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Courses

We offer German classes once a week, with a school year consisting of 30 weeks, closely following the public school calendar in regard to holidays. Each class runs for two hours, including a short break, adding up to approximately 50–60 hours of in-person German instruction per year. This immersive structure allows students to engage consistently in learning and practicing the language.

Class sizes are limited to 10-12 students to ensure personalized attention.

Adult classes are offered on a semester basis (Aug.–Dec. & Jan.–May).

Personalized Learning Through Binnendifferenzierung (Differentiation Method)

Every student learns at their own pace, and in our German classes, we use a teaching approach called Binnendifferenzierung—a method that allows us to support students with different levels of German in the same class. This means that whether a child is just beginning or already has some experience with the language, they will be challenged at the right level.

By using interactive activities, group work, and individualized support, each student can progress confidently without feeling left behind or unchallenged. This flexible and dynamic classroom environment encourages collaboration, keeps learning engaging, and helps students build their German skills naturally while working alongside their peers.

The advantage of this approach is that it mirrors real-life language learning, where people with different levels of fluency communicate together. It also helps students develop confidence, problem-solving skills, and a sense of community—key factors in successful language acquisition.

Grade-Level German Classes for a Strong Language Foundation

Our German classes are designed for students to learn alongside peers of the same age, ensuring an engaging and interactive learning environment. While students may enter with different levels of German proficiency, our teaching approach accommodates these differences (Binnendifferenzierung) to support all learners effectively.

For younger students (up to 7th grade), the focus is on building a strong foundation in the language. Classes emphasize everyday German, vocabulary expansion, and basic sentence structures to develop fluency and comprehension. Students are typically grouped by grade level, with two grades combined in each class, depending on enrollment.

Our goal is to prepare students for success in high school German, equipping them with the skills needed to excel in advanced coursework. As students progress, their learning is assessed using the ACTFL Can-Do Statements, a recognized standard for foreign language proficiency.

Experiencing German Culture Firsthand

Beyond language learning, our program emphasizes the rich cultural traditions of German-speaking countries. Throughout the year, we celebrate German holidays, explore historical events, and host special activities for families to experience authentic traditions, food, and customs. These events bring the language to life, fostering a deeper connection to the culture and history that shape the German-speaking world.

By offering a structured yet flexible learning experience, we aim to make German accessible, enjoyable, and rewarding for all students—building confidence, real-world language skills, and cultural appreciation for their future.

High School & Beyond

Once students reach high school, they will participate in our accredited collaboration with Virtual SC, allowing them to earn official high school credit in German while continuing to study with us. They will also have the opportunity to take the National German Exam, which can open doors to scholarships and further academic recognition.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand our offerings beyond German 1–3 to include AP German preparation and dual enrollment courses, giving students a clear path to enter college with strong proficiency. These advanced options could even help fast-track a German major or minor, providing a head start in university language studies.

By offering a structured yet flexible learning experience, we aim to make German accessible, enjoyable, and rewarding for all students—building confidence and real-world language skills for their future.

Learn more about Highschool Accredited German Classes here

Adult Courses

Classes for adult learners put emphasis on mastering the communication necessary for social and business settings.

The curriculum includes listening, speaking and writing tasks that develop as well as enhance comprehension and vocabulary. It also covers areas of language structure / grammar.

Exercises are embedded for instance into role plays or presentations. The classes take place in small groups. This allows for a close interaction between the language teacher and the students. The curriculum will be adapted to the students’ level and field of interest.

Adult courses are offered on a semester-basis. Classes run August-December & January-May. Contact us for exact dates and locations.

VirtualSC – Our High School Program Partner

We are proud to partner with VirtualSC, a state-sponsored online program that provides free, high-quality courses for students in grades 6–12. VirtualSC courses are aligned with state standards and taught by certified South Carolina teachers, offering a rigorous and flexible learning experience. Through this partnership, our high school students can earn official course credits in German while continuing their language studies with us. This collaboration ensures that students stay on track for high school graduation while building a strong foundation in German for college and beyond.

AATG – National German Exam

AATG stands for “American Association of Teachers of German”. The AATG administers the National German Exam each year to nearly 22,000 high school students in the second, third and fourth level of German.

The Exam is a computerized test that provides individual diagnostic feedback. The results provide a means of comparing students in all regions of the country, as well as programmatic data provided to help inform curricular decisions.

… more details at www.aatg.org

DSD - Deutsches Sprachdiplom der KMK
(German Language Certificate of the Education Ministers Conference)

German language students outside of Germany can take the DSD – a program that prepares the participants amongst other things for a study in Germany. Matters of language and cultural issues are covered in the program. It finishes with an exam and a certification on language competencies on level A2/B1 = stage 1 or B2/C1 = stage 2

The DSD stage 1 is a prerequisite for Studienkolleg* and DSD stage 2 is required for entrance to German universities. The exam is set and corrected by Zentralstelle für Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) and is accessible for high school students at accredited schools only. About 51.000 students in over 65 countries participating in the exams each year.

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