy, theology, history, music, film, and art.
- Germany has the largest economy in the European Union and it is one of the world's leading exporters and importers.
- The German education system has a long tradition with the oldest German university being founded in 1386. German education has a good international reputation, making Germany a great place for international study.
- One out of every 10 books in the world is published in German.
Who supports the German Bilingual Program?
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