Please check our Schedules page to see when classes will be offered.

Beginning Courses A-F
Our German Language School offers a series of four introductory classes for students who have had either no exposure or very little exposure to the German language. The aim of these courses is to provide students with a practical basic command of the language, as well as an understanding of German culture. The emphasis of this series is on pronunciation, vocabulary building, grammar, and basic conversation. Each course will build and expand on the material learned in the previous course. By the end of this series, students should have a solid foundation on which to continue onto our Intermediate series. Students are not required to start with Beginner A. Rather they may begin in whichever course they feel comfortable. The beginning courses take learners to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

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Intermediate Courses A-F
The second series of courses consists of six intermediate classes for students who are either continuing from the beginning series, or who have previously learned German. The aim of the intermediate courses is for students to build on their foundation of German and use it to increase their comfort in speaking, reading, writing and listening. The emphasis in this series of courses is to equip the learner with the German language skills needed to participate in simple everyday interactions and transactions at home and abroad. By the end of this series, students should feel comfortable handling brief social exchanges, understanding many sentences and frequently used expressions, reading short texts, writing simple messages, and understanding simple conversations. These courses prepare the learner to continue successfully onto the upper intermediate course series. Students are not required to start with Intermediate A. Rather they may begin in whichever course they feel comfortable. The intermediate courses 2A - 2D take learners to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

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Advanced Courses A-F
The third series of courses consists of six upper intermediate classes for students who are either continuing from the intermediate series, or who have previously learned German. The aim of the upper intermediate courses is for students to build on their foundation of German and use it to increase their comfort in speaking, reading, writing and listening. The emphasis in this series of courses is to equip the learner with the German language skills needed to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. By the end of this series, students should feel comfortable handling most situations likely to arise when traveling in a German speaking area. They should be able to produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest, and describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. These courses prepare the learner to continue successfully onto the advanced experts course. Students are not required to start with Advanced A. Rather they may begin in whichever course they feel comfortable. The advanced courses take learners to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

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Advanced Experts
This series of courses is for all who have completed the Advanced courses or those who feel confident in their skills and are ready to expand their understanding and ability to effectively and correctly communicate. These courses are taught entirely in German and will cover a wide variety of topics and materials, practicing grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The emphasis in this series is to equip the learner with the German language skills needed for a rather fluent and spontaneous interaction with native speakers. Participating in this series should make students feel more comfortable in understanding the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, as well as producing clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explaining a viewpoint.

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Beginning Conversation
This course is designed to give our beginning and beginning intermediate students the opportunity to converse at skill level.  Instructor-guided themes and topics encourage speaking practice with fellow students in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Intermediate Conversation
This course is designed to give our intermediate students the opportunity to converse at skill level.  Instructor-guided themes and topics encourage speaking practice with fellow students in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Advanced Conversation
This course is designed to give our advanced and advanced intermediate students the opportunity to converse at skill level.  Instructor-guided themes and topics encourage speaking practice with fellow students in a relaxed atmosphere.

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German for Travelers
Be prepared for your trip to Germany by learning just enough German to help you in situations such as ordering food and drinks in restaurants, obtaining and spending euros, using proper formalities when meeting people, reading signs on the Autobahn, getting help if problems arise, following parking procedures, obtaining lodging, reading cautionary signs around town, following rules for photography in museums, shopping in stores, using the post office, and much more . You will also learn about some "must-do" activities and some "must-see" sights when visiting any given town. Learning just these bits of the language can be the magic that makes your visit to Germany truly memorable.

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German Holiday Traditions
This novel course will present highlights of customs and traditions found in German-speaking countries, with a focus on the holiday season and Christmas traditions. We will have a closer look at the legends of saints and other important figures of German lore (like Sankt Martin and the Three Wise Men), as well as regional differences in traditions. The course will be conducted in English, with students needing no familiarity with the German language! Class discussions will include the ways in which people in German speaking countries today celebrate the holiday season - the cookies they bake, the songs they sing, the special foods and drinks of the holidays, how they spend Christmas Eve, the "time between the years," and New Years' Eve.

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German Cooking  *4 WEEK CLASS * 3 Hr class 4 Weeks*
Does your mouth water when you think of Schnitzel, Späzle, and Apfelstrudel? Have you been wishing you could cook the dishes you have experienced or heard of from German speaking countries? Now you can learn how to do just that in a cooking class at the GLS. One of our German Language teachers also happens to be a great cook, and she loves to pass her abilities on to all those who would like to learn. Fortunately, the STV has a kitchen! In this hands-on cooking class, students will make dishes from scratch – and eat them too! Participants do not need to be able to speak German, but they will learn some new German words about the dishes they make. No need to bring anything to the first class meeting, but subsequent homework will consist of bringing assigned ingredients. Let the cooking fun begin!

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Youth Heritage Speaker Class!
If your family has a child who speaks German with a parent or has spent part of their life in a German speaking country, he or she could enroll in our “German Heritage Speaker” class offered for the first time this Spring. The class will be at the Sacramento Turn Verein German Language School on Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 12, starting March 14. The class is for 7 to 12-year-olds and will be held entirely in German. A brief test will determine if the child is ready for the class, which emphasizes German reading, writing, geography, science, music, play, and so much more. Homework assignments will help to continue making progress. For more information click HERE!

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Methodology

All of our adult courses are taught in a modified Communicative approach and include considerable conversation time, pronunciation practice and information about daily life in German speaking countries. Be prepared to actively participate! Although we are adults, we keep our course material and discussions "G-Rated" in order to maintain a high level of professionalism and respect. If you are not sure in which course you belong, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help you determine which course will benefit you most.

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