Courses
Levels
Kindergarten
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Adults
To attend GERMAN SCHOOL UPSTATE, students must be at least five years old by September 1st. New students are assessed by an instructor to determine their placement. Students of all abilities are welcome to enroll any time during the year if places are available. Enrolling at the beginning of the school year is preferred.
The individual objectives for each level/class can differ. Our final goal is that our students can understand, read, speak and write in German on a level that is recognized by High Schools and Universities.
This also includes raising awareness of German culture, including customs and celebrations, geographical and historical facts relating to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The GERMAN SCHOOL UPSTATE provides professional and personal guidance that helps students to achieve their goals.
Kindergarten
According to research children often respond to new languages with curiosity and impartiality. They learn more through games and gestures while adults take a more analytical approach with stricter rules.
The GERMAN SCHOOL UPSTATE provides a friendly, fun and playful environment where smaller children can learn and practice the German language. Vocabulary is taught through games, stories, songs and poems. Most activities are hands-on, e.g. using crayons, play dough, etc.
Our focus is on verbal communication. The vocabulary is related to the children’s daily life. They learn for instance vocabulary for “family”, “self”, “housing”, “clothing”, “shopping” and “food”. This includes also animals, body parts, vehicles and colors.
Beginner
Beginner (A1 & A2)
Our beginner and continuing program is a well-rounded introduction into the basics of the German language. All four skills – listening, speaking, writing and reading – are incorporated in the class. We introduce and expand the vocabulary and the understanding of how the language works by teaching phonetics, and through interactive play / hands on activities as well as written reinforcement.
Various educational games deepen the knowledge of German traditions and geography. Sentence structure, correct usage of articles and adjective endings, singular and plural forms of nouns, etc. are the focus of the grammar lessons.
The goal is to enable students to have small conversations about topics such as leisure time, food and drinks, sports, family, housing, school, animals and travels. Students can reach a level, at which they are capable of understanding short general texts, fill out basic forms and write personal e-mails / letters. They will be able to express their physical and emotional needs and feelings.
Advanced
Advanced (B1, B2 & C1)
The advanced level is a continuation of previously learned material and also preparation for standardized testing. Students improve their skills, expand and polish their knowledge of German. We work on more complex grammar, comprehension of longer texts in addition to writing and speaking skills. Students learn to discuss, judge and argue familiar topics. They will learn to follow longer speeches and take part in fluent, spontaneous conversations. We read newspaper articles, listen to radio plays, and read short stories or novels. Students are taught to express themselves on a more detailed, advanced level. They also learn to write whole essays in German.
Virtual SC
High School Credits with Virtual SC
We will be offering German courses through VirtualSC, starting in the 2025/2026 school year. This South Carolina Department of Education virtual program follows the state standards and curriculum, which allows students to earn high school credit. It is recommended that students are at least in 8th grade before enrolling in German 1. Courses available include German 1, German 2, and German 3 Honors.
Please view the "German Course Tour" highlighting German 1, German 2, and German 3 Honors for an overview.
**We are currently finalizing the details of how this program will fit into our school schedule.
The courses available will include:
Adult Classes
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.
