Class Overview
We offer wide variety of German language classes for all ages and levels, so no matter where you are in your language learning journey, we have something for you.
📚 Class Offerings:
Foundational Level (A1/A2): Perfect for beginners who want to grasp the basics of the German language.
Intermediate Level (B1/B2): Deepen your knowledge and communicate fluently in German.
Advanced Level (C1/C2): Hone your language proficiency and expand your vocabulary.
You’ll find more details for adults and children’s classes below.
Adult Classes
We offer a series of introductory classes (A1 level) for students who have had either no exposure or very little exposure to the German language.
The goal 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 A2 series.
Students are not required to start with Beginner A1.1 Rather they may begin in whichever course they feel comfortable with. The beginning courses take learners through Basic User Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
In addition to the regular beginner classes, we also offer a Basic User Conversation class. This course is designed to give our beginning students the opportunity to converse at skill level. Instructor-guided themes and topics encourage speaking practice with fellow students in a relaxed atmosphere.
The second series of courses consists of 3 Elementary (A2) classes for students who are either continuing from the Basic User series, or who have previously learned German.
The goal 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).
In addition to the regular intermediate classes, we also offer an intermediate conversation class. 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.
The third series of courses consists of Intermediate classes for students who are either continuing from the intermediate series, or who have previously learned German.
The goal 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).
In addition to the regular advanced classes, we also offer an advanced conversation class. 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.
This series of courses is for all who have completed the Upper Intermediate 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.
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.
Children's Classes
In this class toddlers and parents learn songs, rhymes and rhythms together. This class includes all senses and covers activities for fine motor skills development. It includes interesting things to touch, see and explore from daily life, exercises and sensory materials. It will also enrich the parent-child
relationship.
This class is a fast paced, high-energy forty-five minutes of songs, games, crafts and fun, instructed extensively in German. The children are guided through traditional activities such as one would find in a German home or play group. Although this is for younger children, the older ones are invited to stay and learn the songs and games as well.
This class is a fast paced, high-energy forty-five minutes of songs, games, crafts and fun, instructed extensively in German. The children are guided through traditional activities such as one would find in a German home or play group. Although this is for younger children, the older ones are invited to stay and learn the songs and games as well.
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.
The class is for ages 7+ and will be held entirely in German in a two segment class, Group A and Group B. A brief test will determine if and for which class your child is ready.
Please contact the teacher at gls.stv.JasminV@gmail.com prior to registering to find out group enrollment.
Classes emphasize German reading, writing, geography, science, music, play and so much more. Homework assignments will help continue making progress.
Classes split between online teaching on Wednesdays and in-person classes at the Turnverein on Saturdays. The time is being used for fun projects, hands on activities, and games in accordance with the topics of the Wednesday classes. Children can choose to participate only online on Wednesdays or sign up for two classes a week-online classes on Wednesday and in-person Saturday classes.
Cultural and Cooking Classes
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.
In a 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.
Due to variable demand, we don’t offer these classes on an ongoing basis. However, if you are interested in attending a cooking class, please use the link below to contact us! We keep a list, and once we have enough people to fill a class, we will schedule one. We expect to do 1-2 of these per year.